AHILYABAI AND HER BENEVOLENT ADMINISTRATION

Author(s): N.N. Nagrale

Source: Proceedings of the Indian History Congress , 1979, Vol. 40 (1979), pp. 700-706
Published by: Indian History Congress

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 AHILYABAI AND HER BENEVOLENT
ADMINISTRATION

Pro/. Nagrale N.N.

Ahilyabai was born in the year 1725 A.D. Her father

Mankoji Sindhia, a scion of respectable Dharnagar family residin
at Chonde of the Beed district, was a patii of that village. At
age of eight, she was married to Khande-Rao Holkar, the only so
of Malhar-Rao Holkar and Gaotamabai in 1733. A.D. The
Charities of the Devi Ahilayabai in her own territory as well as
throughout India are too well-known to need any special remarks
from us. Wherever there stand temples, ghats and other charitable
buildings, unnamed and unregistered, the Indian mind runs to trace
them to the "Devi's name." In short Ahilyabai's name and
" Charitahle Institutions 99 have become, so to say, synonymous in the
Indian mind.1

After Malhar-Rao Holkar's death (20th May 1766) his

grandson, Male-Rao Holkar was recognised by the Peshwa as a
successor to the Jagheers of the Holkar family. Malerao died
within a year after his succession, being affected by insanity. The
minister Gangadhar-Yeshwant-Chandrachood advised Ahilyabai
to adopt a child from the Holkar family. But this advice she
declined to follow in spite of the threats of Raghoba-dada, whose
evil genius always inclined him to take the wrong side and to be
misguided The objęct of the minister in wishing Ahilyabai to
adopt a child was naturally to lengthen the period of his ministry
as well as to enjoy supreme power during the minority of the young
chief. Ahilyabai had the wisdom and the capacity to see through
these dark designs of the greedy minister Gangadhar-Chandra-
Ghood and she resolved to baffle him and his plans with the
resources at her disposal at this time.2

Ahilyabai defied the minister and his supporter Raghoba-

dada and prepared to undertake the administration herself. While
things were in such an unsettled condition, a letter arrived from the
Peshwa Madhav-Rao to the effect that Ahilyabai's succession was

700

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 701

duly recongnised and sanctioned by the Peshwa. In this way

Ahilyabai's opponents Gangadhar Yeshwant Chandrachood and his
supporter Raghobaba, were disposed of by the final orders of the
Peshwa and she was allowed to have her own way in looking after
the affairs of her Saranjam.3

Ahilyabai entered on her responsible task of administration

by selecting Tukoji Holkar as commander of the army and to
perform those functions which she as a female could not discharge.
Tukoji Holkar had enjoyed the confidence of Malhar-Rao Holkar
and was highly esteemed by him as a soldier. This double rule,
though inconsistent with principle, apparently, continued satis-
factory for thirty years to the benefit of the state as well as all
parties concerned, because Ahilyabai was an admirable woman full
of sympathy and gen erosity, who had begun to have much regard
for this dutiful soldier.

The silent help given by the saintly lady Ramabai to the

saintly lady Ahilyabai is entitled to be enshrined in the pages of
history. Ahilyabai had sent detailed letters to the Peshwa as well
as to this queen Ramabai fully setting forth the dangers that were
ready to overwhelm her owing to the ruthless conduct of her minis-
ter and the support which Raghoba-Dada had promised to him.
The justice-loving tendency of the Peshwa was strongly seconded by
the entreaties of Ramabai, who painted the grief and the bereave-
ment of Ahilyabai and the services done by Malhar-Rao Holkar
and finally requested that Ahilyabai should be protected at all costs
from the nets spread for her ruin by the Peshwa's uncle Raghoba at
the instance of Gangadhar-Yeshwant4

AHILYABAI'S REGIME- 1767-1795 A.D.

Ahilyabai's regime from 1767-1795 snychronises with the

period during which the indefatigable and enthusiastic exertions
of the Peshwa Madhav-Rao and his generals Hurrypant Phadke,
Parshram Bhow Patwardhar, Vaisaji Krishana Binivale,
Ramchandra Ganesh Kanade, Shamsher Bahadur, Ali-Bahadur,
Govindpant Bündele, Mahadaji Sindhia and Tukoji Holkar
extended the Maratha power in all parts of India and wiped away

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 702

the stigma of Panipat by re-establishing the Maratha influence and

prestige in Hindustan as well as south India.

