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| − | [[Image:Sun rise at Ahilya Ghat.jpg|thumb|right|250px|<center>Sun rise at Ahilya Ghat</center>]]
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| − | '''Punyaslok Rajmata Ahilyadevi Holkar''' (1725-1795, r. 1767-1795) of India ruled as a [[Holkar]] dynasty Queen of the [[Malwa]] kingdom, [[India]]. She had been born in the village of [[Chaundi]] in Taluka Jamkhed District, Ahmednagar, [[Maharashtra]]. [[Khanderao Holkar]], Ahilyadevi's husband, died in the battle of [[Kumher]] in 1754. Twelve years later, her father-in-law, [[Malhar Rao Holkar]], died. She inherited the throne and became one of India's great women rulers.
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| − | Upon taking the throne as queen, she launched a campaign to rid her kingdom of [[Thuggee|Thugs]] who sought to plunderer the kingdom, personally leading her army into battle. Her war time exploits became legendary. Ahilyadevi earned a reputation for administering justice fairly during her rule without partiality or partisanship. She sentenced her only son, found guilty of a capital offense, to die [[Crushed by Elephants|crushed by an elephant]].
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| − | Rani Ahilyadevi ordered the building of a multitude of [[Hindu]] temples in [[Maheshwar]] and [[Indore]]. She built temples and [[Dharamsala]] at sacred sites in many other places including [[Dwarka]] in [[Gujarat]] east to the [[Kashi Vishwanath Temple]] at [[Varanasi]] on the [[Ganges]], [[Ujjain]], [[Nasik]], and Parali baijnath. She ordered the rebuilding of a temple destroyed and desecrated in [[Somanath]], which is still used as a worship place by [[Hindus]] in 2008. Ahilyadevi has been compared with [[Catherine II of Russia|Catherine the Great]], [[Queen Elizabeth]], and [[Margaret I]] of [[Denmark]].
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| − | == Early life ==
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| − | [[Image:Temples on Ahilya Ghat.jpg|thumb|right|220px|<center>Temples on Ahilya Ghat</center>]]
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| − | Ahilyadevi was born on August 31 1725 in the village of [[Chondi]], in [[Ahmednagar]] district, [[Maharashtra]]. Her father, [[Mankoji Shinde]], was the patil of the village, a member of the proud [[Dhangar]] community. Women then did not go to school, but Ahilyabai's father taught her to read and write.<ref>Kewal Krishan Mittal, Keshav Wagh, and Harishchandra Barthwal. ''The integral spirit of Bharat, an eulogy: Bhārata ekātmatā stotra, an explanation ; with coloured illustration'' (New Delhi: Suruchi Prakashan, 1997), p. 97.</ref>
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| − | Her entrance onto the stage of history had been accidental. [[Malhar Rao Holkar]], a commander in the service of the [[Peshwa Bajirao]] and lord of the [[Malwa]] territory, stopped in [[Chondi]] on his way to [[Pune]] and, according to legend, saw the eight-year-old Ahilyadevi at the temple service in the village. Recognizing her piety and her character, he brought the girl to the [[Holkar]] territory as a bride for his son, [[Khande Rao]].
