The Maharani of Indore

The Maharani of Indore, Maharani Sharmishta was the American wife and Queen of Maharaja Tukoji Rao Holkar of Indore  (an article about the Maharaja is already posted in this blog- http://adventoftheavatar.blogspot.in/2012/07/photo-of-maharaja-tukojirao-holkar.html )had the devotion in Shri Nathji which was equal to that of her husband. When Shri Nathji came to Indore in January 1955, on route to Mumbai, he desired to meet the Maharaja and the Maharani. He went to the Shiv Vilas Palace where they were residing.
(In picture -The palace of the Maharaja of Indore) The Raja and Rani rushed to meet Shri Nathji and His family. They insisted that Shri Nathji and His family stay with them for few days. But Shri Nathji agreed to only to stay with them till lunch. The Maharaja and Maharani served Shri NAthji with great respect, with their own hands. And also served, Pran Nathji and Priya Nathji with the same reverence. After they meals they brought water and washed hands of Shri Nathji and Mateshwari themselves. Shri Nathji was greatly pleased with them. When Shri Nathji took their leave they held the door of their Standard car open as a mark of respect. Every year Shri Nathji send His birthday cards to the Maharaja and received a telegram of greetings and obeisances each time. He continued this till his death in Paris on the 21st May 1978. After his death the Maharani of Indore continued to acknowledge the invitation cards till the last days of her life upon earth. She died at Indore in 1995.
She was born in Washington, USA, 9th September 1907. Her name at birth was Nancy Anne Miller. She was educated at the Univ. of Washington, Seattle. Her father was Mr John Miller, of Seattle, Washington, He also used to do gold mining at Gulch, Alaska. Her mother was Mrs Jennie Miller, daughter of Louis Schaeffer, of Seattle, Washington, who had come to US, from Lausanne, Switzerland. Maharaja Tukoji Rao Holkar fell in love with her and wished to marry her. She thus converted to Hinduism. And as part of this process, she became a member of the Dhanar caste and was adopted by Princess Tara Bai and Colonel Lambhate before her marriage. She married  Maharaja Tukoji Rao Holkar at the Daryava Mahal, Barwada on 17th March 1928. There after she was addressed as H.H. Maharani Shrimant Akhand Soubhagyavati Sharmista Devi Sahib Holkar [Sharmista Devi in short] She gave birth to four daughters -
Maharajkumari Shrimant Sharada Raje Sahib Holkar on 26th January 1929
Maharajkumari Shrimant Sita Raje Sahib Holkar in 1930
Maharajkumari Shrimant Sumitra Raje Sahib Holkar on 14th November 1932
Maharajkumari Shrimant Sushila Raje Sahib Holkar. on January 1937