Sanchaita Gajapati, the heir of Vijayanagara Gajapathis and daughter of Ananda Gajapati Raju has stood strong against all odds. Sanchaita Gajapati, who is the female hereditary Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the MANSAS (Maharaja Alak Narayan Society of Arts and Sciences) Trust and Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Simachalam Devasthanam in Visakhapatnam, hails from a distinguished royal and political family of Vizianagaram dynasty of Andhra Pradesh. Her grandfather, the former Maharaja of Vizianagaram PVG Raju has given her the responsibility of the MANSAS which runs many educational institutions and temples against the will of her uncle and ex-Union Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju. Controversy had erupted after she took over the charge as Chairperson of MANSAS trust. Her uncle Ashok Gajapathi Raju said, “She is not a Hindu. She had never been with Gajapathi Raju family nor had she participated in any of the festivities in 105-odd temples maintained by the trust. My brother used to feel bad about the language she was using when he was alive. Now, she says she will restore the glory of the trust. What she is doing now is only trying to sell the trust lands at cheaper rates.” Sanchaita refuted the allegations and also came up with proofs in her support. Sanchaita said, “Yes, after the death of my father, I was away from Vijayanagaram and brought up in Delhi with my mother due to some family disputes but I am heir apparent of Vizianagaram Gajapathian dynasty as a granddaughter of PVG Raju. My grandfather always wanted girls to go for higher studies and women to take great responsibilities. Both my parents are Hindus and just because I took a selfie in the Vatican, I could not become a Christian. I respect all religions.” The TDP said that Jagan Mohan Reddy’s government wanted to grab the lands of MANSAS trust and that’s why she was appointed by Reddy but Sanchaita proved it wrong by saying she would like to order an inquiry into the lost lands of the trust and protect them.
