Ahilyabai Holkar’s Rule Was a Golden Era of Public Welfare, Nation-Building and Justice: CM Vishnu Deo Sai

Raipur : On the occasion of the 300th birth anniversary of Punyashlok Rani Ahilyabai Holkar, a symposium was organized at the Chief Minister’s residence in Raipur. Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai presided over the event, while Madhya Pradesh’s Minister of Panchayat, Rural Development and Labour, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel, attended as the keynote speaker. Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Shri Tokhan Sahu and Agriculture Minister Shri Ramvichar Netam also participated. The event witnessed the presence of a large number of intellectuals, social workers, doctors, engineers, architects, lawyers, and writers from diverse fields.

In his address, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai paid rich tributes to Rajmata Ahilyabai Holkar, describing her as a symbol of cultural unity and good governance in India. He hailed her nearly 30-year reign as a golden era marked by public welfare, nation-building, and justice. Despite being the Queen of Indore, Ahilyabai did not confine herself to one geographic region—she undertook the construction of temples and dharamshalas across the country. For three decades, she led the Holkar dynasty, embodying the ideals of “Ram Rajya.”

The Chief Minister highlighted her historic role in the reconstruction of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, undertaken in accordance with the wishes of Peshwa Madhavrao. Her efforts honored the sentiments of millions of devotees. She also took the visionary step of restoring the Somnath Temple, a significant milestone in India’s cultural renaissance. CM Sai noted that today’s cleanliness and governance standards in Indore are inspired by the principles established by Rajmata Ahilyabai. Known for her strong sense of justice, she never hesitated to punish even members of her own family to uphold the law.

Keynote speaker Shri Prahlad Singh Patel reflected on Rani Ahilyabai’s 28-year reign from 1767 to 1795, during which she championed spiritual authority and judicial fairness. Despite facing numerous personal hardships, she carried out exemplary acts of public service. She set benchmarks in the proper use of public funds, never spending a single rupee from the state treasury for personal gain. After the death of her husband, she chose not to live in the royal palace, instead leading a humble life in a hut. In her pursuit of justice, she once sentenced her own son to death. She also allowed widows to adopt sons during her rule—a progressive step for that era. Because of her people-centric governance and welfare initiatives, the public revered her as “Lokmata” (Mother of the People).

MLA Shri Kiran Dev and former Deputy Speaker of the Chhattisgarh Assembly Shri Narayan Chandel also highlighted Rani Ahilyabai Holkar’s remarkable legacy. They emphasized her just rule, dedication to welfare, and her indelible impact on Indian history. They said the symposium served as a reminder of her ideals, which continue to inspire values of social harmony and public service. Events like this encourage today’s generation to contribute actively to nation-building.

During the event, representatives of the Dhankar community presented a portrait of Rani Ahilyabai Holkar to CM Shri Vishnu Deo Sai. Among the attendees were MLAs Sunil Soni, Motilal Sahu, and Purandar Mishra, Chhattisgarh State Youth Commission Chairman Vishw Vijay Singh Tomar, Raipur Mayor Meenal Chaubey, former Minister Premprakash Pandey, former CSIDC Chairman Chhagan Mundra, Shankar Agrawal, and several officials from corporations, commissions, and youth groups.