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Ahilyabai was born in 1725 at Chaundi, a village in the Beed district of Maharashtra in the house of Manakoji Shinde. She was married to Khanderao Holkar, son of Subedar Malharrao Holkar in 1733.1 Malharrao took care of their education like writing, reading, the art of war, political affairs, accounts, etc. Malharrao started depending on her more after his son Khanderao’s death in 1754. While Malharrao was almost always on the campaigns, the governance of the fief and provisions as well as the logistics of these campaigns were looked after by Ahilyabai2.
From August 1767, Ahilyabai changed her capital from Indore and started living at Maheshwar, on the banks of Narmada. More than 65 temples and a cenotaph of Malharrao were built by her during the next 30 years at Maheshwar
After the death of Malharrao in 1766, as his son Khanderao predeceased Malharrao, his grandson Malerao was given the charge of Holkar fiefs. Malerao’s reign was short-lived as he died prematurely in March 17673. After his death, the fief went to Tukoji Holkar, a distant relative but for all practical purposes, Devi Ahilyabai was in charge of the state. Here we will take a look at how Ahilyabai as a model ruler used to govern her state.
Development of Maheshwar as a Capital
From August 1767, Ahilyabai changed her capital from Indore and started living at Maheshwar, on the banks of Narmada4. More than 65 temples and a cenotaph of Malharrao were built by her during the next 30 years at Maheshwar. Many learned Brahmin scholars were called to reside at Maheshwar taking care of these temples and rituals. Similarly, many cloth weavers were called to the fledgling city, and new residential and industrial areas (known as पुरा or पेठ) were developed for them like Malhar Ganj and Govindpura. Several ghats like Peshwe Ghat, Ahilya Ghat were constructed on the Narmada banks for ease of the local population to draw water.
Devi Ahilyabai’s routine
The usual routine of Ahalya Bai’s daily life was to rise early and perform her pooja, then to read from the Mahabharata or the Ramayana. Then she fed Brahmans and the poor of the city. After taking food and a little rest, she went to the durbar, where the rest of the day was spent, attending to the many duties that a ruler must perform. All who came were admitted to an audience. At the sunset, she withdrew for the evening pooja and to take refreshment. Then the ministers came, till eleven o’clock, to settle many matters, to solve difficult problems the day had brought forth, and to arrange the next day’s work5.
Justice System
Her (Ahilyabai’s) first principle of government appears to have been moderate assessment, and an almost sacred respect for the native rights of village officers and proprietors of lands. –Sir John Malcom (East India Company administrator in Malwa)6 Ahilyabai was very particular about the welfare of the people especially the poor peasants.
For example, in 1780 Ahilyabai received a complaint from the farmers at Bijagad that their crops were destroyed during the army movement; she sent clerks to assess the damage. When it was proved that the damage was done due to her forces under Tukoji Holkar, she immediately ordered relief to the farmers by announcing a break in the tax collection for the year7.
Another interesting example, in 1794 when Tukoji wanted to take 10% more on the regular tax collections from the Holkar fief to pay for the army, he requested Ahilyabai for permission. However, Ahilyabai reminded him that taking even 5 rupees more than the agreed tax would be ruinous for the kingdom in the long run and advised him against it8.
All biographers of Ahilyabai had observed that she used to hear every complaint personally, and even though she kept referring cases to her ministers, courts of equity, and arbitration for settlement, she was always reachable. Her sense of duty regarding justice was so strong that she is portrayed as being both patient and unwearied in the investigation of even the most trivial cases when appeals were filed against her decision.
Malcom shares another interesting example to show how fast and efficiently the justice system of Ahilyadevi used to work. Khayalee Ram, one of Malcom’s principal writers was earlier in the service of the Holkar state as a collector. A rich merchant named Shubh Dass of Sironj died without an heir. His widow wanted to adopt a nephew which was permissible even after her husband’s death according to Hindu Dharmashstra. But Khayalee Ram objected to this adoption under a flimsy pretext, asked bribe of Rs. 3 lakhs for confirmation of adoption, and threatened the widow with confiscation of her entire property by the state in case of non-payment of the bribe amount.
