Warrior Queen, Wise Ruler: The Enduring Legacy of Ahilyabai Holkar

There was a period when women were not allowed out of the house, it was considered a sin. The society builds a circle for women and they must follow it compulsorily. It took so many years and struggles to break the barriers that roped her life. Some women were afraid to break that barrier and some fearlessly broke that barrier and came out independently. They not only broke the customs and lived life as an example for the future ones. Here we are about to see one such Queen Ahilyabai Holkar, the fearless female ruler of India.

About Ahilyabai Holkar:

Ahilyabai Holkar was the Queen of Indore within the Maratha Empire. She was born on 31st May 1725 in Chaundi Village, (present-day Ahmednagar District) Maharashtra. She was born into the Marathi Hindu Family; her father was Mankoji Shinde. He was the head of the Chaundi Village. She was born in the era when girl children were considered a burden and restricted from going out of home and getting an education. But, Ahilyabai’s father, Mankoji taught her to read and write at home.

When Ahilyabai was eight years old, she did a temple service in the temple. On the same day, Malhar Rao Holkar, the commander in the army of Maratha Peshwa Baji Rao stopped in the Chaundi Village. He saw Ahilyabai’s work in the temple and was impressed by her act. Later, he decided to marry his son Khande Rao Holkar to Ahilyabai. In 1733, Khande Rao to the advice of Peshwa Bajirao, married Ahilyabai when she was only eight years old. After Marriage, Ahilyabai went on with her husband on many campaigns. Though she got married, she was a child; and brought up by her mother-in-law, Gautama Bai. The couple had a son, Male Rao Holkar and a daughter, Muktabai Holkar.

Life after Husband’s death:

In 1745, Khande Rao and his father laid the siege of the Kumher fort. When Khande Rao examined the troops, a cannonball fired from the opposite army hit him and he died on the spot. Ahilyabai was in so much grievance and she was even ready for the ritual of sati after her husband’s death. It was her mother-in-law who made her become a fearless character and personality. She trained Ahilyabai in administration, accounts and politics. Malhar Rao Holkar, father-in-law of Ahilyabai stopped her from the sati system and trained in military affairs. In 1766, Malhar Rao Holkar also died by leaving Khande Rao and Ahilyabai’s only son, Male Rao Holkar to become the ruler of the Indore reign. But, Male Rao ruled the reign under the regency of his mother, Ahilyabai Holkar. In 1767, Male Rao also died of his long disease at the age of 21.

Ahilyabai Holkar – the Queen of Malwa reign:

To make a proper administration for the reign of Indore, Ahilyabai sent a petition to Peshwa Madhav Rao to allow her to rule the reign of Malwa. It was opposed by some of the noble officers, but she had the full support of the Holkar army. During the time Malhar Rao was busy fighting in Delhi, Ahmad Shah Durrani invaded Punjab in 1765. Already trained in Military affairs and civil obedience, it was Ahilyabai who had fought against the Ahmad Shah’s army and she captured the Gohad Fort near Gwalior. The Petition she sent to Peshwa was permitted on 11 December 1767. She became the Queen of Malwa reign and Tukoji Rao Holkar, the adopted son of Malhar Rao Holkar became the Military Head of Malwa reign.

She was a fearless woman and fought hard to keep her reign by her side. History says, Ahilyabai led the army herself from the front and armed with bows and arrows on the elephant. The period of Queen Ahilyabai was best for the Malwa reign. She had ruled the reign for over 28 years in her wise and judicious way. She often visited her people and was always available for them.

