Ahilya bai was born on 31st May 1725 in Ahmedabad‘a Chondi village. Mankoji and Sushila were her parents.She was third child.Mankoji himself taught her Maths , Geography and horse riding. She used to make clay toys. Malhar Rao was Bajirao’s friend and also in his army. One night Malhar Rao took a halt at Chondi village.He saw Ahilya bai, she was worshiping Lord Shiva . He came to know that she is a shepherd’s daughter but still he decided to make her his daughter in law.At the age of 12 she became daughter in law of Holkar family Indore.Malhar Rao and his wife Gautama brought her up with affection and trained her in all 18 departments of war, household, and administration. Malhar Rao used to be out of town so She was taking good care of state and home both.She worked 29 years and died on 13th of August 1795.At the bank of Narmada her Memorial is still there.
As Religious lady : She was a very religious lady and had great faith in Lord Shiva Sh used to wake up early morning and worshiped her cow Shyama , donate grains and start her day. She used to write Lord Shiva at the end of the orders.
Good governance: She is known for her good governance.She made chiefs for 37 departments to keep keen eye on all parts of the state and she could know the detail informations. She made local postal department, at every ten kos.(1.1mile ) there was a chauki , and circulation of information was quick and secret.Circulation responsibility was given to relying people.She was the lady who instead of prevalent Urdu and Farsi promoted Sanskrit, Hindi and Malwi languages.
Her political instinct was sharp “ she made Peshva alert by British ,saying that British people‘a love is like bear kills the hunt by tickling.
She never attacked any of neighbour states but no one dared to look at her state.
She used to say Bharat is our nation and division among states is like poison.
She was very intelligent in educational and economical matters . She increased business. She made “ Taksal “she established weavers at the bank of Narmada in Maheshvar.Maheshvari sarees are world famous till today.
Wives of those warriors who die in the battlefield always receive help from Ahilyabai ,good water to drink was arranged by her.farmers were free to sell their crops any where.Land less farmers were given lands. Transparency in tax system was introduced by her,
She promoted 19 types of skill specialists for except Gurukula ( which are taught in management schools these days) p
Warriors: She made a perfect army with rifles , she made seven forts to keep arms . She also made a women army. She appointed a British man to get the new updating of arms.
Religious lady : She made 28 ghats and 50 temples in Maheshvar,Varanasi’s Manikarnika ghat,Badrinath to Rameshvar many ghats and temples were made by her. She made temples even in Tipu Sultan’s state. She did such construction works and renovations 80 to 100 places in India,She continuously worked for the unity of the country.She spent all this money from a “ Khaagi kosh “ ( one forth of husband’s income was given to the wife those days) Bajirao peshva and Gautama bai’s brother gave big amounts)This way Ahilyabai’s treasury was so rich she used to lend money to Peshwa of Pune.She used to say “ Lord Shiva has handed over the work to serve people and that I am doing. I am not owner but protector “
It is said that still her blessings are protecting Indore’s people. Indore’s people have great honour for her, and they take her as mother .
Once a poet wrote a poem praising her “ she said I am a simple woman, I don’t need this and she splashed the “ Prashasti “ in Narmada !!
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