७ नोभेम्बर १९४९ – १ जुन २००१

उहाँकी महामहिम महारानी

ऐश्वर्या राज्य लक्ष्मी देवी

आधिकारिक महारानी ऐश्वर्या राज्य लक्ष्मी देवी शाहले ३१ जनवरी १९७२ मा उनका पतिको, उनका महामहिम राजा बीरेन्द्र वीर बिक्रम शाह देवले सिंहासन ग्रहण गर्दा, उनको सम्माननीय रानीको रूपमा ईमानदारीपूर्वक सेवा गर्नु भएको थियो। नेपालका रानीको रूपमा उनको भूमिकामा उनले राष्ट्रका विभिन्न संगठनहरूको नेतृत्व गर्दै र महत्त्वपूर्ण समारोहहरूमा र प्रतिनिधिहरूको उपस्थितिमा उनका महामहिमको तर्फबाट योगदान पुर्‍याउनु भएको थियो। उनी प्रायः राजा बीरेन्द्रसँग विश्वभरिका राज्य भ्रमणमा सँगै जानुहुन्थ्यो।

रानीको रूपमा, उहाँ राजा प्रति समर्पित साथी र सहयोगी थिइन्, प्रायः आफ्ना विचार, धारणा र सल्लाह व्यक्त गर्नुहुन्थ्यो।

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 Chandani, were sung by some of most popular singers of the time. 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) Miss Aishwarya and Crown Prince Birendra 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

Aishwarya was born on 7 November 1949 to General Kendra Shumsher Jang Bahadur Rana and his wife Shree Rajya Lakshmi 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 Jang Bahadur Rana and Uday Shumsher Jang Bahadur Rana, and two sisters, Queen Komal Rajya Lakshmi Devi Shah and Princess Prekshya Rajya Lakshmi Devi Shah.

As a young girl, Aishwarya 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 SLC or 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

Aishwarya Rajya Lakshmi Devi Rana and the then Prince Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev 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, Dipendra (1971), Shruti (1976) and Nirajan(1978). In 1998, the royal couple became grandparents when their daughter, Shruti gave birth to her first child, Girwani Rajya Lakshmi Devi Rana. They had the joy of becoming grandparents again in the year 2000 when Shruti and her husband welcomed their second daughter, Surangana Rajya Lakshmi Devi Rana.

Life as a Queen

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

Work as Chandani Shah

Outside of her royal duties, 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.