Ahilyabai Holkar
Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will preside over the commemoration of the 300th birth anniversary of the erstwhile queen of Indore Ahilyabai Holkar on Saturday.
Important Pointers:
Birth: Born in 1725 at Chondi village in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra.
Father: Man Koji Rao Shinde, a village head and nobleman.
Marriage: Married Khanderao Holkar, son of Malhar Rao Holkar.
Father-in-law: Malhar Rao Holkar, a general under Peshwa Baji Rao I and founder of the Holkar dynasty.
Rise to Power: Became Queen of Malwa after Khanderao died in the 1754 Battle of Kumbher.
Military Leadership: Appointed Tokuji Rao Holkar, adopted son of Malhar Rao, as army commander.
Capital City: Established Maheshwar (MP) as the seat of Holkar rule.
Temple Reconstruction: Rebuilt several temples including Somnath and Kashi Vishvanath.
Somnath Temple: First Jyotirlinga; earlier destroyed by Mahmud Ghazni (1024), Delhi Sultanate (1297, 1394), and Aurangzeb (1706).
Kashi Vishvanath: One of 12 Jyotirlingas, located in Varanasi on the western bank of the Ganga.
Promotion of Arts: Patronized Khushali Ram (Sanskrit scholar), Moropant (Marathi poet), and Shahir Anantaphandi.
Moropant: Authored political commentaries on Ramayana and Mahabharata, and Akhyanas based on Puranas.
Anantaphandi: Known for composing Lavani and Powadas (folk ballads).
Social Reforms: Supported women’s education, and widow remarriage; opposed Sati and untouchability.
Tribal Integration: Worked for the upliftment of Bhil’s, Gonds, and lower castes.
Economic Contributions: Established an efficient tax system; promoted Maheswar and Indore as trade centres.
Textile Promotion: Encouraged Maheshwari weaving; Maheshwari Sarees are GI-tagged handicrafts.