Ahilyabai Holkar
Ahilyabai Holkar was born on May 31, 1725. See ranking, bio blurb, and everyone else born that day.
About Ahilyabai Holkar
Ahilyabai Holkar (Marathi pronunciation: [əɦɪljɑbaɪ]; 31 May 1725 – 13 August 1795), also spelled Ahalya Bai, Rajmata Ahilyabai Holkar was the Holkar Queen of the Malwa kingdom. She was later ruling queen of Indore within the Maratha Empire. She established Maheshwar (in Madhya Pradesh) as the seat of the Holkar Dynasty. Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar is renowned for good governance, along with educational and cultural development. She commisioned a number of temples, Ghats, Pathasalas, and Dharmshalas as socio-cultural projects, while also contributing to the growth of Indian architecture. After the deaths of her husband Khanderao Holkar and father-in-law Malhar Rao Holkar, Ahilyabai undertook the affairs of the Holkar dynasty. She defended Indore against invasions and personally led armies into battle, with her brother-in-law Tukoji Rao Holkar serving as her military commander. She is widely revered across India as one of the legendary queens of the Maratha Malwa kingdom, who has a notable legacy of public welfare, education, and socio-cultural development. Ahilyabai's Matha, or charitable endowments, spread across India. She is also remembered as a Sadhvi, or holy woman, and widely referred to as Devi Ahilya. In 2025, her 300th birth anniversary was widely celebrated across India, and she was remembered for her contributions to Hindu cultural institutions, including the rebuilding of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi. She is also remembered for her commitment to women's education and empowerment, including women-led traditional textile initiatives such as the Maheshwari sarees.