Ahilyabai Holkar: The Eternal History Maker

In the history of India, there have been many kings and queens, however, there are very few whose contribution has been remembered even after their death. One such ruler was Punyashlok Ahilyabai Holkar of Maratha kingdom, who went on to achieve this feat. Punyashloka Ahilyabai Holkar is the reason why the magnificent city of Indore is existent in its present form today. Holkar’s legacy is so evident that the temples that she helped in re-innovating are a crucial part of the country’s cultural legacy today. The legacy of Ahilyabai Holkar is so strong that her contributions were recalled by leaders like Annie Besant, Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, John Keay to name a few in the 20th century.

Ahilyabai Holkar was born to Mankoji Shinde in modern day Ahmednagar city of Maharashtra. From a young age she was interested in administration, warfare and spirituality, which was against the social taboo at that time in the nation. Ahilyabai’s father taught her to read and write, which came in handy to her towards the later stages of her life, when she led a successful cultural rebirth of the nation. Ahilyabai was married off at 8 years of age to Khande Rao & had a son as well. It is said that her mother-in-law was responsible for inculcating a strong value system rooted in Indian culture to the young princess.

Ahilyabai’s reign started very late in 1767, post the unfortunate death of her husband and her son. The influence of her in-laws was so strong that when she wanted to commit sati, her father-in law stopped her from doing so. When she took over the throne, it was believed by many that she wouldn't be able to survive in the political turmoil of the empire and she was attacked by the neighbouring peshwas, however, with the help of her father in law, Malhar Rao Holkar reversed the invasion using strong diplomatic means. This single incident changed her fortunes as she was able to consolidate her power over the throne later on.

Ahilyabai Holkar is credited with developing Indore state to a model state. The works that started in her reign went on to create infrastructural progress for Madhya Pradesh, centuries later as well. 

Ahilyabai was a well known philanthropist who never used public money for charity. Holkar in her reign, renovated temples from north to south and east to west direction of the nation. 

The modern day Shivlinga in Kashi Vishwanath Temple was built by Ahilyabai Holkar, she was the visionary who connected Ganges to the temple sanctum for the first time. Ahilya Ghat & Manikarnika Ghat are testimony to her legacy. Her works even lay resemblance in Vishnupad Temple of Bihar, which was built by her in 1787, interestingly Bihar was never ruled by Marathas, but it was the love for Sanatana Hindu religion that made Ahilyabai Holkar take such a bold decision. Ahilyabai renovated Jyotirlingas & sites of religious importance across the nation: Somnath, Tryambak, Pushkar, Vrindavan, Nathdwara, Haridwar, Kedarnath, Badrinath, were all beautified and given a new vision by the illustrious ruler.

Her contributions in the form of temples still lives on in cities of Pune, Srisailam, Rameshwaram, Nashik, Omkareshwar, Udupi, Gokarna, Kathmandu, cities which interestingly have a temple at their centre of development. In fact, to develop Hindu temples, Ahilyabai Holkar used to carry out negotiations with local rulers to do the same. She had carried out negotiations with the Nizams, Afghans to redevelop Hindu temples.

One example of her economic reforms is the Maheshwari Sari of Madhya Pradesh which is world famous in today’s day and time. She is credited with being one of the foremost rulers in the country who extensively promoted trade and commerce, both internally as well as externally. It is said that she did not tax the people heavily on their agricultural produce and instead used her own personal funds to run the palace.

The amount of adulation she received throughout her lifetime, did not reduce the amount of difficulties she faced as well. She lost her husband, son, her beloved father in law and many close acquaintances throughout her life. Despite facing so many personal problems in her lifetime, Ahilyabai Holkar emerged as a woman leader whose legacy is lived by millions of Indians in the form of various rituals carried out in temples across the nations. It is with this reason, why for many citizens, Punyashlok Ahilyabai Holkar is a beacon and by far the best representative of Nari Shakti in the country.

About the author: Srikar Srivatsa Dahagam is an incoming student of MA International Economics at the Graduate Institute of International & Development Studies, Geneva.