Rajmata Ahilyabai Holkar was the Holkar Queen of the Malwa kingdom

🚩 Born in the village of Chondi in Jamkhed, Ahilya Nagar,Maharashtra, Maharani Ahilyabai or as she was fondly referred to Rajmata Ahilyabai Holkar was the Holkar Queen of the Malwa kingdom. Her father, Mankoji Rao Shinde, was chief of the village. Despite women’s education being a far cry in the village, her father homeschooled her to read and write. Lord of the Malwa territory, Malhar Rao Holkar, spotted Ahilyabai at the temple service feeding the hungry and poor, on his stop in Chaundi while travelling to Pune. Moved by the young girl’s charity and strength of character, he decided to ask her hand in marriage for his son Khanderao Holkar. She was married to Khanderao Holkar in 1733. But her husband Khanderao was killed in the battle of Kumbher in 1754, leaving her a widow at only 29. When Ahilyabai was about to commit Sati, her father-in-law Malhar Rao refused to let it happen. He had been her strongest pillar of support at the time. But a young Ahilyabai could see her kingdom ...