Queen Aishwarya of Nepal facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Aishwarya
Queen Aishwarya in 1972
Queen consort of Nepal
Tenure	31 January 1972 – 1 June 2001
Coronation	24 February 1975
Born	(1949-11-07)7 November 1949 Lazimpat Durbar, Kathmandu, Kingdom of Nepal
Died	1 June 2001(2001-06-01) (aged 51) Narayanhiti Royal Palace, Kathmandu, Kingdom of Nepal
Cause of death	Assassination (gunshot wounds)
Spouse	King Birendra ​ (m. 1970)​
Issue	Dipendra of Nepal Princess Shruti of Nepal Prince Nirajan of Nepal
Full name Aishwarya Rajya Lakshmi Devi Shah
House	Rana; by birth Shah; by marriage
Father	General Kendra Shumsher Jang Bahadur Rana
Mother	Shree Rajya Lakshmi Devi Shah
Religion	Hinduism

Aishwarya Rajya Lakshmi Devi Shah (Nepali: ऐश्वर्य राज्य लक्ष्मी देवी शाह) was the Queen of Nepal. She was born on November 7, 1949, and passed away on June 1, 2001. She was queen from 1972 to 2001.

People also called her Bada Maharani. She was the wife of King Birendra. She was also the mother of King Dipendra, Prince Nirajan, and Princess Shruti.

Aishwarya was the oldest of three daughters. Her parents were General Kendra Shumsher Jang Bahadur Rana and Shree Rajya Lakshmi Devi Shah. She was born in Lazimpat Durbar, Lazimpat, Kathmandu. She was known for her classic beauty, hairstyles, and elegant way of dressing.

Education and Learning

Queen Aishwarya went to school in different places. She studied at St. Helen's Convent in Kurseong, India. She also attended St Mary's in Jawalakhel, Nepal.

In 1963, she finished her S.L.C. (School Leaving Certificate) from Kanti Ishwari Rajya Laxmi High School. Later, she went to Padmakanya College. This college was connected to Tribhuvan University. She earned her arts degree in 1967.

Her Family Background

Queen Aishwarya came from the Rana family. This family had ruled Nepal for over 100 years. Her father was General Kendra Shumsher Jang Bahadur Rana. Her mother was Shree Rajya Lakshmi Shah.

She had two brothers and two sisters. Her sisters were Queen Komal Rajya Lakshmi Devi Shah and Princess Prekshya Rajya Lakshmi Devi Shah. After Queen Aishwarya passed away, her younger sister Komal became the queen.

In 1970, she married Birendra. He was the Crown Prince of Nepal at the time. They were also second cousins.

Crown Princess Aishwarya in 1970

Aishwarya's youngest sister, Prekshya, also married into the Shah dynasty. She married Prince Dhirendra, who was King Birendra's brother. Princess Prekshya and Prince Dhirendra later divorced in the 1980s. Sadly, Princess Prekshya died in a helicopter crash in 2001.

Becoming Queen of Nepal

When King Mahendra passed away in 1972, Birendra became the new King. This made Aishwarya the Queen consort of Nepal.

Queen Aishwarya was known for being active and smart. She was also very beautiful. She organized many social and cultural events. She always supported her husband, King Birendra, even when things were difficult.

Some people thought she was too strong-willed at first. But over time, people saw her as a caring partner for the King. Her popularity grew as people understood her better. She was a thoughtful leader who understood what Nepal and its people needed.

Her Literary Works

Queen Aishwarya loved literature. She wrote many poems using the pen-name Chadani Shah. These poems were collected in a book called Aphnai Akash Aphnai Paribesh.

The book also included reviews from famous Nepali literature critics. Besides writing poems, she was also a talented song composer. Her songs were often played on Radio Nepal and Nepal Television.

Tragic Passing

Queen Aishwarya died on June 1, 2001. She was shot during a tragic event at the palace. Her husband, King Birendra, also died. Her children, Prince Nirajan and Princess Shruti, also passed away. Seven other members of the royal family also lost their lives.

Many people believe this event happened because of strong disagreements. These disagreements were about the Crown Prince's plan to marry Devyani Rana.

Honours and Awards

Queen Aishwarya received many special awards and honors during her life. These came from Nepal and other countries around the world.

National Honours

• Kingdom of Nepal:
  • Member with Collar of the Order of Mahendra
  • Member Grand Cross of the Order of Honour
  • Member Grand Cross of the Order of the Benevolent Ruler
  • Member Grand Cross of the Order of Gorkha Dakshina Bahu
  • King Birendra Investiture Medal (February 24, 1975)
  • Commemorative Silver Jubilee Medal of King Birendra (January 31, 1997)

Foreign Honours

• Denmark: Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog
• Egypt: Grand Cross of the Order of the Virtues, Special Class
• Finland: Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose
• France: Grand Cross of the Order of National Merit
• Germany: Grand Cross Special Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
• Japan: Dame Grand Cordon of the Order of the Chrysanthemum
• Lao Royal Family: Dame Grand Cross of Royal Order of the Million Elephants and the White Parasol
• Pakistan: Grand Cross of the Order of Excellence
• Socialist Republic of Romania: Grand Cross of the Order of 23 August
• Spain:
  • Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Charles III
  • Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic
• Thailand: Dame Grand Cordon of the Order of Chula Chom Klao
• Yugoslavia: Grand Cross Great Star of the Order of the Yugoslav Star

See Also

In Spanish: Aishwarya Rajya Lakshmi Devi Shah para niños