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| Ahilyabai Holkar | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Ahilyabai Holkar on a 2025 stamp of India | |||||
| Maharani ofIndore | |||||
| Reign | 1 December 1767 – 13 August 1795 | ||||
| Coronation | 11 December 1767 | ||||
| Predecessor | Malhar Rao Holkar | ||||
| Successor | Tukojirao Holkar | ||||
| Regent of Indore | |||||
| Regency | 20 May 1766 – 5 April 1767 | ||||
| Subedar | Malhar Rao Holkar II | ||||
| Born | (1725-05-31)31 May 1725 Chondi,Maratha Empire (present-dayAhmednagar district,Maharashtra,India) | ||||
| Died | 13 August 1795(1795-08-13) (aged 70) Rajwada,Indore,Indore State, Maratha Empire (present-day,Madhya Pradesh, India) | ||||
| Spouse | Khanderao Holkar | ||||
| Issue | Male Rao Holkar (son) Muktabai (daughter) | ||||
| |||||
| House | Holkar | ||||
| Father | Mankoji Shinde | ||||
| Mother | Sushila Shinde | ||||
| Religion | Hinduism | ||||
Ahilyabai Holkar (Marathi pronunciation:[əɦɪljɑbaɪ]; 31 May 1725 – 13 August 1795),[1] also spelledAhalya Bai,[2] was theRajamata and later the ruling queen ofIndore within theMaratha Empire. She establishedMaheshwar (inMadhya Pradesh) as the seat of theHolkar Dynasty.[3] She is renowned for good governance,social welfare, and humanitarian work along with religious, educational, and cultural advancements.[4] She contributed to the growth ofIndian architecture through the commission of varioustemples,Ghats, andDharmshalas. Ahilyabai'sMatha, or charitable endowments, spread across India.[5][6] She is remembered as aSadhvi, or holy woman.
After the deaths of her husbandKhanderao Holkar, father-in-lawMalhar Rao Holkar, and sonMale Rao Holkar, Ahilyabai undertook the affairs of theHolkar dynasty. She defended Indore against invasions and personally led armies into battle, with her brother-in-lawTukoji Rao Holkar serving as her military commander.[3]
Ahilyabai was born into aMarathiDhangar family to Mankoji Shinde and Sushila Shinde inMaharashtra in the village of Chandi, nowAhmednagar district. Her father was a descendant of a respectedGadaria caste family. Mankoji Shinde served as thePatil of the village.[7][8] Ahilyabai had five brothers and was first educated at home.
Ahilyabai rose to prominence whenMalhar Rao Holkar, a commander in the army of MarathaPeshwaBaji Rao I and ruler ofMalwa, stopped in Chandi on his way toPune and saw her at a temple service. Impressed by the child's piety and character, Malhar advised his son, Khandojee, to marry her. They were wed in 1733 when he was nine or ten and she was seven or eight.[9] They had a son, Maloji Holkar, in 1745 and a daughter, Muktabai Holkar, in 1748.[citation needed]
By the time of Ahilyabai's marriage, her father-in-lawMalhar Rao Holkar had already risen from a childhood of shepherding to ruling asSubahdar over a territory comprising thirty parganas yielding high revenues. From 1748, Malhar Rao's power inMalwa allowed him to play kingmaker in northern and central India and by 1750, he was thede facto ruler of theMaratha Confederacy. He regularly received grants, includingmonetary tributes, land, andnoble titles, from the Peshwa government in recognition of his service to the empire.[10] His land lay north of the Narmadha on both sides of Sahyadri.[5] In 1751, he successfully mediated a major land agreement between the Peshwa andMughal emperorAhmad Shah Bahadur and by 1753, he was considered indispensable.[11]
Starting in 1754, Malhar Rao kept Ahilyabai actively involved indiplomacy debates, matters of the kingdom's finances, and other problems of both theMughal Empire and thePeshwa.[12] Throughout her married life, she was brought up by her mother-in-law,Gautama Bai Holkar, who is credited for teaching Ahilyabai to have proper values. She trained her in administration, accounts, and politics and, in 1759, gave Ahilyabai herkhasgi, orland grant.[13][14]
Ahilyabai's trust from her father-in-law and her military expertise are both demonstrated by a 1765 letter he wrote her during an invasion ofPunjab by aDurrani Empire-Rohilla dynasty coalition led by EmperorAhmad Shah Durrani. Malhar Rao, who was fighting in Delhi, commanded her to take heavy artillery on a military expedition toGwalior and attackthe fort at Gohad:
"...proceed to Gwalior after crossing the Chambal. You may halt there for four or five days. You should keep your big artillery and arrange for its ammunition as much as possible... The big artillery should be kept at Gwalior and you should proceed further after making proper arrangements for it's expenses for a month. On the march you should arrange for military posts to be located for protection of the road."
