QUEEN OF MALWA:

Ahilyabai Holkar, born on 31st may 1725 in the village of Chondi in Jamkhed. She was the Holkar queen of Malwa Kingdom. It was the period, when women education was never strengthened. Even at that point, her father Mankoji Rao Shinde, chief of the village managed for a homeschooling.

MARRIAGE:

She was just 8, when she received a marriage proposal from the Royal family of Malwar. None other than Malhar Rao holkar, approached the young girl to ask her hand for his son Khanderao Holkar. She got married to the young ruler in 1733.

She was just 29 when her husband got killed in the battle of Kumbher. The young girl was about to commit sati, but her father-in-law refused to do so.

It did not stop here, after 12 years, her father-in-law left the kingdom and passed away. After his death, the only son of Ahilyabai Holkar, Male Rao Holkar stood up with the opportunity.

The last straw came when the young monarch Male Rao too died, a few months after his rule.

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Leaving all the pain aside, Ahilyabai Holkar took all the matters in her hands. She ascended the throne and became the ruler of Indore on 11 December 1767.

She even knew archery and sword fighting, and it was pretty amazing to notice her battlefield skills and the diplomatic skills.

Indore prospered in her 30-years of rule. She built numerous forts and roads. She developed dozen of temples, ghats, wells for the prosperity of the whole region.

It all came to an end on 13th August 1795. Ahilyabai was 70 when she died. We have such great rulers, such great footmarks.

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