Agra/Lucknow — Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday addressed a grand seminar in Agra held as part of the birth tercentenary remembrance campaign of Punyashlok Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar, hailing her life and legacy as a guiding light for modern governance and societal values.
Speaking at the event, CM Yogi remarked, “No force in the world can stop a society that draws inspiration from its national heroes and heroines. Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar’s life is a beacon of courage, devotion, and service, especially to India’s cultural and religious identity.” He recalled how the Holkar queen took up the monumental task of reconstructing temples across India destroyed by foreign invaders during the Mughal era, including the revered shrines of Kashi Vishwanath, Kedarnath, Jagannath Puri, Somnath, and Rameshwaram, among others — often funding them from her personal wealth.
A Legacy Honoured
Referring to Ahilyabai’s unwavering devotion to Dharma and culture, CM Yogi emphasized, “While earlier governments tried to erase her name from institutions, our double-engine government has honored her legacy by naming the new medical college in Auraiya after her.” He criticized previous administrations for changing the name of a degree college dedicated to her.
In a symbolic gesture of respect and restoration, the UP government under CM Yogi’s leadership has integrated Ahilyabai Holkar’s vision into various flagship schemes like Lakhpati Didi, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Matru Vandana Yojana, and the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, aimed at empowering women, artisans, and self-reliant communities.
Lokmata’s Vision Aligns With Modern India
“Ahilyabai Holkar’s strategic governance and commitment to self-reliance inspired even the military principles of modern India,” Yogi noted, drawing parallels between her teachings and India’s recent surgical and air strikes. “When Pakistan shelters terrorists, India retaliates with precision. Our military, inspired by such leadership values, forces the enemy to kneel.”
Yogi also appreciated Ahilyabai’s contributions to promoting regional crafts and artisans, highlighting how her patronage helped elevate Mahishmati sarees to global recognition, much like the famed Banarasi sarees of Varanasi today.
A Celebration of Cultural Pride
The event also witnessed the presence of several distinguished guests, including Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, his wife Sudesh Dhankhar, Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya, Union Minister and event coordinator Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel, Maharashtra Legislative Council Chairman Shriram Shinde, MPs V.K. Parthasarathy, Vachaspati Nagaraju, former Goa Deputy CM Chandrakant Kavlekar, and other state ministers, legislators, and dignitaries.
Concluding his address, CM Yogi reiterated that Ahilyabai Holkar’s life story remains a source of inspiration for governance rooted in tradition, culture, and inclusive development. “Her devotion, resilience, and welfare-centric rule are ideals the double-engine government strives to emulate.”
