Princess Sudhira Sundari Devi Narayan. (Photos: Wikimedia Commons/Bassano Ltd)
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 to Historified. “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…