2016-05-31 Tue

Ahilyabai Holkar – one of the most able and saintly Queens of India was born on 31st May 1725. Today is the 291st Birth Anniversary of the Philosopher Queen of the Malwa Kingdom.

India has had many female rulers, warrior women and poet queens, but Ahilyabai Holkar commands more affection and respect for her accomplishments during her 30-year-long reign than anyone else. She was not only noted for her administrative ability but also for her contributions towards art and architecture.

Born in the family of the “Patil” of a village, Ahilyabai Holkar was way ahead of her times. Firstly because she was a well-learned woman belonging to an orthodox Hindu society and secondly because even after the death of her husband she single-handedly ruled Malwa.

She helped widows retain their husbands’ wealth. She made sure that a widow was allowed to adopt a son. Ahilyabai’s capital at Maheshwar was known for its literary, musical, artistic and industrial enterprise. She gave patronage to famous Marathi poets the shahirs, Sanskrit scholars as well as craftsmen, sculptors, and artists.

The artistic skills of the time are vividly portrayed on the contemporary coins. The coins were struck in the name of Mughal Emperor Shah Alam – II. Few of the coins bear the symbol of “Holkars” – the sun and a crescent whereas few coins have a depiction of “Shiva Linga”.

She was truly an able ruler and a great queen. In the memory of this magnificent queen, India Post has issued two commemorative stamps. A 25 paisa stamp of 1975 features Ahilyabai Holkar Temple and a Rs. 2.00 stamp of 1996 features her portrait.