The birth anniversary of Queen Ahilyabai Holkar is celebrated on 31 May. Ahilya was born in 1725 in Chaundi village in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra. She was the daughter of respected Mankoji Shinde of her village. She did not belong to any royal family but one day the power of the state came into her hands. A girl from an ordinary family started discharging extraordinary responsibilities.
This was the period of the decline of the Mughals after the death of Aurangzeb, when the Marathas were busy expanding their empire. One of the Maratha generals was Malhar Rao Holkar. Peshwa Bajiran handed over the jagir of Malwa to Malhar Rao Holkar. Holkar established the state with his muscle power and settled Indore here.
For Malhar Rao Holkar's only son Khanderao, he wanted a wife who was virtuous and could help his son in handling the throne. During this time he met Ahilya. He was passing through Chanudi village after a trip when a girl's bhajan during the evening aarti caught his attention. He was so impressed by Ahilya's qualities and values that he got his son Khanderao Holkar married to Ahilya.
After marriage, Khanderao started assuming power. During this time, Khanderao Holkar attained martyrdom in a sudden war. She wanted to sacrifice her life along with her husband by adopting the practice of Sati. But Malhar Rao Holkar was confident in Ahilya's ability that she could take charge of his son.
He brought up Ahilya like his own son and Ahilya also started helping Malhar Rao in the affairs of the state. Although his life was full of struggle. First he lost his father-in-law and then his son Malerao at the age of 22. To prevent the kingdom from collapsing along with her son, she started handling the administration herself. However, since there was no male king, an employee of the kingdom wrote a letter to Raghoba, the king of another kingdom, inviting him to capture Holkar.
While assuming the throne, Queen Ahilyabai Holkar spread this information to the surrounding states. His commander and Peshwa Bajirao helped him. Ahilyabai established a women's army under her leadership to strengthen the state. Ahilyabai gave women their rightful place. Ahilya tried to expand the education of girls. Worked to help the destitute. When he died in 1795, his commander Tukoji took over the throne of Indore.
(PC: Instagram)
