Laxmi Bai was the maternal niece of the internationally renowned violinist, Dwaram Venkatswamy Naidu.
Her father, originally from Yelamanchili in Vizag district, moved to Jeypore in Odisha. Laxmi Bai was the first woman graduate of Odisha.
Laxmi Bai did her BA from Utkal University and later did MA through postal course from Banaras Hindu University. Laxmi Bai was very popular for being the perfect host, especially when her husband was the external affairs minister and also when he was the Governor of Sikkim and Kerala.
She is survived by a daughter, Jalaja, and son, Dr Vinay, a senior surgical gastroenterologist.