Seminar at MGKVP Highlights Ahilyabai Holkar’s Legacy; Students Stage Play on Her Life

MGKVP Varanasi Conducts Seminar on Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar: In the long journey of protecting Sanatan philosophy within Akhand Bharat, towering figures like Maharana Pratap, Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj and Veer Shivaji are remembered with profound respect. But the nation’s cultural spirit and civilizational consciousness have also been safeguarded, across centuries, by remarkable women—among whom Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar stands in the foremost rank. Before her came Mirabai, who fortified Indian spiritual culture, and after her, Rani Lakshmibai, who became a symbol of India’s struggle for “Swaraj.” Even in the era of Bahadur Shah Zafar, Begum Zeenat Mahal played an unforgettable role in preserving the idea of an undivided nation.

Remembering the lives of such luminaries and organizing events to honour their legacy, offers new light and inspiration to the younger generation. This makes special commemorations—like those for Ahilyabai Holkar—all the more meaningful.

These sentiments were echoed by nearly all distinguished speakers at the seminar organised today at the Faculty of Education, under Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith. The event was hosted jointly by the Mahamana Madan Mohan Malaviya Hindi Journalism Institute, the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Research Chair and was supported by Vindheshwari Gramotthan Sansthan, Amethi, with the cooperation of the Union Ministry of Culture.

At the valedictory session, Dr. Harkeshwar Singh, former Vice-Chancellor of Jai Prakash Narayan University, Chhapra, served as the Chief Guest, while Harendra Pratap Singh, former Joint Director of the Union MSME Ministry and senior journalist-author, attended as the Special Guest.

Keynote speakers—Prof. Dr. Umapati Dixit of the Central Hindi Institute, Agra, and Prof. Dr. Anuradha Singh of Banaras Hindu University—shed light on the life and enduring contributions of Ahilyabai Holkar. They highlighted her remarkable work in building and restoring temples, ghats and dharamshalas across the country.

The seminar was skillfully coordinated by Dr. Nagendra Kumar Singh, Director of the Journalism Institute and hosted by Dhairya Jaiswal.

Students Bring Ahilyabai’s Life Alive On Stage

Students staged a compelling play on the life of Ahilyabai Holkar, earning appreciation from all present, including honourable guests Hansraj Vishwakarma, Member of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council and the President of the BJP’s Varanasi district unit.

The play, titled “Hamari Ahilya, Kashi ki Ahilya”, revived the spirit of the legendary queen in the Savitribai Phule Auditorium.

Director and writer Shubhra Verma and lead actors brought history to life:

Anuradha as the elder Ahilyabai

Nandini as young Ahilyabai

Mohammad Aslam Sheikh as Malhar Rao Holkar

Bhanu Pratap as Tukoji Rao Holkar

Rahul Kumar as Mankoji Shinde

Arpita Paswan as Sushila Devi Shinde

Pradeep Yadav as Khanderao Holkar

Liaqat Ali as the Kashi Priest

Other performers — including Anand Kumar, Ranjana Sonkar, Akanksha Victory, Sanskriti Dubey, Jai Krishnadas, Abhay Raj, Raj Shekhar, Shalini, Varsha Chaube and Vimalendu Upadhyay—gave noteworthy contributions.

Prof. Arun Kumar Jain’s stage design, Kanha Mishra’s sound and background score, the makeup and costumes by Akanksha Victory and Ritika Singh and lighting by Dr. Vijay Yadav greatly enhanced the performance. In props, Ranjana Sonkar and Shubhra Verma excelled.

Audience Hopeful for a Wider Debut

Varanasi’s audience expressed hope that in Ahilyabai Holkar’s tricentennial birth year, this play will be performed across Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and in Delhi’s cultural circles as well. The Maharashtra government has already announced a commercial film on Ahilyabai, and both governmental and non-governmental bodies are expected to hold commemorative events across India in the coming year.