Ahilyabai attended zealously to her world renowned

charities, and her civil administration. Her representative Tukoji
Holkar, performed the duties of a military leader and commander
of the contingnt of 15000 horses, which Holkar maintained for
warlike purposes and which was to be sent for military operations
under the instructions of Peshwa.6

The General Tendency of Her Administration

The nature of her civil administration, her daily life and

habits and her general behaviour towards her neighbours and
benefactors, her servants and her subjects. The main feature of the
administration of this God-fearing lady was toleration, combined
with mercy and a due regard to the frailties of the human constitu-
tion. "Do unto others as you would be done by was certainly, the
guiding principle of this highminded lady." Ahilyabai's great
happiness in the life was to promote the prosperity of all round her.
She rejoiced, when she saw, bankers, merchants, farmers and culti-
vators rise to affluence. According to Malcolm' "The management
of all the provinces in Malwa and Nimaur was the peculiar depart
ment of Ahilyabai and her great object was, by just and moderate
government, to improve the condition of the country, while she
promoted the happiness of her subjects."8

Ahilyabai's treatment of her officers and servants was sym-

pathetic and liberal, combined with mild severity and stern justice.
She tried to harm none, but such was her moral grandeur and awe
that none could venture to take any undue liberty in her presence.
Her "Rawab" was based on moral basis and never on force, and
consequently it ever prevailed. Her sole aim was to take service
properly from her servants and officers and it was seldom that she
changed them. During Ahilyabai's regime, there was no reward
without a meritorious service and no punishment without
an offence. Her favours as well as her punishments were
distributed with a due sense of justice and mercy7. Sir John
Malcolm says, "Throughout the whole period of her regime of

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 703

thirty years, the numerous petty Rajput chiefs, tributaries and

neighbours were treated fairly and amicable settlements. This led
to the peace and contenment of the Rajput neighbour, who blessed
Ahilyabai for her disinterested and generous behaviour towards
them, and always remained attached to her side, Ahilyabai's settle-
ments with the criminal tribes of gonds and bheels, who inhabit the
tracts of the Narmada and the mountainous parts of the Nimad
province were as satisfactory as her other arrangements." Temples
in every pari of India attest to her munificence closed to the shore
line, on the sacred slopes of Kedarnath, a building for the accomo-
dation of piligrims and a reservoir of water for their use still
preserve the memory of Ahilyabai. At Gaya, where she devoted
great sums to religious and charitable purposes, her sculptured
figure, adoring the image of Mahadeo, is placed in close proximity
to the statues of Rama and Si a.8

Peshwa and Ahilyabai

A pious woman like Ahilyabai, whose time was regularly

devoted to the hearing of the Puranas generally and especially the
Bhagawat was sure to display a remarkable development of this
trait in her dealings with the world at large9 and particularly with
the Peshwas. Her sentiments and behaviour towards the Peshwas
were of intense devotion and affection, as extracts from the "letters
from the Maheshwar Darbur," she had seen the careers of Bajirao,
I, of Baîaji Baji-Rao, Madhav-Rao Ballai, Narayan-Rao and sawai
Madhav-Rao and had a keen memory of the regard which they all
entertained for Holkar family.

For the Peshwa Madhav-Rao I and Ramabai, Ahilyabai had

naturally very great reverence and affectionate feelings of gratitude,
as both the heroic Peshwa and his virtuous wife were ardent suppor-
ters of Ahilyabai.10 Sawai-Madhav-Rao succeeded Narayan-Rao in
1774 A.D. and it was during this peshwa's regime that political
events of the utmost importance took place and added to the glory
of the Maratha empire.11 Ahilyabai was on the side of this peshwa
and quite opposed to the wicked Raghoba, the bane of the Maratha
ąnd his party.

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 704

Ahilyabai and Mahadaji-Sindhia

Though Ahilyabai shed a glorious lustre on the womanhood

of India by her saintliness, Mahadaji-Sindhia added greatly to the
fame of Indian statemanship and military grandeur, while at the
same time pious woman possessed, to a great extent, the qualities of
a stat eman and soldier, the great soldier stateman, who also deeply
interested in the company of saints and saintly persons. Ahilyabai
raised a force entirely composed of women and wished to place
herself at its head, when fighting with Raghoba-dada. When
Raghoba heard of this, he was naturally outwitted and put to
shame, Raghoba, "the victor of the Punjab was ashamed to fight
with woman and desisted from this action to the exultation and
surprise of the female warriors arrayed against him."ļ2

