Khattar pays tribute to Ahilyabai Holkar on her death anniversary
Synopsis
Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar marked the death anniversary of 18th-century Malwa ruler Devi Ahilyabai Holkar on 13 August, saluting her legacy of Shiva devotion, temple restoration, and public welfare as enduringly inspirational for India.
Key Takeaways
Manohar Lal Khattar , Union Minister of Power and Housing and Urban Affairs, posted a tribute to Devi Ahilyabai Holkar on her death anniversary, 13 August .
He described her as a 'Parma Shivabhakt' — supreme devotee of Shiva — and honoured her with the title Lokmata , meaning 'mother of the people'.
Ahilyabai Holkar ruled the Malwa kingdom in the latter half of the 18th century and died in 1795 .
She is credited with restoring temples across India, including Kashi Vishwanath and Somnath , and building public infrastructure such as wells, roads, and dharamshalas.
Tributes to Ahilyabai Holkar are a recurring feature of BJP political communication, linking her legacy to themes of dharma and cultural restoration.
On her death anniversary, Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar bowed in remembrance of an 18th-century queen whose name still echoes across every temple ghats she built and every well she dug — Devi Ahilyabai Holkar, the 'Lokmata' of Malwa.
Posting on 13 August, Khattar offered what he called a humble tribute — 'विनम्र श्रद्धांजलि' [a humble salutation] — at her feet, describing her as the living embodiment of dharma, public service, and devotion to Lord Shiva. 'Your works for the revival of India's cultural heritage and public welfare,' he wrote, 'will always be remembered and will continue to inspire.'
The queen who rebuilt a civilisation's sacred geography
Ahilyabai Holkar, who ruled the Malwa kingdom in the latter half of the 18th century, is remembered less as a military commander and more as a builder of conscience. A devoted Shaivite, she funded the restoration of temples across the subcontinent — from Kashi Vishwanath in Varanasi to Somnath in Gujarat — at a time when many had fallen to neglect or destruction. She constructed dharamshalas, dug wells, and built roads, threading welfare into governance long before the term 'public policy' existed. Her title 'Lokmata' — mother of the people — was not bestowed by a court. It was earned in the field, one act of service at a time.Why BJP leaders mark this date
For senior BJP figures, tributes to Ahilyabai Holkar carry a layered significance. She sits at the intersection of themes the party regularly foregrounds: Shiva devotion, cultural restoration, and the idea of lok kalyan — welfare of the people — as a civilisational duty rather than a bureaucratic function. Khattar, a former Chief Minister of Haryana now steering the Union Ministries of Power and Housing and Urban Affairs, has consistently invoked such figures in his public communication. The tribute is ceremonial, but it is not empty — it participates in an ongoing national conversation about which historical figures belong at the centre of India's self-image. Ahilyabai Holkar died on this date in 1795. More than two centuries later, her death anniversary draws tributes from across the political spectrum. That, perhaps, is the sharpest measure of a legacy.Point of View
While her record of grassroots welfare — wells, roads, dharamshalas — allows her to be presented as a proto-welfare-state figure. The tribute is low on policy content but high on cultural signalling, reinforcing a broader BJP effort to populate India's national memory with figures who embody dharma-driven governance.
NationPress
13 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Ahilyabai Holkar?
Ahilyabai Holkar was an 18th-century ruler of the Malwa kingdom, revered for her Shiva devotion, her restoration of temples across India including Kashi Vishwanath and Somnath, and her extensive public welfare works such as building wells, roads, and dharamshalas. She died in 1795 and is honoured with the title Lokmata — mother of the people.
When is Ahilyabai Holkar's death anniversary?
Ahilyabai Holkar's death anniversary, known as her punyatithi , falls on 13 August , marking the day she passed away in 1795 .
What did Manohar Lal Khattar say about Ahilyabai Holkar?
Manohar Lal Khattar described Ahilyabai Holkar as the embodiment of dharma, public service, and devotion to Lord Shiva, calling her a 'great Virangana' and honouring her as Lokmata . He said her works for India's cultural heritage revival and public welfare 'will always be remembered and will continue to inspire.'
Why do BJP leaders pay tribute to Ahilyabai Holkar?
BJP leaders frequently invoke Ahilyabai Holkar because her legacy aligns with themes the party emphasises: Shiva devotion, restoration of Hindu cultural heritage, and the concept of lok kalyan — welfare of the people as a civilisational duty. She is seen as a historical figure who embodied dharma-driven governance.
What is Manohar Lal Khattar's current role?
Manohar Lal Khattar is the Union Minister of Power and Housing and Urban Affairs in the Indian government. He is a senior BJP leader and a former Chief Minister of Haryana .
