PrintFriendly
This year marks the 300th birth anniversary of Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar. On this occasion, the entire nation of India is celebrating. India did not become a world leader by chance—its women have earned places in history that even the gods have been denied. The iron-willed queen and mother of the people, Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar, stands among the greatest women of the world, thanks to her exemplary life and accomplishments, which have left a profound and lasting impact on Indian history and the hearts of its people. The world’s largest women’s organization,
Many women have left an indelible mark on society through their contributions in various fields. Among them is the righteous and revered queen of Maheshwar (in present-day Madhya Pradesh), Devi Ahilyabai Holkar, who gave a unique identity to the Indore-Malwa region
Rashtra Sevika Samiti, follows Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar as an ideal of leadership and action.If we examine the history of leading and ancient nations around the world, we will find very few women who have had such deep influence on their country’s history and collective consciousness. But this cannot be said of India, for here, many women have left an indelible mark on society through their contributions in various fields. Among them is the righteous and revered queen of Maheshwar (in present-day Madhya Pradesh), Devi Ahilyabai Holkar, who gave a unique identity to the Indore-Malwa region. Some Western and left-leaning historians have deliberately given her minimal mention in history books. And it would not be an exaggeration to say that we, too, have failed to give her the rightful place she truly deserves.
Ahilyabai Holkar assumed leadership of the Holkar state in 1767, at a time when chaos and internal conflicts were at their peak across India, and the cruelty of the British was steadily increasing. It was during this turbulent period that the Battle of Bharatpur seemed to arrive as a test for Malhar Rao, Khanderao, and Devi Ahilyabai. A fierce war broke out between the Jats and the Marathas, and its tragic outcome was the loss of Khanderao’s life.
For Malhar Rao, the pain of losing his son was unbearable. In her grief, Ahilyabai resolved to become a sati, declaring that if her beloved husband no longer lived, then her own life held no meaning. However, after much pleading and persuasion from her father-in-law Malhar Rao, she renounced the idea of sati and instead took on the duty of serving her people with unwavering devotion.
“ Embodying the principle of “Bahujan Hitaya, Bahujan Sukhaya”—for the welfare and happiness of the many—Ahilyabai renounced royal luxuries and made the service of the sorrowful and the suffering the ultimate goal of her life. The values and guidance she received from her father-in-law, Malhar Rao, shaped her into a ruler endowed with all the qualities of a skilled and just administrator.The initiatives she undertook for the well-being of her people earned her the revered title of Lokmata (Mother of the People). She made every possible effort for the good of her subjects—ensuring their welfare, safety, and comfort, protecting the state from foreign invasions, rebels, and bandits, and laying a strong foundation for good governance.On one hand, she safeguarded her kingdom from thieves and dacoits, and on the other, she defended it to the very end against external enemies. She also carried out numerous historic reforms aimed at the holistic development of her state.
After the death of her father-in-law, Ahilyabai’s son Male Rao Holkar took over the reins of the kingdom under her leadership. However, a great calamity struck both Ahilyabai and Malwa when, on 5th April 1767, just a few months after ascending the throne, her son passed away. It is easy to imagine the grief and mental state of a woman who loses, one after another, her husband, father-in-law, and son. Yet, Queen Ahilyabai did not bow down before fate or circumstance.Considering the people of Malwa as her own children, she took over the reins of the kingdom on 11th December 1767. Within a short time, the queen’s popularity spread throughout the state. Those who had set their sights on Malwa to exploit the situation were forced to retreat.To protect her kingdom and her people, she not only took up arms but also led her army from the front in several battles and campaigns. At the same time, despite limited resources, she made proper arrangements to ensure smooth governance and carried out remarkable work for the progress of the state.
She not only took up arms but also led her army from the front in several battles and campaigns. At the same time, despite limited resources, she made proper arrangements to ensure smooth governance and carried out remarkable work for the progress of the state
She focused on the progress and prosperity of every section of her people. During her 30 years of rule, people of all castes, genders, and religions felt safe under her governance. The kingdom entrusted to her by Malhar Rao was nurtured by her as if it were her own child. She constructed wells and rest houses for travelers throughout India. She worked not only for the welfare of her own state’s people but also for the people of other states. Some of the wells and rest houses she built are still in use today. The historical public welfare works of Ahilyabai can still be seen in Maheshwar, Indore, Ujjain, the Narmada river ghats, Kashi, Somnath, and other cities and religious places across India.
Currently, many states in India have public welfare schemes named after her. Even today, most people know how she had the Kashi Vishwanath temple renovated. In addition, she not only constructed temples across the country but also had many temples rebuilt. She built a rest house for pilgrims at the Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas. She had temples constructed in Ayodhya and Nashik dedicated to Lord Ram, built the Chintamani Ganapati temple in Ujjain, and also
When it comes to Ahilyabai’s administration and state management, she systematically expanded the state and divided it into talukas (sub-districts) and districts for better governance
had the Somnath temple and the temple at the remote, forest-surrounded Shri Shailam in the South reconstructed.Through her welfare and philanthropic works, she also contributed significantly to nation-building and made commendable efforts to establish religious, social, and national unity in the country. For all these endeavors, she solely used her “private wealth,” which was entirely under the control of the royal family.
In Indian culture, women are depicted as Durga and Chandi. Similarly, Ahilyabai gave women their rightful place and made full use of the power of womanhood. She demonstrated that women are in no way inferior to men. She herself used to accompany her husband to the battlefield. Even after her husband’s death, she continued to lead her armies and participate in wars.
