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300th birth anniversary celebration of Ahilyabai Holkar
Bharatiya Janata Party National President and Union Minister Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda addressed the 300th birth anniversary celebration of Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar in Jaipur, on 31 May 2025. Prior to the event, he also participated in the Tiranga Yatra organized by the state BJP in Jaipur. Praising the multifaceted leadership of Ahilyabai Holkar, Shri Nadda said she made exceptional contributions in the fields of religion, culture, and social reform. He also described Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji’s leadership as a modern embodiment of that legacy, stating that schemes like Ujjwala, Jal Jeevan Mission, Jan Dhan, and Stand Up India have empowered women across the country.
Shri Nadda stated that he was honored to attend the 300th birth anniversary celebration of Punyashlok Ahilyabai Holkar. We often celebrate centuries and remember them, but the true dignity of that remembrance lies in drawing inspiration from their deeds and lives and making an effort to incorporate that into our own lives. Merely discussing them is not enough. If we learn something from such discussions and apply it to our lives, that would be the true tribute to Mata Ahilyabai Holkar and would give real meaning to this 300th anniversary. We all know that Mata Ahilyabai was not only a protector of religion but also a guardian of culture and a social reformer.
Very few leaders possess all these qualities together. Some may focus solely on religion and overlook social reform, while others may concentrate on culture and miss out on religious duties. But Mata Ahilyabai’s personality was a harmonious blend of all these—she was a protector of religion, a guardian of culture, and a reformer of society. She did not belong to the twenty-first century, but to the eighteenth century, a time when the Mughals ruled and the condition of women was extremely pitiable. The emergence of a great personality like Ahilyabai Holkar during such times and her guidance to society is truly inspirational for all of us.
Shri Nadda remarked that while speaking of progressiveness may be a trend today, offering a new vision and dedicating one’s life to women’s empowerment in the 18th century is a truly powerful source of inspiration. Therefore, Ahilyabai’s leadership in the 18th century was not only unique but also had a profound and decisive impact. She was the embodiment of resolve, once she made a decision, fulfilling it became the mission of her life. At the same time, she was full of courage and completely committed to her ideology. Her life was dedicated to a purpose. Mata
Shri Nadda stated that Ahilyabai Holkar undertook numerous initiatives with a vision for development. However, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a major campaign for women’s empowerment is underway. The Modi government has emphasized not just ‘women’s development’ but ‘women-led development,’ meaning holistic growth through women. The BJP has promoted campaigns like ‘Nari Tu Narayani’ and developed a ‘life cycle approach’ that encompasses policies for women’s empowerment from birth to education and achieving self-reliance. However, why did the ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ scheme have to wait until 2014 to be launched? Because previous governments were indifferent to it. Under the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, nearly 4.1 crore accounts have been opened so far. BJP has also played a significant role in the ‘Nari
During the event, BJP National Vice President Smt Vasundhara Raje Scindia, BJP National General Secretary & State In-Charge Shri Radha Mohan Das Agarwal, Union Minister Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Rajasthan Chief Minister Shri Bhajanlal Sharma, BJP State President Shri Madan Rathore, Deputy Chief Ministers Smt Diya Kumari and Shri Premchand Bairwa, among others were present.