Renaming districts | Ahilyabai Holkar

Context (IE | IE): Maharashtra Cabinet renames Ahmednagar as Ahilyanagar and Velha tehsil as Rajgad.
Ahmednagar will be renamed after Ahilyabai Holkar, a queen of the Maratha empire.
Velha, the first capital of the Maratha Empire under Shivaji, will be renamed Rajgad.
This decision follows the renaming of Aurangabad and Osmanabad as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar and Dharashiv, respectively.

Ahmednagar took its name from Ahmad Nizam Shah I.
Ahmad Nizam Shah I founded the town in 1494.
The town was established on the site of a battlefield where he emerged victorious against superior Bahamani forces.

Process for Renaming a City

A request for renaming a city in the form of a resolution must be raised by any Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA).
The resolution will be deliberated upon in the State Assembly.
Then, the resolution will be put to vote, and the resolution must be passed by a simple majority.
The resolution as a proposal is submitted to the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The Ministry considers the proposal and consults with other state agencies.
- The agencies from whom the approval is required are the Ministry of Railways, Intelligence Bureau, Department of Posts, Survey of India, and Registrar General of India.
- A ‘No Objection’ certificate is issued by the Ministry if the proposal is approved by the Ministry and all the agencies.
After getting approval from the Ministry, the State Government can issue an official notification in the Gazette and the name of the city stands changed.

Ahilyabai Holkar - PMF IAS

Ahilyabai Holkar was born on May 31, 1725, in the village of Chaundi (present-day Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra, India).
Her father, Mankoji Shinde, was a respected scion of a Dhangar (Gadariya) family and served as the Patil.
Despite the prevailing norms, her father taught her to read and write.

Ahilyabai gained prominence when Malhar Rao Holkar, a commander in the Maratha Peshwa Baji Rao’s army, visited Chaundi.
Impressed by her piety and character, Malhar’s son, Khande Rao Holkar, married Ahilyabai on the Peshwa’s advice in 1733.

After her husband’s death in the 1754 Battle of Kumbher against the King of Bharatpur, Ahilyabai took control of Malwa.
She excelled at administrative and military strategies under the guidance of her father-in-law, who believed she should lead her people and not die by Sati.
After the death of her father-in-law and son a few years later, she petitioned the Peshwa to become the ruler, backed by the support of her army.
She defended the Malwa state against intruders and personally led armies into battle, with Tukoji Rao Holkar as her military commander.
Ahilyabai was known for her administrative acumen, breaking traditional gender norms in 18^th century India.

She established Maheshwar (in Madhya Pradesh) as the seat of the Holkar Dynasty.
Ahilyabai was a prolific builder, constructing Hindu temples and Dharmashalas across the Indian Subcontinent.
Benevolence, social reforms, and support for arts and culture marked her reign.

Popularly known as Rajmata Ahilyadevi Holkar, she remains one of the most powerful women in pre-independent India.
Her legacy endures as a symbol of courage, leadership, and devotion to her people.
John Keay, the British historian, gave the queen the title of ‘The Philosopher Queen’.