Death Anniversary of Ahilyabai Holkar

Last Updated14/08/2021

Ahilyabai Holkar (31 May 1725 – 13 August 1795) is regarded as one of the finest female rulers in Indian history.
Ahilyabai created history by setting an ideal leadership for her land and people, reigning Malwa for 3 decades.
As a ruler of Malwa kingdom, she spread the message of dharma and promoted industrialisation in the 18th century.

Ahilyabai Holkar was born on May 31, 1725, in the village of Chondi in Jamkhed, Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra to Mankoji Shinde and Sushila Shinde.
Ahilyabai’s father was the village Patil (Chief) and her mother was a well-read & pious woman.
Though women’s education was not the norm in society in those days, Ahilyabai was taught to read and write by her father.

Ahilyabhai got married to the son of Malwa commander Malhar Rao Holkar but the young bride lost her husband Khanderao to the battle of Kumbher, fought in the year 1754.
This left Ahilyabai widowed at the tender age of 29.
Only 12 years after the death of her husband (1766), Ahilyabai lost her father-in-law, who was her biggest support after Khande Rao.
The throne then acceded to Ahilyabai’s only son, Male Rao Holkar under her regency. But young Male Rao too died after a few months of his rule in April 1767.
She petitioned the Peshwa after her son’s death, to take over the administration herself and became the ruler of Malwa on 11 December 1767.

Ahilyabai was the brave queen of Malwa.
She stood tall and undeterred even after the tragic loss of her husband, son, and father-in-law and assumed the throne in December 1767.
Within a year into power, her kingdom was surrounded by invaders from all across, assuming Malwa’s kingdom now acceded to weaker hands.
However, the brave Holkar queen with an indomitable spirit to protect her land led her armies into the battlefield laden with weapons and expelled the rival forces who came to plunder Malwa.

Ahilyabai Holkar was a woman ahead of her time.
She openly advocated for the rights of women.
A well-read woman herself, she pioneered women’s education in a time when it was barred for them to get educated.
She was also against the inhumane and unequal practice of Sati Pratha.