New Delhi [India]: The Union Ministry of Culture, in collaboration with the Madhya Pradesh government, will celebrate the 300th birth anniversary of Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar — a legendary reformer and cultural icon — with a grand event at Jamboree Maidan, Bhopal, on May 31.
The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, will attend the commemoration as the Chief Guest, alongside Madhya Pradesh Governor Mangubhai Patel and Chief Minister Mohan Yadav.
This initiative is part of the Ministry’s broader campaign to honour India’s civilisational heritage and celebrate great visionaries who shaped the nation’s cultural and social ethos.
Programme Highlights:
- Release of a Commemorative Coin and Stamp in honour of Ahilyabai Holkar
- Thematic exhibition on her life, reforms, and legacy
- Cultural performances echoing the values she upheld
Ahilyabai Holkar: A Beacon of Reform and Culture
Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar is revered as a progressive ruler, social reformer, and spiritual patron. Known for her women-centric policies, she promoted female education, supported women weavers (notably Maheshwari sarees), and empowered women to participate in societal and religious life.
Her infrastructure contributions—including temples, water bodies, roads, and dharamshalas—spanned the Indian subcontinent. The temples she rebuilt or restored, from Kashi Vishwanath in Varanasi to Somnath in Gujarat, underscore her nationwide cultural vision.
A Lasting Legacy
Ahilyabai’s governance model combined social welfare, inclusive growth, and spiritual rejuvenation, leaving a legacy that resonates across centuries. Her structures and policies continue to inspire civic development and cultural preservation across India.