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Ahilyabai Holkar a Magnificent Ruler, Saintly Administrator Eleanor Zelliott

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Ahilyabai Holkar a Magnificent Ruler, Saintly Administrator � Eleanor Zelliott Ahilyabai Holkar A Magnificent Ruler, Saintly Administrator Eleanor Zelliott her character, he brought the girl to bows and quivers of arrows fitted to the Holkar territory as a bride for his the corners of the howdah of her weak son, Khande Rao. Ahilyabai’s favourite elephant. The Peshwa husband was killed in battle in 1754. granted permission, and, with Tukoji Twelve years later, her father-in-law, Holkar (not a relative) as the head of Malhar Rao died. From 1766 until her military matters, she proceeded to death in 1795, she ruled Malwa, rule Malwa in a most enlightened trained in both administrative and manner, even reinstating a Brahmin military matters by Malhar Rao. A who had opposed her. Ahilyabai never observed ndia has had many female rulers, letter to her from Malhar Rao in 1765 purdah but held daily public warrior women and poet queens, illustrates the trust he had in her audience and was always accessible but Ahilyabai Holkar commands ability during the tempestuous battle I th to anyone who needed her ear. The more affection and respect for her for power in the 18 century: administrator and historian, Sir John accomplishments during her 30-year- “Proceed to Gwalior after crossing Malcolm wrote most enthusiastically long reign than any other does. She the Chambal. You may halt there about her abilities some 40 years was noted for her piety, for her for four or five days. You should keep your big artillery and arrange after her death: administrative ability, for her keen “Her first principle of government for its ammunition as much as interest in all her people and for an appears to have been moderate possible....On the march you extraordinary amount of building at assessment, and an almost sacred should arrange for military posts holy sites all over the country. Her respect for the native rights of th being located for protection of the rule of Malwa in the 18 century is village officers and proprietors of road.” still cited as a model of benevolent land. She heard every complaint Already trained to be a ruler, and effective government. in person; and although she Ahilyabai was born in 1725 in the Ahilyabai petitioned the Peshwa continually referred cases to village of Chondi, in Bhid district, after Malhar’s death, and the death courts of equity and arbitration, Maharashtra. Her father, Mankoji of her son, to take over the and to her ministers for settlement, Shinde, was the patil of the village, administration herself. Some in she was always accessible. So a member of the proud Dhangar Malwa objected to her assumption strong was her sense of duty on community. Women then did not go of rule, but the army of Holkar was all points connected with the to school, but Ahilyabai’s father enthusiastic about her leadership. distribution of justice, that she is taught her to read and write. Her She had led them in person, with four represented as not only patient mother also seems to have been a but unwearied in the investigation well-read and pious woman. "Her first principle of of the most insignificant cases, Her entrance on to the stage of government appears to when appeals were made to her history was something of an have been moderate decision.” accident: Malhar Rao Holkar, a A contemporary American commander in the service of the assessment, and an historian, Stewart Gordon, adds that Peshwa Bajirao and lord of the almost sacred respect a definite proof of her ability as a Malwa territory, stopped in Chondi for the native rights of ruler was that her territories in Malwa on his way to Pune and, according village officers and were not attacked or disrupted by to legend, saw the eight-year-old local battles during her reign, in spite Ahilyabai at the temple service in the proprietors of land." of wars all around. According to village. Recognising her piety and Gordon, Ahilyabai had one of the 10 MANUSHI most stable reigns of the 18 century.” “Shri Shankara"appeared on all And Malcolm adds that she kept, She helped widows royal proclamations along with her almost to the man, the same set of retain their husbands' signature. ministers and administrators wealth. She made sure In spite of all that is known the throughout her reign. Among that a widow was allowed warrior queen and all that she left Ahilyabai’s accomplishments was behind—timeless testim her the development of Indore from a to adot a son... imagination and benefi she has not, small village to a prosperous and in my opinion, be the recognition that beautiful city; her own capital, Nanaji Deshmukh. The only time she rightfully deserves. Visitors to Ahilyabai seems not to have been however, was in nearby Maheshwar, Varana of the golden domed temple able to settle a conflict peacefully a town on the banks of the Narmada of Vishvanath, Lord of the World, in and easily was in the case of the Bhils river. She also built forts and roads the heart of the city. Pilgrims headed and Gonds, “plunderers” on her in Malwa, sponsored festivals and for Pandharpur, a major sacred site borders; but she granted them waste gave donations for regular worship in Maharashtra, go a little further in many Hindu temples. Outside hilly lands and the right to a small duty on goods passing through their along the same route’ to Malwa, she built dozens of temples, Mangalvadhe, to a place called ghats, wells, tanks and rest-houses territories. Even in this case, Gopalpur, a large endowment for across an area stretching from the according to Malcolm, she did give religious travellers. Both are part of Himalayas to pilgrimage centres in “considerate attention to their Ahilyabai’s building and charitable South India. The Bharatiya habits”. legacy. It is said that she even Sanskritikosh lists as sites she Ahilyabai’s capital at repaired the road from Varanasi to embellished, Kashi, Gaya, Somnath, Maheshwar was the scene of literary, Calcutta, as well routes to sites of Ayodhya, Mathura, Hardwar, musical, artistic and industrial Kanchi, Avanti, Dwarka, enterprise. She entertained the pilgrimage. Badrinarayan, Rameshwar and famous Marathi poet, Moropant and Historians of the 19th and 20th Jaganathpuri. Ahilyabai also rejoiced the shahir, Anantaphandi from centuries—Indian, English and when she saw bankers, merchants, Maharashtra, and also patronised American—agree that the reputation farmers and cultivators rise to levels the Sanskrit scholar, Khushali Ram. of Ahilyabai Holkar in Malwa and of affluence, but did not consider that Craftsmen, sculptors and artists Maharashtra was then, and is now, she had any legitimate claim to any received salaries and honours at her that of a saint. Nothing has been of that wealth, be it through taxes or capital, and she even established a discovered by any researcher to feudal right. She must, in fact, have textile industry in the city of discredit that. She was truly a financed all her activities with the Maheshwar. magnificent woman, an able ruler and lawful gains obtained from a happy One of her old retainers told a great queen. and prosperous land. Malcolm the facts of her daily life: There are many stories of her She rose an hour before daybreak to care for her people. She helped say prayers. Then she had scriptures Eleanor Zelliott is a retired professor of widows retain their husbands’ read to her, distributed alms and gave History, Carleton College, Northfield, Minnesota. Her writtings are chiefly wealth. She made sure that a widow food to a number of Brahmins. Her concerned with the movement led by Dr. was allowed to adopt a son; in fact, breakfast, as indeed all her meals, was B.R. Ambedkar, and the historical in one instance, when her minister vegetarian. After breakfast, she significance of the medieval saint poets, refused to allow the adoption unless prayed again, and then took a short Eknath and Cokhamela. he was suitably bribed, she is said rest. From two to six she was in her to have sponsored the child herself, durbar, after religious exercises and and given him clothes and jewels as a light meal, she again attended to ERRATA part of the ritual. To honour the business from nine to eleven. Her life We regret that we forgot to memory of Ahilyabai Holkar, in 1996 was marked by pray; abstinence and mention that the photograph of leading citizens of Indore instituted work, with religious fasts, festivals a woman headloader on page 40 an award in her name to be bestowed and public emergencies affording the of issue no. 122 was contributed annually on an outstanding public only change in this routine. Her by Sue Darlow. figure. The then prime minister of devotion was to Shiva, although she Editor India gave away the first award to respected all religions. No.124 11.
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