Ahilyabai’s conflicts with Gangadhar Rao:

Malhar Rao Holkar’s Dewan, Gangadhar Rao, is one of the trusted advisors to the Holkar family. After the death of Male Rao Holkar, he thought Ahilyabai was a pitiful widow who could not do anything without the men of her house. So he decided to capture the Malwa dynasty. He executed the plan for his betrayal activity. He asked Ahilyabai to adopt him as her son and give him all the administrative power to him. But she refused to do that. This angered Gangadhar Rao and he started a rebellion against her. He requested Raghunatharao, uncle of Peshwa Madhavrao to attack the Holkar domain of Indore. Ragunatharao’s army was on the banks of river Shipra to attack them. This action was kept in front of Ahilyabai’s court through her spies. She immediately sent letters to the friends and fellow countrymen of her father-in-law, Mahadji Scinde and Damaji Rao Gaekwad to seek help. They assembled the Holkar army along with Ahilyabai’s Military Head, Tukoji. She got support from the Nagpur army and even Peshwa Madhavrao authorized her to take action against Ragunatharao. Ahilyabai herself went to the battlefield with her female bodyguards. Ragunatharao was astonished to see her on the battlefield and backed off. He said he came to offer his condolence for her dead son, Male Rao Holkar. Later, Gangadhar Rao was kept under house arrest.

Ahilyabai’s prosperous rule and the emergence of temples:

When the whole of Central India was struggling for the Power of other reigns, Ahilyabai’s Malwa was never attacked to be captured. It was one such powerful and peaceful dynasty that was ruled by her. She made Maheshwar the capital city of Malwa. The capital city flourished with literature, music, arts and most importantly, industrialization. She established the textile industry, which is now famous in Maheshwar Saris. She also supported the farmers and the rise of merchants and cultivators. She was very fare with them by not including excess taxes or through feudal rights. Craftsmen, sculptors and artists received salaries and honours during her reign. She valued the traditional laws and orders. She never donated or contributed to any sources of illegal money or the people’s taxes. She gave her own property’s money to the charity. She also helped the childless widows. The Holkar family also never used the money from the people for their personal use.

She improved the Malwa reign by building forts, and roads, and repairing Ghats. She even built wells, tanks and rest houses for pilgrims from the Himalayas to South India. She sponsored festivals and donated money to build, repair and restore temples. The list of sites that was adorned by Ahilyabai was: Kashi, Gaya, Somnath, Ayodhya, Mathura, Haridwar, Kanchi, Avanti, Dwarka, Badrinath Temple, Rameshwaram and Puri Jagannath. In 1742, her father-in-law made a plan to demolish the mosque and reconstruct the Vishweshwar temple on that site. However, this plan was opposed by many Muslim Nawabs and it was not materialized. Around 1750, Maharaja of Jaipur commissioned land around the site of the mosque to build the Kashi Vishwanath temple. Still, it was not built by anyone. It was constructed during the period of Ahilyabai. In 1780, she rebuilt the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi.

She also constructed over 9 temples including, Shri Tarakeshwar, Shri Gangaji, Ahilya Dwarkeshwar, and Gautameshwar. She reconstructed the Manikarnika Ghat, Dashashwamedh Ghat, Janana Ghat, Ahilya Ghat, and Shitala Ghat. She builds many Dharmashala: Uttarkashi Dharmashala, Rameshwar Panchkoshi Dharmashala, Kapila Dhara Dharmashala and many gardens. In 1787, she constructed the Vishnupad temple in Gaya, Bihar. That temple was built under much hard work.

Last years of Queen Ahilyabai Holkar:

Ahilyabai died on August 13, 1795, at the age of 70. She was one such warrior princess, who contributed to the country from a religious perspective as well as the people in need. She had died centuries before, but still, the temples she built and the Dharamshala speak about her legacy.

• Ahilyabai’s legacy was mentioned by the first Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in his autobiography, The Discovery of India in 1946.
• Many important people around the world talk about the legacy of Ahilyabai Holkar in the form of literature.
• Indian Postal Department honoured her through a stamp on 25th August 1996 by the Republic of India.
• As a tribute, Indore International Airport was named after her, Devi Ahilyabai Airport.
• Indore University is also named after her, Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya.
• On 13th March 2024, the Maharashtra Government approved to rename Ahmadnagar to Ahilyanagar.
• Films, plays, and books were published and portrayed the life of Queen Ahilyabai Holkar.