Page 82 - NIS-English 16-31 May 2022

Personality
India@75 Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav
Devi Ahilyabai Holkar
Ahilyabai : The noble queen

Good thoughts and good conduct have also been considered
religion in Indian philosophy, and in situations where these two
qualities are present, only the king or ruler can bring happiness
to the public. Devi Ahilyabai Holkar possessed such qualities.
She was not only a brave warrior and a skilled shooter, but also a
skilled administrator who took many steps for public welfare and,
while following the path of religion, got temples and holy ghats
built not only in the state but also outside the state. This is why
she was called Lok Mata.

Born: 31 May 1725 Died: 13 August 1795

he was born on May 31st, 1725 in an women's army. The Peshwa abandoned the idea of
ordinary farmer's house in Chondi, a village attacking as a result of Ahilyabai's wisdom.
Sin Ahmednagar, Maharashtra. Her father, Few modern Indian leaders have attempted
Mankoji Rao Shinde, was the Patil (chief) of the to uphold the principles and philosophy of Devi
village and home-schooled Ahilyabai to read and Ahilyabai Holkar's Sanatan Dharma. Prime Minister
write. Ahilyabai's entry into royalty is nothing short of Modi's name stands out among them. Many people
a twist of fate. It was when Malhar Rao Holkar, an have compared Modi's rule to that of Ahilyabai
acclaimed nobleman in the Malwa territory, spotted Holkar's influential, strong, and welfare regime,
an eight-year-old Ahilyabai at a temple service which historian John Kaye dubbed the Philosopher's
feeding the hungry and poor while on his way to Pune. Queen. However, there are more similarities between
Immensely moved by the young girl’s act of kindness, the two regimes. During her lifetime, Ahilyabai
he decided to marry her with his son, Khanderao renovated many temples that had been destroyed
Holkar. Ahilyabai was married to Khanderao Holkar in by the atrocities of the invaders and British rulers.
1733 at the tender age of 8. After this, son Malrao and Modi rebuilt the Kashi Vishwanath temple. Near the
daughter Muktabai were born. Ahilyabai's husband, demolished Somnath temple, a two-story temple was
Khanderao Holkar, died at a young age during the constructed. Similar parallels can be found in Prime
Kumbher War in 1754. Twelve years later, Malhar Minister Narendra Modi's current efforts to renovate
Rao Holkar, his father-in-law, died. She was crowned temples. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's
Empress of the Kingdom of Malwa a year later. leadership, these mythological and religious sites are
Ahilyabai's devotion to Shiva can be seen in the being restored to their divine and grandiose forms.
fact that she did not sign the edicts with her name, The Modi government, like Lokmata Ahilyabai, has
but only Shree Shankar at the bottom of the letter. made efforts to restore and preserve cultural heritage
Shivling and Bilva Patra's images are inscribed on her and religious identity, which have now spread abroad.
currency, as is Nandi's image. It is said that from that The restoration of the 200-year-old Shrinathji Temple
time until independence, all kings sitting on the throne in Bahrain's capital, Manama, was inaugurated by
of Indore did not issue edicts without mentioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi. His efforts enabled
Shri Shankar's name. Without Shri Shankar, no one the UAE to construct the Swaminarayan Temple, Abu
considered the edict, and it was never implemented. Dhabi's first traditional Hindu temple. In the last five
Devi Ahilyabai was a skilled politician as well. The years, the government has acquired record artefacts
Maratha Peshwas once besieged Malwa in order to from around the world. The Ahilyabai government had
capture it, believing their rule to be weak. She sent a simplified land revenue management procedures. The
diplomatic letter to the Maratha Peshawas, wherein Ahilyabai government had simplified land revenue
it was written that even if he wins the victory from the management procedures. The Modi government
women's army, there will be no increase in his fame, the is also working to simplify land management. By
world will say that he has defeated only the women's developing the local handloom industry in Maheshwar,
army, and you cannot even imagine how much the Ahilyabai gave the world the gift of the Maheshwar
world would have laughed if you were defeated by a saree. Modi also promotes "Vocal for Local."

80 New India Samachar May 16-31, 2022