The ladies of the royal family of the Princely State of Cooch Behar were strong-willed and had minds of their own. Princess Sudhira Sundari Devi Narayan (1894-1968), the youngest daughter of Maharaja Nripendra Narayan and Suniti Devi of Cooch Behar, exemplified this spirit. Among the Princely States in India, the members of the Cooch Behar royal family were known for their modern approach. Maharaja Nripendra Narayan’s decision to marry a non-royal was a move that showed his progressive attitude.
Betrothals at an young age was common, especially amongst the royal families that would seek spouses for their children within royalty. Princess Sudhira was betrothed to the Yuvraj of Kapurthala at the tender age of 5, according toHistorified. “However, despite her betrothal, Princess Sudhira fell in love with her sister’s brother-in-law, Alan Mander.”
She was adamant to marry Mander, that lead to confrontations within her family. “Even an extended cruise orchestrated by her mother, Maharani Suniti Devi, failed to deter Princess Sudhira’s resolve. Eventually, Princess Sudhira threatened to join a convent if she were not allowed to marry Mander, and her steadfastness prevailed,” states Historified.
Against all the odds, the princess married Mander at Woodlands, Calcutta, in February 1914. They went on to have four children together. They lived in London, where Princess Sudhira became an activist for women’s rights.
The Wightwick Manor was owned by The Mander family. “Their wider familial network included Alan and Lionel Mander, who married Sudhira and Pretwa, the daughters of the Maharajah of Cooch Behar. This connected the Manders to the Indian campaign for enfranchisement during the 1920s and 30s. Sudhira and Pretwa’s aunt, Mrinalini Sen, was heavily involved in suffrage agitation in London in 1919 and became a central figurehead for the women’s movement in Bengal during the 1920s,” states an article – Women’s Suffrage and Colonialism: new perspectives and collaborations by Alexandra Hughes-Johnson.
Princess Sudhira joined her aunt, in these campaigns. She also worked with Princess Sophia Duleep Singh for the Red Cross and raised funds for Indian soldiers during World War I.
Princess Sudhira was also the paternal aunt of Maharani Gayatri Devi of Jaipur.