Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar Biography: Birthday, Early life, Career, Children, Death

Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar Biography:  Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar was the Holkar Queen of the Maratha Malwa kingdom in India. Rajmata Ahilyabai was born in the Jamkhed, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra village of Chondi. She relocated the capital to Maheshwar on the Narmada River, south of Indore.

Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar Biography

Early Years

Ahilya Bai was born into a Marathi Hindu family to Mankoji Shinde and Sushila Shinde in the Chaundi village (present-day Ahmednagar district) of Maharashtra, where her father, Mankoji Shinde, was the Patil. Despite the fact that women did not attend school at the time, Ahilya’s father taught her to read and write.

According to legend, she rose to prominence when Malhar Rao Holkar, a commander in the army of Maratha Peshwa Baji Rao I and ruler of Malwa, paused in Chaundi on his way to Pune and saw eight-year-old Ahilya participating in a temple service on the village. On the advice of the Peshwas, Malhar’s son Khande Rao Holkar wed Ahilya after being impressed by her religiosity and character. In 1733, she wedded Khande Rao. Khande Rao was escorted by Ahilya on numerous campaigns. Ahilya was raised throughout her marriage by her mother-in-law, Gautama Bai, who is attributed with instilling her with morals. In 1759, she passed on her Khasgi Jagir after instructing her in administration, accounting, and politics, etc.

Khande Rao and his father Malhar Rao Holkar besieged the Kumher fort of Jat Raja Suraj Mal of Bharatpur in 1754, requesting assistance from Imad-ul-Mulk and Ahmad Shah Bahadur’s general Mir Bakhshi. Suraj Mal aligned with the rebellious wazir of the Mughal emperor, Safdar Jang. During the battle, Khande Rao was inspecting his troops in an open palanquin when he was killed by a cannonball launched by the Jat army. After the death of her spouse, Ahilya Bai’s father-in-law prevented her from committing sati. After the death of her spouse, Malhar Rao Holkar instructed her in military affairs.

Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar Career

After her husband’s death, Ahilya Bai, the daughter of King Khande Rao, resolved to perform Sati at his funeral pyre. Malhar Rao, her father-in-law, made impassioned appeals to prevent her from committing Sati, but she refused. Male Rao Holkar, grandson of Malhar Rao and lone son of Khande Rao, became sovereign of Indore in 1766 under Ahilya Bai’s regency.

Ahilya Bai had military training and was deemed qualified to manage both civil and military affairs. She captured the Gohad fort near Gwalior during the invasion of Punjab by Ahmad Shah Durrani in 1765. Ahilya Bai petitioned Peshwa Madhav Rao I to award her the administration of the Holkar dynasty following the deaths of Malhar Rao and her son. Some in Malwa opposed her accession to power, but the Holkar faction of the Maratha army supported her. On 11 December 1767, the Peshwa granted her permission with subhedar Tukoji Rao Holkar as her military commander.

Ahilya Bai maintained her enlightened rule over Malwa, paying frequent visits to her subjects and remaining accessible to anyone in need of assistance. However, after Male Raao Holkar’s demise, Gangadhar Rao attempted to usurp royal authority by asking Ahilyabai to adopt him as her son and grant him all administrative power. Gangadhar Rao orchestrated a rebellion against her and incited Raghunathrao, the uncle of Peshwa Madhavrao, to attack the Indore Holkar domain.

The victory of Ahilya Bai helped her consolidate her authority over the kingdom, but it strained her relationship with Gangadhar Rao, her trusted advisor and confidant.

After the Maratha army lead by Mahadji Scindia was defeated at the Battle of Lalsot, Ahilya Bai defended her realms against Rajput raids. She sponsored festivals and constructed numerous Hindu temples, Ghats, wells, tanks, and rest-houses across the Indian subcontinent. She advocated for the prosperity of merchants, farmers, and cultivators but did not believe she had a rightful claim to their fortune.

Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar Death

Ahilyabai passed away on August 13, 1795, at age 70. Ahilyabai was succeeded by her nephew and commander-in-chief, Tukoji Rao Holkar, who abdicated the throne in 1797 in favour of his son, Kashi Rao Holkar.

Children

In 1745 and 1748, she gave birth to her son Male Rao and daughter Muktabai, respectively. Male Rao developed mental illness in his later years and perished in 1767 as a result of his illness. After he had successfully defeated bandits, Ahilya Bai wed her daughter to Yashwant Rao, a courageous but impoverished man.