Bhopal. Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav has said that a cabinet meeting will be held in Maheshwar to express respect towards Lokmata Devi Ahilyabai Holkar in her 300th birth centenary year. A research centre will be established in Devi Ahilyabai University Indore to research on Devi Ahilya’s love for justice, innovation in governance and administration, public welfare and her entire personality and work. A campaign will be launched to collect historical material related to Devi Ahilya. The battalion of Madhya Pradesh Police will also be named after Devi Ahilyabai. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav also gave instructions to name the battalions after great men. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav was addressing the meeting of the celebration committee formed for organizing the 300th birth centenary of Lokmata Devi Ahilyabai Holkar held at Sushasan Bhavan. Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Jagdish Devda, Urban Development and Housing Minister Mr. Kailash Vijayvargiya, Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Mr. Prahlad Patel, Transport and School Education Minister Mr. Uday Pratap Singh, Chief Secretary Mrs. Veera Rana and officers of various departments were present in the meeting. In the meeting, the members of the committee gave suggestions regarding the event.
Encouraging widow remarriage, khasgi pratha and involving women in Maheshwari saree making are symbols of women empowerment
Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that Lokmata Devi Ahilyabai built temples, ghats, wells and stepwells in famous pilgrimages and religious places outside the boundaries of her state and also operated Anna Kshetra. Her reign is famous for justice. Also, the work done by her for women empowerment is still relevant today. The impression of her best, excellent and religious qualities is present in the Indian psyche. Encouraging widow remarriage and khasgi pratha are examples of the work done by her in the field of women empowerment. By involving local women in making Maheshwari sarees, she paved the way for economic self-reliance of women. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that along with organizing celebrations on the 300th birth anniversary of Devi Ahilyabai Holkar, various dimensions of her personality should be revealed. For this, along with activities in schools, colleges, public places, information related to Devi Ahilyabai Holkar should be disseminated through various means of media. The personality and work of Lokmata Devi Ahilyabai should be brought in front of the new generation in a holistic manner.
Suggestions received from committee members for birth centenary year
In the meeting, suggestions were received to dedicate the upcoming Republic Day program to Lokmata Devi Ahilyabai, identify women leaders at the village level and honor them in the name of Devi Ahilyabai at the Panchayat level, get the administrative and literary material present in Modi script of Devi Ahilyabai translated into Hindi and English, publish a souvenir centered on her, conduct academic activities centered on Devi Ahilyabai at school and college level, include lessons on her personality and deeds in the curriculum, start a self-defense period for girl students in schools, prepare a grand theatrical presentation on Devi Ahilyabai like Janata Raja.
