300th birth anniversary of Ahilyabai Holkar celebrated

BJP Mahila Morcha State president C. Manjula, former MLA L. Nagendra, and others pay floral tributes to Ahilyabai Holkar in Mysuru on Wednesday. | Photo Credit: M.A. SRIRAM

The 300th birth anniversary of Ahilyabai Holkar, who ruled over Malwa territory within the Maratha Confederacy from 1767 to 1795 – was celebrated by the BJP Mahila Morcha here on Wednesday.

The party’s Mahila Morcha president C. Manjula, highlighted the enduring legacy of the 18^th century ruler and described her as a role model for women’s leadership and administration.

Speaking at the event, Manjula praised Ahilyabai Holkar for her visionary leadership, stating that she invoked spiritual energy and administered the kingdom for 30 years with dedication and discipline and remains a role model for women in administration even in present times.

Ms. Manjula spoke at length on the rejuvenation of major temples that was undertaken by Ahilyabai Holkar.

‘’She reinstalled and consecrated the Jyotirlinga at Somnath, Kashi, and other places, helped rebuild temples and other religious infrastructure across India’’, said Ms. Manjula. Citing history, she said it was Ahilyabai Holkar who launched Maheshwari sarees which gave livelihood to artisans and weavers.

Her initiatives and administrative measures ensured empowerment of women, and that is what constitutes Nari Shakti, said Ms. Manjula, who took a dig at Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s guarantee schemes. ‘’Ahilyabai Holkar empowered women while in the guise of helping the women, the Karnataka Government was making women dependent on freebies’’, said Ms.Manjula.

She also touched upon the BJP’s record on women’s empowerment and said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has introduced 33 per cent reservation for women in the Parliament.  Besides, the women’s self-help groups  receive microfinance support from the Government without any collateral and women are being crowned as ‘Lakhpati Didis’’. The microfinance without entailing any collateral ranges from Rs.50,000 to over Rs.2 lakh and the turnover by enterprises run by women’s self-help groups have crossed Rs.500 crore, said Ms.Manjula.

She said just as Ahilyabai Holkar should be a source of inspiration for women, the maharani of Mysuru Kempananjamani, who pledged family jewellery to fund the construction of the Krishnaraja Sagar dam, should also be eulogized. ‘’They are our real inspiration and role models and not those promoting reels and memes on social media’’, said Ms. Manjula.

Former MLA and BJP unit president L. Nagendra, among others were present.

Published - May 28, 2025 08:36 pm IST