Question

How many years did Ahilyabai Holkar rule over Marathas?
A. Twenty-two years
B. Twenty-five years
C. Twenty-six years
D. Twenty-eight years

Answer 1

Hint:She was born on 31 May 1725. She ascended the throne and became the ruler of Indore on 11 December 1767. She developed Indore from a small village to a beautiful city.

Complete answer:
Ahilyabai Holkar was the hereditary noble sardar of the Maratha Empire, India. She ruled for 28 years. Ahilya was born in the village of Jamkhed, Chondi, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra. She shifted the seat of her fiefdom to Maheshwar on the Narmada River, south of Indore. Apart from being a courageous queen and a proficient monarch, the Queen of Malwa was also a learned politician. She found the bigger picture when the Maratha Peshwa was unable to pin the British agenda down.

She had lost her husband, her father-in-law, and her only son. Ahilyabai stood undeterred, however. She did not allow the grief of her loss to affect the kingdom's administration and the lives of her people.

The Queen of Malwa was also an experienced diplomat, apart from being a brave queen and a proficient ruler. When the Maratha Peshwa was unable to pin down the British agenda, she saw the wider picture. During her 28-year rule, Indore prospered, from a small village to a flourishing city.

She was renowned in Malwa for building numerous forts and roads, supporting festivals and supplying many Hindu temples with donations. Ahilyabai held public audiences every day to help address the grievances of her people. She was always available to anyone who needed her ear.

The right answer to this is option (D) Twenty – eight years.

Note:She was regarded as one of the finest female rulers in the Indian History. Already trained to be a ruler, Ahilyabai petitioned the Peshwa after Malhar's death, and the death of her son, to take over the administration herself.