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| − | ==Ruler==
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| − | ===Early Reign===
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| − | [[Image:Ram Temple and Fort Ahilya.jpg|thumb|right|220px|<center>Fort Ahilya and Ram Temple</center>]]
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| − | Ahilya devi’s husband died in battle in 1754. Twelve years later, her father-in-law, [[Malhar Rao]] died. From 1766 until her death in 1795, she ruled [[Malwa]], trained in both administrative and military matters by Malhar Rao. A letter to her from Malhar Rao in 1765 illustrates the trust he had in her ability during the tempestuous battle for power in the 18th century: <blockquote>Proceed to Gwalior after crossing the Chambal. You may halt there for four or five days. You should keep your big artillery and arrangeforits ammunition as much as possible…. On the march you should arrange for military posts being located for protection of the road."'' <ref>Stewart Gordon, ''The Marathas, 1600-1818. The new Cambridge history of India, II, 4'' (Cambridge [England]: Cambridge University Press, 1993), p. 160</ref></blockquote>
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| − | Already trained as a ruler, Ahilyadevi petitioned the [[Peshwa]] after Malhar’s death, and the death of her son, to take over the administration herself. Some in [[Malwa]] objected to her assumption of rule, but the army of [[Holkar]] expressed enthusiasm about the prospect of her leadership. She had led them in person, with four bows and quivers of arrows fitted to the corners of the [[howdah]] of her favorite elephant. The Peshwa granted permission, and, with [[Tukoji Holkar]] (Malhar Rao's adopted son) as the head of military matters, she proceeded to rule Malwa in a most enlightened manner, even reinstating a [[Brahmin]] who had opposed her.<ref> Walter Yust, ''Encyclopædia Britannica; a new survey of universal knowledge'' (Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica, 1957), v. 11, p. 18 .</ref> Ahilyadevi never observed [[purdah]] but held daily public audience and was always accessible to anyone who needed her ear.
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| − | ===Achievements===
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| − | Among Ahilyadevi's achievements, she developed [[Indore]] from a small village to a prosperous and beautiful city. She made [[Maheshwar]], a town on the banks of the [[Narmada river]], her own capital. Ahilyadevi built forts and roads in [[Malwa]], sponsored [[festivals]] and served as a patron for many [[Hindu temples]]. Outside Malwa, she built dozens of [[temples]], [[ghats]], wells, tanks and rest-houses across an area stretching from the [[Himalayas]] to [[pilgrimage centers]] in [[South India]]. The [[Bharatiya Sanskritikosh]] lists as sites she embellished, [[Kashi]], [[Gaya]], [[Somnath]], [[Ayodhya]], [[Mathura]], [[Hardwar]], [[Kanchi]], [[Avanti]], [[Dwarka]], [[Badrinarayan]], [[Rameshwar]] and [[Jaganathpuri]]. Ahilyadevi also rejoiced when she saw bankers, merchants, farmers and cultivators rise to levels of affluence, but rejected claims to any of that wealth, be it through taxes or feudal right. She financed all her activities with the lawful gains obtained from a happy and prosperous land.
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| − | Since India's independence, the city of Indore, when compared to neighboring Bhopal, Jabalpur or Gwalior, has progressed dramatically: economically, through business and financial development, and politically through the development of efficient administration. The local population proudly states that they live in 'mini-Mumbai', a reference to the great metropolis pulsing 600 kilometers away. Devi Ahilyabai legacy of good deeds, her dedication to religion and her policies serve to enrich the city into the twenty first century!
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| − | ==Legacy==
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| − | [[Image:IndoreAirport_FrontView.JPG|thumb|right|220px|Devi Ahilyabai Holkar International Airport Airport]]
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| − | Stories of her care for her people abound. She helped [[widows]] retain their husbands’ wealth. She made sure that a [[widow]] was allowed to adopt a son. In one instance, when her minister refused to allow an [[adoption]] unless he was suitably bribed, she sponsored the child herself, and given him clothes and jewels as part of the ritual. The only time Ahilyadevi seems not to have been able to settle a conflict peacefully and easily was in the case of the [[Bhils]] and [[Gonds]], "plunderers" on her borders. But she granted them waste hilly lands and the right to a small duty on goods passing through their territories. Even in that case, according to [[Malcolm]], she did give "considerate attention to their habits."<ref>John Malcolm, ''A memoir of Central India, including Malwa and adjoining provinces, with the history and copious illustrations of the past and present conditions of that country'' (Calcutta: Thacker, Spink and co. [etc., etc.]. . , 1880), p. 152.</ref>
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| − | Ahilyadevi’s capital at [[Maheshwar]] was the scene of literary, musical, artistic and industrial enterprise. She entertained the famous [[Marathi]] poet, [[Moropant]] and the [[shahir]], [[Anantaphandi]] from [[Maharashtra]], and also patronized the [[Sanskrit]] scholar, [[Khushali Ram]]. Craftsmen, sculptors and artists received salaries and honors at her capital, and she established a textile industry in the city of Maheshwar. The reputation of Ahilyadevi Holkar in [[Malwa]] and Maharashtra has been established as that of a saint. She proved a magnificent, able ruler and a great queen.
