The

Queen

7 November 1949 – 1 June 2001

HM QUEEN AISHWARYA RAJYA LAXMI DEVI SHAH

Her Majesty Queen Aishwarya Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah faithfully served as the Queen consort to her husband, His Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev when he ascended to the throne on 31 January 1972. In her role as the Queen of Nepal, she supported the crown by heading many national organizations and attending important functions and delegates on behalf of His Majesty. She often accompanied King Birendra on state visits around the world.

As Queen, she was a devoted companion and ally to the king, often voicing her thoughts, opinions and advice.

उकाली ओरालीहरुमा भन्ज्याङ अनि चौतारीहरुमा
सुन्दर ती दहहरुमा हिमालका विशाल छातीहरुमा
जहाँ जहाँ जान्छौ तिमी म पाइला बनी पछ्याइरहन्छु
ती छहरा खोला खहरेहरुमा सम्झना बनी बगिरहन्छु
उकाली ओरालीहरुमा…

– चाँदनी शाह

Besides her role as the Queen of Nepal, she was also a talented poet and a famous lyricist. Her poems, penned under the name of Chadani, were sung by some of most popular singers of the time. HM Queen Aishwarya was also fond of flowers and nurtured her own private garden within the Narayanhiti Royal Palace.

A black and white portrait photograph of the young Queen Aishwarya.

From top: 1) Their Majesties King Birendra and Queen Aishwarya performing a key ritual at their wedding ceremony. 2) HM King Birendra and Queen Aishwarya with their children, Crown Prince Dipendra, Princess Shruti and Prince Nirajan. 3) Crown Prince Birendra and Miss Aishwarya shortly after their wedding.

EARLY LIFE

Her Majesty was born on 7 November 1949 to General Kendra Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana and his wife Shree Rajya Laxmi Shah. General Kendra was a Lieutenant General in the Nepalese army, from the Rana dynasty. She was her parent’s eldest daughter. She had two brothers, Suraj Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana and Uday Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana, and two sisters, Komal Rajya Laxmi Shah and Prekshya Rajya Laxmi Shah.

As a young girl, Her Majesty was educated at St. Helen’s Convent of Kurseong, India, and St Mary’s of Jawalakhel, Nepal, along with her two younger sisters. She passed her secondary schooling from Kanti Ishwari Rajya Laxmi High School in 1963. She was enrolled in the Tribhuvan University-affiliated school, Padmakanya College and graduated in arts in 1967.

Growing up she was interested in flowers, gardening, and had a penchant for reading and writing poems which continued as a young woman and even when she was the Queen of Nepal.

FAMILY LIFE

HRH Aishwarya Rajya Laxmi Devi Rana and the then HRH Crown Prince Birendra Bir Bikram Shah entered wedlock on 27 February 1970. The wedding ceremony was as per Hindu traditions and featured pomp and splendor fit for a future king and queen.

The couple went on to have three children, HRH Prince Dipendra Bir Bikram Shah, HRH Princess Shruti Rajya Laxmi Shah and HRH Prince Nirajan Bir Bikram Shah. In 1998, the royal couple became grandparents when their daughter, HRH Princess Shruti gave birth to her first child, Girwani Rajya Laxmi Rana. They had the joy of becoming grandparents again in the year 2000 when Princess Shruti and her husband welcomed their second daughter, Surangana Rajya Laxmi Rana.

Life as a Queen

Her Royal Highness Queen Aishwarya became the Queen consort when His Royal Highness Crown Prince Birendra ascended the throne as the King. As Queen, Her Majesty was a devoted companion and ally to His Majesty, often voicing her thoughts, opinions and advice. She supported HM King Birendra in fulfilling his duties and was dedicated to fulfilling her own roles as Queen and mother.

Work as Chadani

Outside of her royal duties, HM Queen Aishwarya was a talented writer and poet. Under the pen-name Chadani Shah, she wrote dozens of poems and songs. Some of her most acclaimed poems include Suvakamana bhari, Jaha jaha janchau timi, Aama bhayera and Euta manche ko.