Ahilyabai was also equally anxious to help Mahadaji-Sindhia

whenever he wanted advice or was in need of monetary help.
Ahilyabai gave a loan of thirty lakhs of rupees to Mahadaji Sindhia
and never made a demand for its return. Mahadaji-Sindhia and
Ahilyabai's visit also served to create such a respect in Sindhias
mind for the venerable lady that Sindhia began to feel a filial
reverence for her. " Ashya Maoliche Poti-Janmi Ghayawa."13

Ahilyabai died on the 13th August 1795 A.D. at the age of

seventy, and the rule of the state devolved on Tukoji-Rao During
her lifetime, Tukoji-Rao invariably referred to Ahilyabai all
matters of importance. Ahilyabai always retained the control over
the Malwa districts in her own hands. Tukoji-Rao never forgot for
a moment his original sense of obligation to his benefactress. The
administration of Ahilyabai has been highly praised by unbiased
observers and writers, such as Sir John Malcolm and the state
records of her day give ample proof of her unusual ability and her
rigorous attempts to ameliorate the conditions of her subjects. She
rejoiced to see her people prosper. In private life she was - extre-
mely pious and spent large sums of money in alleviating suffering
and misery, which enshrined her in the hearts of her grateful
people.14

Mrs. Joanna Baillie described Ahilyabai's character and hęr

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 705

administration with a marvellous poem.16

According to Nana Fadnis "Amongst the fair sex, Ahilyabai

appears possessed with powers of "blessing as well as burning." We
had heard, till this day, much of her fame for religious duties and
austerities, today we are surprised by the news of her courage and
enterprise. Her action has revealed to the world the fact that
Maheshwar is the Northern gate of Poona-Maratha Empire". These
words were assented to by the nodding of the entire Durbar. On an-
other memorable occasion Nana exclaimed "None equals the Devi
in foresight and promptitude much less surpasses "

According to the Nizam of Hyderabad, "There is none, among

contemporary rulers, to equal the Devi. She utilized the vast
wealth amassed by the late Subhedar Malharjee to the best purpose.
She has resigned her person and her purse to the purpose of
providence."

According to Moropanta, poet of Maharashtra "A rare

combination of virtues, indeed". Further he compares the Devi
favourably with the river Ganges. The points common to both; he
says are "Possessed of meritorious fame, and devoted to
excellence".16

Sir John Malcolm sums up her character and said that "It is
an extraordinary picture, a female without vanity, a bigot without
intolerance, a mind imbued with the deepest superstition, yet
receiving no impression except what promoted the happiness of
those under its influence, a being exercising, in the most active and
able manner, despotic power not merely with sincere humility, but
under the severest moral restraint that a strict considerce could
impose on human action and all this combined with the greatest
indulgence for the weakness and faults of others." Such at least is
the account which the natives of Malwa give Ahilya Bai, with
them her name is stained and she is styled an "avatar or incarnation
of the Divinity"17

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 706

REFERENCES

1. Devishri-Ahilyabai - P. V. Thombre p. 32, Indore and its Vicinity

p. 18.
2. Indore state Gazetteer Vol I and haniwal pp. 24, 25 Devi-Ahilyabai
Holkar-Burway-p. 18.
3. Vide-"Devishri Ahilyabai" by Purwshatam p. 97.
4. Vide-Peshwa's Shakawali-by Rajwade and Devi Ahilyabai Holkar-
Burway pp. 23-24.
5. The Indore state Gazetteer Vol. I. Dhariwal p. 26. Ahilyab$i's
administration P.V. Thombre p. 75.

6. Malcolm's memoir oť central India Vol. I. p. 135, Maheshawar

Daftar letter No. 12, 13, 15 (parnis Marathi
7. Devi Ahilyabai Holkar- Burway p.p. 35-36.
8. Vide Ithas sangraha Vol. Ill p. 9 - Rao Bahadur parnis (Marathi).
9. Letters from Maheshwar Darbar (Marathi) p. 219.
10. Life work of Ah lyabai - P.Y. Thombre p. 129, Barway, 57-58.
11. Letter from Maheshwar Darbar Letter No. 32.
12. Life work of Ahilyabai - P.V. Thombre p.p. 11, 137, 138.
13. Vide Holkar's kyafiat published in Itihas sangraha. Vol. IV 1911
August.
14. The Indore state Gazetteer Vol. I - Dhariwal p. 28.
15. Ahalyabai - A Poem-Mrs Joanna Baillie. (250th Birth Anniversary of
Devi Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore 1975).
16. Life work of Ahilyabai Holkar - P.V. Thombre p. 161.
17. The Indore state Gazetteer Vol. I p. 28, Malcolm's memoir of central
India, Vol. I. p.p. 135-136.

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