Ahilya Bai, daughter of Manakoji Shinde was born in 1725 in the village of Chowndi situated in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra. She received no formal education as there was no school at Chowndi besides it was not the custom to educate girls in those times. Manakoji however did all he could to  impart  education to his daughter at home. In 1733 she was married. Her husband Khanderao was killed in the battle of Kumbher in 1754. Ahilya Bai then learnt to run the princely state of Holker under the stewardship of her father-in-law Malharrao Holkar. With the death of her father-in-law in 1766, the entire responsibility of running the state devolved on her. She proved to be an enlightened ruler from then onwards, till her death in 1795.

She shifted her capital to Maheshwar in 1766 where she did a lot to develop the textile industry  of  Maheshwar. If Maheshwari  Sarees are today a symbol of Indian Craftsmanship, it was Ahilyabai's   liberal patronage of the weavers  that  helped  foster  this  institution.  In addition  she invited artists of different streams and settled them in her 'Raj'. Her liberal charities were extended to people without  reference to caste, creed, etc.

Not merely in her State but indeed in other parts of India she is credited with  promoting cultural activities including repair and additions to a number of famous temples such as Kashi Viswanath Mandir at Varanasi, Gouri Somnath Mandir at Chola and the construction of the famous Dasaswamedh Ghat at Banaras.

The Deparment of Post is happy to issue a stamp on Ahilya Bai Holkar in celebration of the 200th  death anniversary.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India