Importance of Ahilyabai Holkar

General Studies Paper-1

Context: Madhya Pradesh is marking the 300th birth anniversary of Maratha queen Devi Ahilyabai Holkar with a major state-led campaign.

Ahilyabai Holkar

• Early Life: She was the Holkar Queen of the Maratha-ruled Malwa kingdom in India.
  • She was Born in Chaundi village, Maharashtra, to Mankoji Rao Shinde.
  • She received an education from her father despite the norms against women’s education at the time.
• Personal Tragedies: Ahilyabai Holkar’s husband, Khanderao, died in the Battle of Kumbher in 1754. Twelve years later, her father-in-law, Malhar Rao Holkar, also passed away.
  • Her son Malerao, who was mentally ill, died in 1767.
• Role as a queen :   In 1767, she became the queen of the Malwa kingdom.
  • She moved the capital to Maheshwar south of Indore on the Narmada River.
  • She defended her kingdom from invaders, led armies herself, and appointed Tukojirao Holkar as Chief of Army.
  • She broke another tradition when she married her daughter to Yashwantrao, a brave but poor man after he succeeded in defeating the dacoits.
• Contributions : In the 18th century, she was instrumental in spreading the message of dharma and propagating industrialization. She was a devout ruler known for her charitable works.
  • She built hundreds of Hindu temples and rest houses (Dharmashalas) across India.
  • One of her most notable contributions was the renovation of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in 1780.
  • She also established a textile industry in Maheshwar, which today is very famous for its Maheshwari sarees.
  • She held daily public audiences to address people’s issues and engaged in extensive philanthropic work, including building temples, ghats, wells, tanks, and rest-houses across India.
• Legacy: She was known as the ‘Philosopher Queen,’ she passed away on 13 August 1795 at the age of 70.
  • Her reign is remembered as a period of peace, prosperity, and religious tolerance.
  • She was a capable and respected ruler, and after her death, she was revered as a saint by the people.
  • Her legacy endures through the many public works she commissioned.