Ahilbayai's attack was successful.[15]
In 1754, Khanderao and Malhar Rao, acting on orders from Mughal Grand VizierGhazi ud-Din Khan Feroze Jung III, laid siege to the fort atKumher, then held byJat RajaSuraj Mal. Suraj Mal had sided withSafdar Jang, another Mughal vazier who had rebelled against the emperor. Khanderao was inspecting his troops in an openpalanquin when he was killed bycannon fire.[16]
Devastated by Khanderao's death, Alhiyabai announced she would commitsati, ritualistic suicide on hisfuneral pyre. Her dismayed subjects begged her to reconsider but she explained that she feltsati was the only way she could fulfill her husband's promise to accompany her all her life. Her father-in-law Malhar Rao begged:
"Daughter, my son left me whom I raised with a hope that he would support me in my old age. Now, will you also leave me, an old man, alone to be drowned in the fathomless ocean? ... Will you also leave me without any support? Still, if you don't want to change your mind, let me die first."[17]
This convinced her to choose to live and Malhar Rao thereupon began to train her in military affairs.[3][18] He died on 20 May 1766 in Alampur.[19]
On 23 August 1766, Ahilyabai's only son,Male Rao Holkar, became ruler of Indore at the age of 21 when he received investiture from thePeshwa. Male Rao had reigned for just over six months when he died on 5 April 1767.[citation needed] Malhar Rao's adopted sonTukoji Rao Holkar was then madeSubahdar on the payment of a large tribute ofIndian rupees and Ahilyabai became thede facto ruler.[20]
Historical records show that groups from neighboring states, particularly theChundawat clan ofJaipur, rebelled during this transfer of power, taking advantage of both Tukoji Rao's absence from the region and the widespread devastation wrought by theThird Battle of Panipat and its aftermath. Ahilyabai led Maratha armies against these rebellions and, despite a lack of resources and aid, won every battle.[21][22][23]
In 1791, Ahilyabai's son-in-law, Yeshwantrao Fanse, died and her daughter Muktabai committedsati on his funeral pyre.[24]
In those times, the state's administration was two-sided,military andcivil. The military side was again bifurcated,Tukoji Rao Holkar was theSubedar, and he had to serve Maratha. Devi Ahilyabai was outspoken, proclaiming her power by declaring, "I am the daughter-in-law of Malhar Rao". TheSaranjamdar system established by Malhar Rao was efficient and was recognized by thePuna authorities. Saranjamdar was a "camp within a camp" complete by itself. The state records involuntarily reveal the diplomatic and administrative skills exhibited by Devi.[25] Justice administration[26] was soft but speedy, practical yet spiritual, restraining yet re-forming.
She transformedIndore into a progressive city, and built industries[27] anduniversities.[28] The government of India issued a stamp on 25 August 1996 in celebration of the 200th death anniversary.[29] The Indore airport is named afterDevi Ahilya Bai Holkar Airport. The city of Indore named the universityDevi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya. Not merely in her State but indeed in other parts of India she is credited with promoting activities including repair and additions to several famous temples such asKashi Viswanath Mandir atVaranasi,Gouri Somnath Mandir at Chola and the construction of the famousDashashwamedh Ghat atBanaras.
