Ahilyabai Was the Foundation of Malwa's Economic Development'
Discussion Held on the 300th Birth Anniversary of Ahilyabai Holkar
Udaipur, As part of the 300th birth anniversary celebrations of Ahilyabai Holkar, a discussion session was organized by the Indian History Compilation Committee, Udaipur District Unit. The session highlighted Ahilyabai's significant contributions to the economic development of Malwa, particularly in empowering women, promoting the handloom industry, and inspiring the forest-dwelling communities to seek employment beyond their regions. Additionally, Ahilyabai played a key role in the development of pilgrimage sites across India.
The session, held at the Literature Institute Campus of Janardan Rai Nagar Rajasthan Vidyapeeth University, began with a welcome speech by Dr. Jeevan Singh Kharkwal, Director of the Literature Institute.
The chief speaker, Ramesh Shukla, the organizational secretary of the Indian History Compilation Committee, Chittorgarh province, provided valuable insights into the life of Ahilyabai. He shared that Ahilyabai was born on May 31, 1725, in the village of Chondi, present-day Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra. She married Khanderao, the son of the Maratha Subedar Malhar Rao Holkar, at a young age. Ahilyabai, belonging to the Pratihara Kshatriya clan, went on to establish temples, ghats, wells, and reservoirs across India, including the installation of the Shivling at Kashi Vishwanath. She also opened food kitchens (annakshetras) for the hungry, installed water troughs (pyaus) for the thirsty, and appointed scholars for the study and discourse of scriptures at temples.
Dr. Vivek Bhatnagar, Provincial General Secretary of the History Compilation Committee, emphasized Ahilyabai's economic contributions, particularly her role in the development of Maheshwar on the banks of the Narmada River. He explained how she transformed the city by commissioning exquisite sculptures and promoting the silk handloom industry in Chanderi. This revival led to the creation of extremely delicate saris made from 50 grams of silk, known as Panchtolia. A Panchtolia sari from that era is still displayed at the Birmingham Museum in London, and it is so finely made that it can be stored in a matchbox and easily passed through a ring.
Chhaganlal Bohra, the regional organization secretary of the History Compilation Committee, chaired the session and pointed out that historical figures like Ahilyabai have often been overshadowed due to the excessive focus on the Mughals in history. He emphasized that her contributions were even more significant than those of the Mughals.
The session concluded with a vote of thanks by Chainshankar Dashora, General Secretary of the Indian History Compilation Committee, Udaipur District. The event was attended by Dr. Manish Shrimali, Dr. Kulshekhar Vyas, Dr. Narayan Paliwal, Dr. Mahamaya Prasad Chobisa, Deepak Sharma, and several students.
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