Marriage
The era of leading a normal life was however destined to end at quite an early age. In 1941, at the age of 22, Lekha was married to Jivajirao Scindia, Maharaja of Gwalior, one of the largest, richest and highest-ranking 21-gun-salute princely states in India. As per tradition, a new name was chosen for Lekha based upon the matching of the couple's horoscopes, and she assumed the name 'Vijayaraje Scindia'.
Her grandfather having died, Lekha's maternal uncles were instrumental in negotiating the alliance. Her husband family, the Scindias, were among the most prominent Maratha families of the land. The fact that Lekha belonged to one of the hoariest Rajput families in the sub-continent, (albeit to an impoverished cadet branch of such), undoubtedly lent special weight, in the eyes of her husband's family, to the suit that was pressed on Lekha's behalf by her uncles. Nevertheless, Vijayaraje Scindia recollects in her autobiography that she did face some initial hostility from her new family. She sensed that this wariness on their part was based on the fear that her non-Maratha heritage may result in the traditions of the ruling family being impacted. Vijayaraje privately resolved never to allow this to become an issue; by sedulous effort, she becoming utterly acclimatized to the Maratha customs and traditions of the Scindia family and thus won over her detractors.
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