‘Indian women are embodiments of Shakti’

 

 

 

 

“The life of Ahilyabai Holkar signifies that Indian women are not only worshipper of ‘Shakti,’ but are embodiments of ‘Shakti’ themselves,” said Annapurna Devi Yadav, Union Minister of Women and Child Development, while speaking at the inaugural session of the one-day national conference on the philosopher queen Devi Ahilyabai Holkar organised by Devi Ahilyabai Smarak Samiti in collaboration with The Mythic Society, Bengaluru; Smt Manoramabai Mundle College of Archite-cture, Nagpur (SMMCA); Maharashtra National Law University, Nagpur (MNLU); and Indian Insti-tute of Management, Nagpur (IIM-N) in the premises of IIM, Nagpur, on Sunday. Shantakka, Pramukh Sanchalika, Rashtra Sevika Samiti; Dr Bhimaraya Metri, Director, IIM Nagpur; and Dr Nanada Rathi, Secretary, Womens’ Education Society, were present as the chief guest for the inaugural session.

 

 

Annapurna Devi Yadav, in her address, said that the work of Ahilyabai Holkar was way ahead of its time and is still inspiring the generations to work for the society. She said, “Some people are born at certain time period, but their work guides the society by their vision for a long time.” The Union Minister emphasised that Ahilyabai Holkar was not only a religious person who rennovated several temples throughout the country, but was an equally able administrator, policy-maker, and social reformer.

 

“Her work and ideas were so inspiring that British historian John Kaey gave her the title of ‘Philosopher Queen’ after being impressed by her political wisdom and ethical governance,” stated Annapurna Devi Yadav. She also called her inspiration for various Government schemes for women development and child welfare. Shantakka, in her address, highlighted the connect and concern of Punyashlok Ahilyabai Holkar with her subjects that is reflected through her work even without having a proper education. She said, “ Ahilyabai Holkar was a good administrator even without proper education in political science; was a good manager without education in management; was a good economist without education in economics, and a good law-maker without proper legal education that is reflected in her work for common people.”

 

She also appealed the citizens to take inspiration from life of Ahilyabai Holkar who accepted the responsibility to bring the change herself instead of finding excuses to avoid the responsibility. “Ahilyabai Holkar, with her patience and management, brought positive change in life of her husband; she brought change in lifes of dacoits from Bhilla community who used to loot the subject,” informed Shantakka. She also told how Ahilyadevi Holkar inspired common people to bring the change as she announced that she will marry her daughter to anyone who will control and bring positive change to area disturbed by dacoits, and she lived upto her words. Shantakka also shed light on Ahilyadevi Holkar’s intelligence through her strategies. She said, “Ahilyadevi Holkar brought millitary trainers from foreign but capped their numbers to 20 per cent of total millitary personnel.

 

She also bound them in contract that clearly forced the foreigners to fight against their own country in case of the conflict. Shantakka also called Ahilyadevi Holkar a pioneer of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ for her role in reviving the ‘Maheshwar Saree’ industry and encouraging the makers to use raw material procurred from local farmers, becoming first example of ‘Vocal for Local’ campaign. Dr Bhimaraya Metri made the introductory remarks. Dr Divita Kochekar, Co-Convenor of the conference compered the session while Dr Sujata Godbole, Assistant Professor, SMMCA, proposed a vote of thanks.

 

 

“Governance can be strategic, governance can be millitary, but governance can also be ethical. This is what Ahilyabai Holkar stood for and symbolised,” said Smriti Zubin Irani, senior Bhartiya Janata Party leader and former Union Minister, while speaking at the spotlight session of the one-day national conference on the philosopher queen Devi Ahilyabai Holkar held at Indian Institute of Management, Nagpur (IIM) on Sunday. Dr Neena Lambe, Principal, Smt Manoramabai Mundle College of Architecture, Nagpur (SMMCA); and Radha Gokhale, Treasurer, Devi Ahilyadevi Smarak Samiti also shared the stage during the session. Smriti Irani, in her address, applauded the researchers who presented their research papers during the conference as they will help put the contribution of Ahilyabai Holkar as an administrator in the mainstream.

 

She said, “Many people believe that the great history of this country has never been recorded with scietific, academic evidences. And if the women is crator of that history, then it will be vanished in pages of history very easily. The research papers presented in this conference will help to document the work of Ahilyabai Holkar and present it to the world.” The former HRD minister also was impressed by the wide range of topics that the 51 research papers covered regarding the life and work of Ahilyabai Holkar. She also identified several research papers presented at the conference as being academic bridge between our glorious past and the contemporary times. She requested the organisers to help get these research papers to Education Ministry for their importance. She also appealed that the researchers should cross reference their work as that can show more light on inspirational work of Ahilyabai Holkar. Vaijayanti Yadav compered the spotlight session, while Dr Neeta Lambe presented a vote of thanks.