In the summer of 1940, the Maharaja of Jaipur, His Highness Sir Sawai Man Singh ji Bahadur brought home the legendry beautiful Princess Ayesha/Gayatri Devi, of Cooch Behar, as his bride. His Highness, the Maharaja Sahib, being a modern thinking ruler, was very concerned that Girls’ education was one field in which Jaipur was far behind other states & provinces in India. So, one morning he asked Her Highness what could be done to get the women out of the shackles of the ‘purdah’. ‘Give me a school and I will try’ she said, ‘Once the girls go to a school there will be no ‘purdah’ in a few years. His Highness immediately summoned his Prime Minister Sir Mirza Ismail, and the Education & Finance Minister, Rao Bahadur Amarnath Atal. The order to allot land and plans ready for the school building was given. Her Highness discussed her ideas with the two ministers - the foundation of Maharani Gayatri Devi School was, thus, laid.
Thus Maharani Gayatri Devi Girls’ School was founded on 4th July 1943 by Her Highness Maharani Gayatri Devi, with His Highness Sir Sawai Man Singh ji of Jaipur as its Patron. The distinguished Patron, the Founder, the eminent Members of the Board of Governors, along with the dedication and experience of the founder Principal, Miss Lillian G. Lutter combined to establish this school. From a small beginning in 1943 with 24 students, the school has risen to the stature and prestige it commands today as a premier centre of value-based education and learning. The school began on the lines of the British Public School pattern, keeping Indian cultural and traditional values intact in order to shape and equip the students, then drawn from homes steeped in the claustrophobic orthodoxy of the “Purdah Age Aristocracy”, to step out into the mainstream world with confidence and a will to do their best and face situations brought about by the winds of change that swept across the globe and India Post World War II. The school was affiliated to the Cambridge School Certificate Syllabus. The first batch to appear for this examination had to travel to Ajmer, then the only centre in Rajputana, in 1946. As the veil of purdah lifted slowly and gently, requiring great tact and delicate handling by the Highnesses and Miss Lutter, MGD entered a phase of phenomenal growth. Its fame spread far and wide. Being Residential cum Day Boarding School for girls from across the country and overseas.
Miss Lutter put things into “over drive” and by 1950 was able to overcome the purdah hurdle completely. MGD was accepted as a member of the Public School Council of India, as the first Girls’ Public School in India and remained the only one until 1976. In 1950, MGD also became a centre for the Cambridge Examination for Jaipur. In1962, the school shifted to the Indian School Certificate Board. The Silver Jubilee was celebrated in 1968. Dedication Day started with the majestic sound of 25 ‘Shankhs’, unfurling of School Flag by Miss L.G. Lutter. Golden Jubilee was celebrated in the year 1993. For this year’s Prize Giving function, the Chief Guest was Shri K R Narayanan, Vice President of India, Governor of Rajasthan Shri Chenna Reddy was the Guest of Honour.
The School’s Diamond Jubilee was a sparkling event in 2003. Rajmata Sahiba was the Chief Guest for all the functions. Emerald Jubilee of MGD was celebrated in the year 2008.75th year celebrations were held with much fanfare in 2018.The school is all set to celebrate its Oak Anniversary, this year, as it completes 80 years of existence (1943-2023), providing “Education Beyond Excellence”.
The Foundation stone for the Main Building of the school was laid down by HH Rajmata Gayatri Devi on 30th July, 1944, for the House of Science by Shri Hari Bhau Upadhaya, Minister of Education, Rajasthan on 22nd September, for the Maharaja Jagat Singh Wing by HH Rajmata Gayatri Devi on 4th September, 1998 and for the Frolic Children’s Park by Rani Vidya Devi on 25th September, 2013. On 6th February, 2013, the school library was reinstituted and inaugurated with the name “Ms Lillian G Lutter Memorial Library and Reading Room.”
In the eighty years since its inception, MGD has been steered by the following Principals:
- Late Miss. L.G. Lutter (1943-1980) (Founder Principal, at the helm for 37 years )
- Late Miss. U. Sircar (June 1980 – July 1981)
- Late Miss. S. Doonga Ji (July 1981- December 1988)
- Late Dr. Mrs. G.D. Bakshi (January 1989- April 2009)
- Mrs. Suniti Sharma (May 2009-April 2018)
- Mrs. Archana S Mankotia took over in May, 2018. She is currently the Principal of the school.