🔆 Ahilyabai Holkar: Visionary Queen and Administrator 📍 About Ahilyabai Holkar ✅ Born on 31 May 1725 in Chondi village, Ahmednagar, she became the queen of the Holkar dynasty of Indore under the Maratha Confederacy. ✅ Ascended the throne in 1767 after the death of her father-in-law, Malhar Rao Holkar, and ruled for 28 years. ✅ Established Maheshwar (Madhya Pradesh) as the seat of the Holkar dynasty, making it a hub of literature, arts, music, and industry. 📍 Key Contributions ✅ Cultural Patronage: Restored famous temples, including Kashi Vishwanath and Somnath. ✅ Textile Development: Established the Maheshwari saree industry, still renowned today. ✅ Military Leadership: Defended her kingdom against invasions and personally led armies into battle. ✅ Social Reforms: Abolished the tradition of confiscating the property of childless widows. Upheld strict justice, including ordering her son’s execution for a capital offense. ✅ Court Patronage: Invited scholars and poets like Moropant and Khushali Ram, fostering intellectual growth. 📍 Legacy ✅ British historian John Keay called her the ‘Philosopher Queen’ for her wisdom and fairness. ✅ Passed away on 13 August 1795, leaving a legacy of peace, prosperity, and reform in her kingdom. 📍 Holkar Dynasty ✅ Part of the Maratha Confederacy, the Holkar dynasty played key roles in India’s history, including the Third Anglo-Maratha War. #art_and_culture