Her sense of duty regarding justice was so strong that she is portrayed as being both patient and unwearied in the investigation of even the most trivial cases when appeals were filed against her decision
When the widow and her relatives approached Ahilyabai, she heard the case on the same day, and after confirming the details she not only confirmed the adoption but also removed Khayalee Ram from his post and refused to take even a small present for her decision. To highlight the importance of this case where a state servant was punished for his greed, Ahilyabai took the child upon her knee, gave him clothes, jewels, and palanquin, declared him a lawful heir of the deceased merchant, and then sent him home9.
External and internal security of the state
Malcom describes the external security situation of the Holkar state in detail. Most of the northern part of India was in turmoil due to repeated clashes between Marathas, Jats, Rajputs, Mughals, Rohilas, and numerous petty chiefs. But barring a couple of small attacks from chiefs of Rampura, the state under Ahilyabai experienced stability and peace which was unheard of. This led to significant growth as well as prosperity for people.
Malharrao had received a part of Rampura estate from Madhavsingh (the 2nd son of Sawai Jaisingh). The Chandravats, ruling family of Rampura were trying to expel the Marathas from these areas. After the death of Malharrao, a treaty of 1768 confirmed these arrangements still Ahilyabai had to fight local battles with Chandravats in 1771, 1782, and 1787. In 1787, Sobhagsingh, brother of Chandravat ruler Bhavanisingh was captured by Ahilyabai’s forces. To discourage future attacks by the Chandravats, Ahilyabai ordered the execution of Sobhagsingh by blowing him to pieces by cannon. Her stern treatment to end the menace of Rampura earned much praise from other Maratha nobles. Nana Phadnis, the diwan of the Peshwa’s exclaimed that ‘Maheshwar is the entry point to Pune’10.
For internal security, the most troublesome issue was plundering the villages or caravans moving from one place to another by the Gond and Bhil tribes. First, a conciliatory approach was taken to integrate these tribes in the mainstream, but when this failed, rigorous measures were implemented against them. Some of the worst offenders like Mundroop Singh were put to death after a thorough trial and those who wished to surrender were given a chance to prove themselves.
An ancient tax known as ‘Bhil Cowree’ was reinstituted so that Bhils could get a fix duty for every cart in a caravan but then these Bhils were made responsible for any attack or theft of the caravans, to protect the road and to recover any property within their respective limits11. Also, they were provided forest lands and were encouraged to bring it under regular cultivation. This not only changed their lifestyle, bringing them mainstream, severing their dependency on looting the innocents, making their neighborhood safe from their attacks as well as increasing the revenue of the state.
Establishment of communication networks
An efficient postal service was established between Maheshwar and Pune for regular
The friendly relations built by Ahilyabai across India were very useful as she started a drive to rebuild the various temples and holy cities that were deliberately destroyed by Islamic invaders in the past
correspondence with the Peshwas with the help of merchant Padmasi Nainsi. A pair of postmen (known as Kashid) were posted at various villages with a distance of 30 kilometers and they used to work in relays, passing the letters to the next in line from Maheshwar to Pune and back. The letters must be received within six days of dispatch, if the letter is delayed beyond 8 days, then the merchant was warned that the job will be transferred to someone else. Similarly, if a document is lost then the entire network of Postmen will lose their one-month salary12.
Diplomatic relations and its importance
The network of diplomats across various courts in India from Delhi, Ayodhya, to Nizam at Hyderabad and at Mysore with Tipu used to act as a conduit for regular updates as well as military intelligence. They were also used to keep track of various religious activities like temple reconstruction, rest houses for pilgrims, food and water facilities at pilgrim sites, etc13.
The friendly relations built by Ahilyabai across India were very useful as she started a drive to rebuild the various temples and holy cities that were deliberately destroyed by Islamic invaders in the past. In 1923, the Holkar state government published a list of reconstructed temples, the charitable grants at various sites across India a truly mammoth book of 350 pages14.
