Clarion India
AHMEDNAGAR — Following BJP party’s unannounced manifest and resolve to change the Muslim sounding names of the places and cities in India, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced on Wednesday that the name of Ahmednagar district shall be changed to ‘Ahilyadevi Holkar Nagar’ in memory of the queen of Malwa state who ruled from 1767-1795.
This was announced on the eve of her 298 birth anniversary celebrations at Chaundi, the village where Ahilyadevi was born on May 31, 1725. Chief Minister Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis attended the event.
“We have taken a decision to change the name of Ahmednagar after Ahilyadevi Holkar… It’s the desire of all the people here,” Shinde said, as the large crowd roared its approval.
Chief Minister, however, failed to mention as to why this place was named as Ahmednagar at the first place. Ahmednagar must be having some history also.
Shinde also said he was fortunate to earlier change the name of Aurangabad to ‘Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar’ and Osmanabad as ‘Dharashiv’, and now Ahmednagar will become ‘Ahilyadevi Holkar Nagar’ on the birth anniversary of the great queen.
Shinde said that Ahilyadevi’s name is as tall as the Himalayas, and she did a lot for the farmers and workers of her kingdom, adding that this would be a fitting honour on her birth anniversary celebrations.
During her 28-year long reign (1767-1795) – considered as the golden period of the Maratha Empire – she did a lot for the tillers and ordinary folks, built or restored temples, defended the state, its people, even led battles against the Mughals with her trusted team headed by her nephew Tukoji Holkar, to carve her own niche in history. (With agency inputs)