The Holkar family was known for avoiding using public cash to meet their personal and family expenses. They possessed their personal funds, which they had accumulated through their private property. Ahilyabai inherited personal funds estimated at sixteen crores rupees at that time. Ahilyabai donated money from her personal resources to charity.[30] The charities of the Devi Ahilyabai in her territory as well as throughout the Bharata Kanda are too well known. A well-documented account of the expenditure can be found in the "Devasthan classification list 1923 by the Holkar government".[31] The Holkar government appointed a "Devastahan officer" who travelled far and wide and collected information on the spot.[32]
The arrangements made by Devi Ahilya at all the sacred were shown in the below table
Charities connected with the Jyotir-Lingas[33]
| Sl No | Name of the Linga | Geographical situation. | Description of charity. | Authority for statement. |
| 1 | Shree Somanath | Kathiawad, on the sea side. | In 1786 A. D. The idol was re-installed | Maheshwar Durbar Batmipatre. Part II, P.87 |
| 2 | Shree Mallikarjuna | Dist. Karnul Madras Presidency. | Temple was built. | State Record. |
| 3 | Shree Omkareshwar | Central India (on the Narbada bank.) | House for Drums, Flower-garden, Palanquin, Boat, Silver-idol | State Record. |
| 4 | Shree Vaijnath | Nizam's State | In 1784 A. D. The temple was re-built. | Bharat Itihasa Shanshodliak Mandal Report Shak 1834, Bhadrapad Number. |
| 5 | Shree Nageshwar | Nizam's State | In 1784 A, D. Annual payment of Rs. 81/- for 1 worship. | State Record. |
| 6 | Shree Vishwanath | Benares | (1)Mankarnikaghat (2) Re-installation of Kashi- Vishwanath.(3) 6 Private temples.(4) Temple of the Ganges and 3 temples on the Ghat.(5) Shree Tarkeshwar temple.(6)Dashashwamedh Ghat(7) Female Mankarnika Ghat(8) Dharmashala Rameshwar(9) Dharmashala Kapildhara(10) 9 Private Bungalows(11) Garden-field(12) Plinth on Shitala Ghat(13) Dharmashala Uttar Kashi(14) Establishment of Bramha-puri | State Record. |
| 7 | Shree Trimbakeshwar | Nasik District. | Bridge of Kushawarta-Ghat | State Record. |
| 8 | Shree Grishneshwar | Verul Nizam's State | Re-built Shivalaya Tirth. | Bharat I.S.M. R. Shak 1838, |
| 9 | Shree Gokarna | On the Western sea. Madras Presidency. | (1) Alms-House. | State Record. |
| 10 | Shree Mahakaleshwar | Ujjain (Central India) | Worship of the Linga on the Mahashivratra night, and food distribution on the day following. | State Record. |
| 11 | Shree Rameshwar | Madras Presidency. | Alms-House. Wells. Shree Radha-Krishna temple. | State Record. |
| 12 | Shree Bhima-Shankar | Bombay Presidency. | Alms-House, | State Record. |
Sapta Puri (seven cities) andChar Dham (four quarters) were looked up eventually by Hindus of all castes and creeds in worship and pilgrimage.[34]
Ujjain(Avantika): she built four Mandir and a charitable building
Kanchipuram:Ganga water annually sent
Mathura: she built a Mandir 2 Ghat and one charitable building
Ayodhya: She built 4 Ram Mandir and 3 charitable buildings
Haridwar(Maya): a Ghat and a charitable house
Varanasi: Refer the above table
Badrinath: 5 Dharmashalas and eight charity buildings
Jagnath (Puri): A temple, Almhouse and garden land
Here we see the various charities of Devi Ahilyabai extending throughout the length and breadth ofBharatakhanda. In the bookHOLKAR STATE HISTORY VOL. II Life and Life's-Work of Devi Shree Ahilyabai ( 1725–1795 A. D.)page 42 there are worship expenses[35]
Various temples Ghats and rest houses built during her time exhibit Indian architecture and the various features of different schools. They became so many training grounds for young Indian architecture. Not only in her territory but throughout the whole of India. The aspects of Devi Ahilyabai charity reveal and resuscitation of Thirthas and Kshetras.
