Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government announced that Auraiya's upcoming medical college will be named after 18th-century Maratha queen Ahilyabai Holkar. The decision was disclosed during a seminar marking her birth tricentenary at the Chief Minister's residence.
Officials noted Holkar's administrative reforms and temple restoration works across India, including sites in Kashi, Somnath, and Rameswaram. The event was attended by state BJP leaders and government functionaries.
This follows an earlier controversy where a degree college named after Holkar in Auraiya was reportedly renamed during a previous administration. The current government has reinstated her name for educational institutions as part of its historical recognition initiatives.
The seminar also discussed contemporary applications of Holkar’s emphasis on women’s leadership and artisan support through existing state schemes like the Nari Vandan Act. With the medical college expected to commence operations in 2026, officials stated it would incorporate modules on Holkar’s public health initiatives during her reign.
