What changes Rani Ahilyabai Holkar made in her kingdom?

Hello reader friends, how are you all. Welcome to Gaurav Sangrah. I hope everyone is having fun and being healthy. In today's article about Indian History we are going to talk about a brave intelligent woman freedom fighter, Rani Ahilyabai Holkar:

• whom despite belonging to a modest family, she attained the title of queen.
• who protected her kingdom with cunning and intelligence.
• who rebuilt many temples destroyed by the Mughals.

So today let's get information about such a heroic Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore.

Rani Ahilyabai Holkar

Who was Rani Ahilyabai Holkar ?

Her full name was Ahilyabai Sahiba Holkar. She was the queen of Malwa province. She was born on 31 May 1725 in Chondi village of Maharashtra to Mankoji Shinde. Mankoji Shinde was working as a Patil (Mukhaya) of Chondi village. At that time, women's education was not given much importance but Mankoji Shinde taught Ahlya to read and write at home. Ahilyabai was married to Khanderao Holkar when she was 9 years old. Ahilyabai's father-in-law Malhar Rao was the king of Malwa at that time.

How did Ahilya enter the big royal family from a modest family?

Malhar Rao was the ruler of Indore at that time. When Malhar Rao was going to Pune from Indore on some business, Malhar Rao stopped at Chondi village for rest. Then Malhar Rao saw a girl who was 9 years old performing puja in the temple. 

Worshiping God

That girl was Ahilyabai. Malhar Rao was pleased with Ahilyabai seeing her devotion to God and serene nature and married his son Khanderao to Ahilyabai. This is how Ahilyabai Holkar became a royal member from a simple family.

How did Rani Ahilyabai got the throne?

The Mughals were trying to take over the rule of the Marathas at that time. Meanwhile, Ahilyabai's husband Khanderao Sindhia were besiedged and killed in battle of Kumher. Ahilyabai was ready to being sati after the death of her husband. Then father-in-law Malhar Rao stopped Ahilyabai from being sati.

Ahilyabai had a lot of support from her father-in-law Malhar Rao, considering her as a daughter. But soon her father-in-law Malhar Rao also died. With the death of Malhar Rao, Ahilyabai was also deprived of her father-in-law, who was her greatest support. Now Ahilyabai placed her son Malerao Holkar on the throne. But Malerao Holkar also died due to some reason within a year. In such circumstances Ahilyabai Holkar herself accepted the throne and protected the throne.

How did Rani Ahilyabai protected her throne?

Raghobadada, the enemy of Malwa, comes to know that a woman is ruling Malwa so he set out to invade Malwa. Rani Ahilyabai comes to know that the enemy of Malwa Raghobadada is advancing from the Siprara River to invade Malwa.

Rani Ahilyabai then writes a letter to Raghobadada saying that if she lose this battle, people will not say anything but if you lose, your name will be gone and you will be laughed at, so think before you move any further. When Raghobadada informs about Malwa, he came to know that Rani Ahilyabai is allied with the neighboring kingdom and the Peshwa. Knowing this he felt embarrassed and tells Rani Ahilyabai that he is not coming to fight he is coming to mourn your son. Thus Rani Ahilyabai protected the throne.

What changes did Rani Ahilyabai Holkar made in her kingdom?

Rani Ahilyabai Holkar builted:

1. many forts in Malwa during her reign.
2. constructed roads and ferries,
3. built temples and ashrams,
4. ponds and wells were dug,
5. Kasi Vishwanath Temple which was destroyed by Aurangzeb was rebuilt by her.

well construction

Similarly, the work of the temples from the Himalayas to South India, which were incomplete, was resumed.

• Somnath, Ayodhya,
• Haridwar, Gaya,
• Anvati, Dwarka,
• Rameshwar, Kanchi,
• Badrinarayan, Mathura,

The work of such temples was started. Rani Ahilyabai transformed Indore from a village to a city.

How did Rani Ahilyabai increased prosperity of her state ?

After the death of father-in-law, husband and son, Rani Ahilyabai left Indore and came back to Maheshwari. Rani Ahilyabai came to Maheshwari and was managing her kingdom very well. People were freed from the fear of bandit robbers while coming through the forest. Rani Ahilyabai married her daughter Muktabai to the brave young man Yashwantrao Phanse. In Malwa, there was peace in the state due to the cessation of looting during the rule of Rani Ahilyabai and thus prosperity was increased in the state.

Conclusion:

In this article we find that Rani Ahilyabai's father-in-law was leading a front away from the kingdom. Then Rani Ahilyabai was handled the state due to her skills. She also helped widows to claim their husbands right and adopt sons. She made Tukojirao a general in her army and on 13 August 1795 she died in India.

In Indore even today we have the name of Rani Ahilyabai as:

• university,
• office,
• an international airport. 

So readers, how did you like the history of  Rani Ahilyabai Holkar? What did you find interesting in this article? Which paragraph is your favorite in this one? If you like to say something feel free to tell in comment section.

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We will come back very soon in another article with another such women freedom fighter of Indian History, till then take care and keep reading Gaurav Sangrah.