From Kedarnath to Rameshwar and from Somnath to Jagannath Puri, we can see these reconstructed temples, Dharmshalas, (resting place for pilgrims), Annachhatra (free food for the pilgrims) which led to the revival of the kshetras (Villages/cities around it). It also gave employment to thousands of artisans, laborers, and villagers.
Captain T. D. Stuart, one of the political assistants of Malcom, traveled as far as Kedarnath in 1818. He has carefully noted about a Dharmshala and a water reservoir built by Ahilyabai, he had also observed how the locals still cherish the memory of Ahilyabai due to her charitable nature15. The other crucial point to note that all these religious charities were from her personal treasury and not from the state treasury16.
The overall governance and the justice system of Ahilyabai was so famous that rulers of the many small principalities like Zabua, Badwani, Khechi, and Dewas, used to regularly consult with her on the matters of governance17.
When Malharrao died, the total revenue of the Holkar fief was close to 75lakhs, due to the wise rule of Ahilyabai it increased to 1.1crore18. This feat is commendable considering the collection of revenue without any backbreaking taxation on the common population as well as without any severe famine in the entire region during her reign.
Annie Besant, a British-born Indian patriot aptly summarized Ahilyabai’s governance in the following words; ‘Ahilyabai was a great ruler of Indore. She encouraged all within her realm to do their best. Merchants produced their finest cloths, trade flourished, the farmers were at peace, and oppression ceased, for each case that came to the Queen’s notice was dealt with severely.
She loved to see her people prosper, to watch the fine cities grow, and to know that subjects were not afraid to display their wealth, lest the ruler should snatch it from them. Far and wide the roads were planted with shady trees, and wells were made, and rest-houses for travelers. The poor, the homeless the orphaned were all helped according to their needs. The Bhils, who had long been the torment of all caravans, were routed from their mountains and persuaded to settle down as honest farmers. Ahilyabai was seventy years old when her long and splendid life closed. Indore long mourned its noble Queen, happy had been her reign, and her memory is cherished with deep reverence unto this day.’ 19
References
1) Dr. Devidas Pote, & V.V. Thakur, Holkarshahicha Itihas- Volume 1, Page 135
2) Ibid, Page- 140-43
3) Ibid, Page 132
4) Ibid, Page 181
5) Dr. Annie Besant, Children of the Motherland-258-59
6) Sir John Malcom, Memoir of Central India-Vol-1- John Malcom- Page-176
7) Dr. Devidas Pote, & V.V. Thakur, Holkarshahicha Itihas- Volume 1, Page 172
8) Ibid, 176-77
9) Sir John Malcom, Memoir of Central India-Vol-1- John Malcom- Page-183
10) Dr. Devidas Pote, & V.V. Thakur, Holkarshahicha Itihas- Volume 1, Page 150-51
11) Sir John Malcom, Memoir of Central India-Vol-1- John Malcom- Page-185
12) Dr. Devidas Pote, & V.V. Thakur, Holkarshahicha Itihas- Volume 1, Page 205-06
13) Ibid, 207-08
14) Ibid, 210
15) Sir John Malcom, Memoir of Central India-Vol-1- John Malcom- Page-187
16) Dr. Devidas Pote, & V.V. Thakur, Holkarshahicha Itihas- Volume 1, Page 229-30
17) Ibid, 208
18) Ibid, 182
19) Dr. Annie Besant, Children of the Motherland, Page 261
(The writer is a researcher of historical subjects and author of the book ‘Aurangzeb: Whitewashing Tyrant, Disturbing Narrative’)
”Ahilyabai is unparalleled in foresight and greatness; no one can match her in these aspects.’
– Nana Fadnavis
“Ahilyabai’s personality was as tough as a rock and as delicate as a flower. The world does not worship a person, but rather worships their perspective and actions.”
— Acharya Vinoba Bhave