While much is said today about women’s empowerment, 300 years ago, Ahilyabai implemented numerous reforms for the welfare of women and their fundamental rights.
Before Ahilyabai ascended the throne, the prevailing rule was that if a woman’s husband died and she had no son, all his property would be confiscated by the state treasury. However, Ahilyabai changed this law and granted the widow the right to inherit her husband’s property. She allowed her to use the property as she wished, either for her own enjoyment or for public welfare work. This decision, in terms of public welfare, was very significant at the time.Ahilyabai’s special attendant was also a woman. During her reign, the ghats she built for bathing on the rivers had separate arrangements for women. Great care was taken to ensure the respect and dignity of women. The practice of educating girls, which was somewhat common in households, was expanded under her rule. She also paid special attention to ensuring that women were given proper alms and donations.
The greatest change in the governance and administration of Lokmata Ahilyabai was the separation of the army from the state. She appointed her trusted officer, Subedar Tukojirao Holkar, as her commander-in-chief, giving him full control over the army. Meanwhile, the responsibilities of governance and administration remained firmly in her own hands.
She also separated the state’s expenses from her own, meaning the money she spent on herself came from her personal savings, while the expenditure for the betterment of the state came from the royal treasury. Lokmata Ahilyabai had two funds: Khasgi (private) and Sarajami (state fund). The Khasgi fund was her personal fund inherited from her father-in-law, which initially amounted to sixteen crore rupees, along with regular income from the villages under the trust. The Sarajami fund was used for administrative and military expenses. She invested all the wealth from her personal fund into public welfare. In governance, she established a level of transparency that was exceptional for that time. The management of wealth and administration she implemented was unparalleled and not seen in other developed nations and states of that era.
When it comes to Ahilyabai’s administration and state management, she systematically expanded the state and divided it into talukas (sub-districts) and districts for better governance. Keeping the convenience of both the public and the administration in mind, she established centers in each taluka and district and, wherever necessary, set up courts for justice. Several land reforms were carried out during her reign. The process of assigning numbers to measure land, known as Khasra, was introduced during her time. She organized the work of all the village panchayats and established steps to ensure access to justice. The final appeal was heard by the ministers, but if anyone was dissatisfied with their decision, Queen Ahilyabai herself would listen to the appeal.
The primary reason for Lokmata Ahilyabai’s esteemed reputation is not just that she had restoration work done at temples across the country, including the four Dhams, twelve Jyotirlingas, and numerous other temples, started grain fields, built dharamshalas, constructed dams on rivers, planted trees, developed roads and step-wells, and also provided support to mosques and pir dargahs. The real reason the
Maa Ahilya was a devout follower of Lord Shiva, and royal orders often carried the phrase “Shri Shankar Aajnya” (the command of Lord Shankar). However, this was not blind devotion. As the renowned thinker Kashinath Trivedi states, her belief was that “the power is not mine, nor is the wealth mine; whatever exists belongs to God, and as His representative, it belongs to society.”
people revere her is that she established herself as an example of someone who had everything but kept nothing for herself.
Everything she had was for the people, and her commitment to public welfare was paramount. She sacrificed her personal interests for the greater good. Her individual stream merged into the vast ocean of collective welfare, and for this reason, she did not remain a river; she became the ocean. There are many rivers in the world, but the ocean is rare and unique.
Lokmata Ahilyabai became renowned in the world not just as a queen, but as a Rajrishi (a saintly ruler).
In the words of poet Moropant:
“The devoted and duty-bound character of Devi Ahilyabai is not only popular in Maharashtra but throughout the entire country. She is as pure as the Ganga river, always performing benevolent deeds for the welfare of all. It is because of these virtues that she holds a special place in the hearts of the people. Even Jawaharlal Nehru, in his book Discovery of India, said, “In Central India, the rule of Ahilyabai of Indore lasted for thirty years. It is a period renowned for the establishment of an excellent system and good governance in Indore, during which the people flourished. She was a highly competent ruler and administrator who earned immense respect during her lifetime. After her death, grateful people regarded her as a saint.
Maa Ahilya was a devout follower of Lord Shiva, and royal orders often carried the phrase “Shri Shankar Aajnya” (the command of Lord Shankar). However, this was not blind devotion. As the renowned thinker Kashinath Trivedi states, her belief was that “the power is not mine, nor is the wealth mine; whatever exists belongs to God, and as His representative, it belongs to society.” In this way, she considered society as the representative of God and entrusted all her wealth to it. She became so revered in her time that society regarded her as an incarnation of the divine. The Bengal Gazette of March 8, 1787, mentioned that the statue of Devi Ahilya would be honored and worshipped by the common people as a goddess.
On 13th August 1795, her life came to an end, but the exemplary works she did in the fields of public welfare and governance management are engraved in the pages of history in golden letters. Whether it was her innovative decision to make Maheshwar the capital, turning Maheshwar into a major center for the trade of sarees and other items, transforming a small town like Indore into a large city, or the construction and restoration of the Kashi Vishwanath temple as a symbol of pride for the entire Hindu community and the eternal culture, or her selfless service work for the welfare of the public—behind all of this was Maharani Ahilyabai’s eternal vision of life, her deep love for her people, a strong commitment to public welfare, and her sense of duty.
In conclusion, it can be said that Lokmata Ahilyabai not only had a profound and wide-reaching impact on her time and society but also contributed to the preservation and understanding of eternal culture and values. Due to her efforts to live, understand, and maintain these principles, her contributions to public welfare and governance management will remain immortal and unforgettable for centuries to come.
(The writer is well-known legal expert)