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Ahilyabai died on 13 August 1795 at age 70. She was succeeded by her commander-in-chief and brother-in-law,Tukoji Rao Holkar, who abdicated the throne in 1797 in favour of his son Kashi Rao Holkar.
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"The reign of Ahilyabai, of Indore in central India, lasted for thirty years. This has become almost legendary as a period during which perfect order and good government prevailed and the people prospered. She was a very able ruler and organizer, highly respected during her lifetime, and considered as a saint by a grateful people after her death."
— Jawaharlal Nehru,The Discovery of India (1946)[36]
"For thirty years her reign of peace,
The land in blessing did increase;
And she was blessed by every tongue,
By stern and gentle, old and young.
Yea, even the children at their mother's feet,
Are taught such homely rhyming to repeat.
In latter days from Brahma came,
To rule our land, a noble Dame,
Kind was her heart and bright her fame,
And Ahilya was her honored name."
— Joanna Baillie,English Poem (1849)
Collecting oral memories of hers in the 1820s,Sir John Malcolm, the British official most directly concerned with the 'settlement' of central India, seems to have become deeply enamored of her.
"Ahilyabai's extraordinary ability won her the regard of her subjects and of the otherMaratha chiefs, including Nana Phadnavis. With the natives of Malwa ... her name is sainted and she has styled an avatar or Incarnation of the Divinity. In the soberest view that can be taken of her character, she certainly appears, within her limited sphere, to have been one of the purest and most exemplary rulers that ever existed."
— John Malcolm,A Memoir of Central India[37]
"This great ruler in Indore encouraged all within her realm to do their best, Merchants produced their finest clothes, 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, and to watch the fine cities grow, and to watch that her 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 mountain fastnesses and persuaded to settle down as honest farmers. Hindu and Musalman alike revered the famous Queen and prayed for her long life. Her last great sorrow was when her daughter became a Sati upon the death of Yashwantrao Phanse. Ahalya Bai 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."
"From the original papers and letters, it becomes clear that she was the first-class politician, and that was why she readily extended her support toMahadji Shinde. I have no hesitation in saying that without the support of Ahilyabai, Mahadji would never have gained so much importance in the politics of northern India."
— Historian Judunath Sarkar
"Definitely no woman and no ruler are like Ahilyabai Holkar."
"It reveals beyond doubt that all ideal virtues described byPlato and Bhattacharya were present in her personalities like Dilip, Janak, Shri Ram, Shri Krishna, and Yudhishthir. After thorough scrutiny of the long history of the world, we find only one personality of Lokmata Devi Ahilya that represents an absolutely ideal ruler."
— Arvind Javlekar[39]
John Keay called her 'The Philosopher Queen', a reference perhaps to the 'Philosopher king'Bhoj.
"Ahilyabai Holkar, the 'philosopher-queen' of Malwa, had evidently been an acute observer of the wider political scene. In a letter to the Peshwa in 1772, she had warned against association with the British and likened their embrace to a bear-hug: "Other beasts, like tigers, can be killed by might or contrivance, but to kill a bear it is very difficult. It will die only if you kill it straight in the face, Or else, once caught in its powerful hold, the bear will kill its prey by tickling. Such is the way of the English. And in view of this, it is difficult to triumph over them."
"The GreatMaratha lady who affords the noblest example of wisdom, goodness, and virtue.Akbar is among male sovereigns, and Ahilyabai is among female sovereigns".
— An English writer quoted in the bookAhilya Bai Holkar by Khadpekar[41]
Acommemorative stamp was issued in her honour on 25 August 1996 by theRepublic of India.[42]
As a tribute to the great ruler, Indore international airport has been namedDevi Ahilyabai Airport. Similarly, Indore university has been renamed asDevi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya.[3]
On 13 March 2024, the Maharashtra state government approved the renaming ofAhmadnagar to Ahilyanagar.[43]
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