Celebrating Rani Ahilyabai Holkar gives us an opportunity to reclaim our history

Indian Express

2 days ago

The Indian Subcontinent has always been a land of flourishing science, arts, and culture. The foreign rule, however, reshaped our politics, epistemology and narratives. It colonised us to such an extent that we started undermining our own cultural traditions. This uncritical engagement with colonisers' knowledge system produced a sense of inferiority. Anything Indic was considered less significant. Against this backdrop, it is essential to critically look at our colonial past to restore the ancient civilisational wisdom and decolonise our consciousness.
The British depicted our past as savage and uncivilised. Often, they questioned the status of women in our society without knowing our civilisational legacy of having women across spheres — goddesses, philosophers, rulers and extraordinary women leaders. Celebrating these women's courage, valour, and ethical wisdom is one of the ways to reclaim Indic epistemology — a step towards achieving Viksit Bharat.
If women figures like Maitreyi and Lopamudra marked our history in the Vedic age, in medieval India, there were devotees like Mirabai, and in the British period, there were revolutionaries like Jhalkaribai, Uda Devi, and Rani Abbakka Chowta. Devi Ahilyabai Holkar was also one such icon. Her political consciousness, spiritual nationalism, sense of duty, service, and wisdom made her an icon. Born on May 31, 1725, in Chondi village of Maharashtra, Rani Holkar ruled Malwa territory (a major part of which is now in Madhya Pradesh) from 1767 to 1795. The Holkar dynasty under the Maratha Empire achieved its peak during her tenure. Rooted in the civilisational ethos of samajik samrasta — a philosophical vision that aims to foster an equitable and dignified society — her policies addressed disadvantaged groups, specifically the Bhils, Gonds, and Dalits. Her efforts to bring the marginalised to the mainstream were evident in the implementation of Bhilwadi taxes that brought Bhil and Gond tribes into the administrative fold.
Holkar's unequivocal defence of rights of widows over their deceased husbands' properties was way ahead of its time. The transport routes in Malwa, along with various social and public infrastructure, like temples, dharamshalas, water tanks, bathing ghats and comparable facilities within the region and at distant sacred sites — including Varanasi, Dwarka and Rameshwaram — still testify to her excellence. These infrastructural developments helped bridge the distance between different territories and their people. Her leadership established Maheshwar as a prominent textile production hub, giving rise to the Maheshwari handloom industry. Her administration supported artisans with resources and training to improve their skills. She also implemented balanced trade practices, developed markets, and established quality standards.
Nari shakti is one of the key concepts in Bharatiya darshan shastra (Indian philosophy). Rani Holkar showed how women could be both compassionate, nurturing, and, at the same time, strong and decisive. The strand of modern feminism that speaks of embracing femininity instead of conceiving masculine traits to be superior was a defining feature of her leadership. She was a feminist much before feminism was conceptualised in the West. Her spiritual nationalism was manifested in the reconsecration of several religious structures allegedly desecrated by foreign invaders. The works of social reformers Aurobindo Ghosh and Deendayal Upadhayay on spiritual nationalism and antyodaya (marginalised) echo the foundational ethos and culture of Bharat that Rani Holkar upheld throughout her life.
The post-colonial idea of secularism represents the Western understanding. However, the separation of church and state — it mostly defines Western secularism — is an alien concept for our ancient civilisation. In India, the concept of religion has been so fluid that to confine it within a proto-theistical paradigm of the West would be anachronistic. For us, 'dharma' goes much beyond religion and manifests itself in duties, responsibilities and conduct. It is a concept that transcends the monotheistic limits of understanding. Our basic philosophical concept is not right-based; rather, it is duty-based. For Holkar, dharma was an important element to bring everyone together. Her notions of sewa, nyaya and dharma are also evident in the work of PM Narendra Modi, who upholds an inclusive cultural narrative: Sabka saath sabka vikas.
Holkar's life, contribution, and philosophy need more engagement from our scholars, activists and common people. Only the knowledge of the past can help us understand the present and reclaim history.
The writer is assistant professor of Sociology, Lakshmibai College, Delhi University