Maharashtra Cabinet Renames Ahmednagar District to Ahilya Nagar
The Maharashtra Cabinet announced its decision to rename Ahmednagar district as Ahilya Nagar, in honor of the 18th-century Maratha queen Ahilyabai Holkar.
Proposal and Announcement:
The proposal to rename the district was initially introduced by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in May last year, coinciding with the 298th birth anniversary of Ahilyabai Holkar.
- The announcement was made in the presence of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Maharashtra Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, and BJP MLA Gopichand Padalkar, among others.
Context and Demand:
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had advocated for the renaming of Ahmednagar district, following similar renaming initiatives such as Aurangabad to Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar and Osmanabad to Dharashiv in Maharashtra.
Other Renaming Decisions:
Alongside the renaming of Ahmednagar district, the Cabinet also announced the renaming of seven railway stations in Mumbai, replacing British era names.
- Curry Road will now be known as Lalbaug,
- Sandhurst Road as Dongri, and
- Marine Lines as Mumbadevi.
- Cotton Green station will be renamed Kalachowki,
- Charni Road as Girgaon,
- Dockyard Road as Mazgaon, and
- King Circle as Tirthakar Parshivnath.
The Cabinet also proposed renaming Mumbai Central Station as Nana Jagannath Shankarsheth Station, awaiting approval from the railways ministry.
About Ahilyabai Holkar
Ahilyabai Holkar, also known as Ahilya Bai Holkar, was an influential queen and ruler of the Maratha Empire in India during the 18th century. Here is some information about her:
Early Life and Background:
Ahilyabai Holkar was born on 31 May 1725 in the village of Chondi in present-day Maharashtra, India.
- She was born into a humble background and was the daughter of Mankoji Shinde, a village chief of the Malwa region.
Ascension to Power:
Ahilyabai became the queen of Malwa in 1733 when she married Khanderao Holkar, the scion of the Holkar dynasty.
- After her husband’s death in 1754, Ahilyabai assumed the regency for her young son, Malhar Rao Holkar II.
- She later became the ruler in her own right, wielding significant political power.
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