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| − | In 1996, to honor the memory of [[Ahilyadevi Holkar]], leading citizens of Indore instituted an annual award in her name to be bestowed on an outstanding public figure. Then [[prime minister of India]] presented the first award to [[Nanaji Deshmukh]]. The government of the [[Republic of India]]issued a [http://www.indianpost.com/viewstamp.php/Alpha/A/AHILYABAI%20HOLKAR commemorative stamp] in her honor on 25 August 1996 As a tribute to the great ruler, Indore domestic airport has been named "Devi Ahilyabai Holkar airport." Similarly, Indore university has been christened [http://www.dauniv.ac.in/ Devi Ahilya University, Indore]. A film titled [http://www.nfdcindia.com/view_film.php?film_id=150&categories_id=5 ''Devi Ahilya Bai''] was produced in 2002 featuring [[Shabana Azmi]] as Harkubai (Khaanda Rani, one of Malhar Rao Holkar's wives) and also including [[Sadashiv Amrapurkar]] as [[Malhar Rao Holkar]], Ahilyabai's father in law.
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| − | Jawaharlal Nehru: <blockquote>The reign of Ahilyabai, of Indore in central India, lasted for 30 Yrs. 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." <ref>Jawaharlal Nehru, ''The discovery of India'' (New Delhi: Penguin Books, 2004), p. 304</ref> </blockquote>
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| − | == See also ==
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| − | * [[Dhangar]]
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| − | * [[Malwa (Madhya Pradesh)]]
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| − | * [[Maratha Empire]]
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| − | == Notes ==
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| − | {{reflist|2}}
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| − | ==References==
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| − | * Baillie, Joanna. 1851. The dramatic and poetical works of Joanna Baillie. London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans. OCLC 382794.
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| − | * Gordon, Stewart. 1993. The Marathas, 1600-1818. The new Cambridge history of India, II, 4. Cambridge [England]: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521268837.
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| − | * Malcolm, John. 1880. ''A memoir of Central India, including Malwa and adjoining provinces, with the history and copious illustrations of the past and present conditions of that country''. Calcutta: Thacker, Spink and co. [etc., etc.]. OCLC 5293289.
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| − | * Mittal, Kewal Krishan, Keshav Wagh, and Harishchandra Barthwal. 1997. The integral spirit of Bharat, an eulogy: Bhārata ekātmatā stotra, an explanation ; with coloured illustration. New Delhi: Suruchi Prakashan. OCLC 70199995.
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| − | * Nehru, Jawaharlal. 2004. The discovery of India. New Delhi: Penguin Books. ISBN 9780670058013.
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| − | * Yust, Walter. 1957. Encyclopædia Britannica; a new survey of universal knowledge. Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica. OCLC 1167668.
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| − | == External links ==
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| − | * [http://www.indiatogether.org/manushi/issue124/holkar.htm Ahilyadevi Holkar: A Magnificent Ruler, Saintly Administrator]. Retrieved November 17, 2008.
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| − | * [http://www.mapsofindia.com/who-is-who/history/ahilyabai-holkar.html India Who is Who: Ahilyabai Holkar]. Retrieved November 17, 2008.
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| − | * [http://www.flickr.com/photos/elishams/2276443505/ Maheshwar -The forgotten capital]. Retrieved November 17, 2008.
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| − | * [http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/photo847217.htm Ahilyabai]. Retrieved November 17, 2008.
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| − | * [http://pal-baghel-samaj.com/community-pal.html The Holkar Dynasty of Indore]. Retrieved November 17, 2008.
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| − | * [http://www.nashik.com/pilgrimage/temple.html Temple Pilgrimage]. Retrieved November 17, 2008.
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| − | {{MarathaEmpire}}
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| − | [[Category:Biography]]
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| − | [[Category:Politicians and reformers]]
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| − | [[Category:History]]
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| − | [[Category:History of India]]
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| − | {{credits|Ahilyabai_Holkar|244504962|}}
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