Seminar organized at Chief Minister’s residence on 300th birth anniversary of Punyashlok Rani Ahilyabai Holkar
Madhya Pradesh’s Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Shri Prahlad Singh Patel joined as the keynote speaker
Raipur, 29 May 2025
A seminar was organized at the Chief Minister’s residence in the capital Raipur today on the 300th birth anniversary of Punyashlok Rani Ahilyabai Holkar. Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai presided over the seminar. Madhya Pradesh Government’s Panchayat and Rural Development and Labor Minister Shri Prahlad Singh Patel addressed the seminar as the key speaker. Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Shri Tokhan Sahu and Agriculture Minister Shri Ramvichar Netam also attended the seminar. Intellectuals, social workers, doctors, engineers, architects, lawyers and litterateurs from various sections were also present in large numbers in the seminar.
Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai recalled the contributions of Rajmata Rani Ahilyabai Holkar in the seminar and called her a symbol of cultural unity and good governance of India. He called the nearly 30 years of rule of Rani Ahilyabai Holkar a golden age of public welfare, nation building and justice. He said that despite being the Maharani of Indore, Rajmata did not limit herself to any one geographical boundary. She built temples and dharamshalas across the country. She led the Holkar dynasty for three decades, realizing the concept of Ramrajya.
Chief Minister Shri Sai described the contribution of Queen Ahilyabai Holkar in the reconstruction of Kashi Vishwanath temple as historic. Rajmata respected the sentiments of crores of devotees by rebuilding this temple as per the wish of Peshwa Madhavrao. She also took the historic decision to rebuild the Somnath temple, which became a symbol of cultural restoration of India. Shri Sai said that today Indore is leading in cleanliness in the country, the inspiration behind this is the good governance established by Rajmata. She was a lover of justice. She did not shy away from punishing even her family members for justice.
Madhya Pradesh Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Shri Prahlad Singh Patel, while addressing the seminar as the keynote speaker, said that Rani Ahilyabai Holkar raised the voice of religious authority and justice during her 28 years of rule from 1767 to 1795. She did many exemplary works in her life amidst all the adversities. She set examples of good use of public money and treasury during her rule. She never spent any amount of the state power on herself. Shri Patel said that Rani Ahilyabai Holkar never lived in the palace after the death of her husband. She spent her life in a hut. For justice, she sentenced her son to death. During her rule, she allowed widows to adopt sons. Due to the welfare and people-friendly works of Rani Ahilyabai Holkar, the people of her state gave her the status of Lokmata.
MLA Shri Kiran Dev and former Deputy Speaker of Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly Shri Narayan Chandel also highlighted the personality, works and characteristics of Rani Ahilyabai Holkar’s reign in the seminar. He said that Rani Ahilyabai Holkar has left an indelible mark in Indian history through her good governance, justice and public welfare works. Today, through the seminar, we are remembering her thoughts. Her works inspire us for social harmony and public service. This seminar will encourage today’s generation to contribute to nation building.
In the seminar, the officials of Dhankar Samaj presented an oil painting of Rani Ahilyabai Holkar to Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai. MLAs Shri Sunil Soni, Motilal Sahu and Purandar Mishra, State Youth Commission Chairman Shri Vishwa Vijay Singh Tomar, Raipur Municipal Corporation Mayor Smt. Meenal Chaubey, former minister Shri Premprakash Pandey, former CSIDC Chairman Shri Chhagan Mundhra and Shri Shankar Agarwal, along with officials of many corporations, boards, commissions and youth were present in large numbers in the seminar.
