KhandeRao was not interested in the Kingdom, weapons, governance or education. He spent his time in drugs, alochol and in the company of women. Ahilyabai tried reforming him. For a brief while Khande Rao appeared like a changed man and started accompanying his father in expeditions. Ahilyabai would learn that his primary motive was loot and not expansion fo the kingdom and that in the battlefield too, he was involved in excesses. Khande Rao was sent to quell the rebellion of Suraj Mal. Ahilyabai also joined the battle camp after sometime and was overseeing the medical and logistics facilities. During this siege Khande Rao was killed by bullet wound.

Ahilyabai was preparing herself to commit Sati alongwith the funeral of KhandeRao. However Malhar Rao convinced her not to commit Sati. He asked her to take responsibility for the kingdom as there was no other male heir. Malhar Rao had always seen the future of the kingdom in the hands of Ahilyabai. She relented, but wore white saree and gave up jewellery and decorations for the rest of her life.

Malhar Rao was constantly in war expeditions at the service of Peshwa. Therefore the day to day administration of the State was in Ahilyabai’s hands. He had full faith in her administrative and political abilities. There was constant correspondence between the two even when Malhar Rao was away. He would give instructions for supply of men, money and material to the warfront which Ahilyabai would fulfil. He would also provide instructions of production of ammunition and artillery. He would also leave instructions on administrative aspects and governance.

As a child Maley Rao cultivated destructive habits. He was fond of playing cruel practical games on visitors and subjects. He was also very arrogant. Maley Rao had even killed the lover of his favourite consort Heera. Maley Rao had also been introduced into drugs and alcohol by Khande Rao when he was alive. Even though Maley Rao was made Sardar, the real power was in the hands of Ahilyabai. A combination of bad habits and poor lifestyle deteriorated the health of Maley Rao. He died at the age of 22, just nine months after the death of Malhar Rao.

After Ahilyabai’s son died, Raghoba eyed her kingdom. Ahilyabai displayed her willingness to fight him and this dissuaded Raghoba. Ahilyabai’s battlefield victory was against Rajputs. Malhar Rao had mediated in a war against the brotherly conflict in the Jaipur Kingdom. He received the Rampur area as thanksgiving which was not liked by the Chandravats of Rampur. They rose in revolt in 1771. Ahilyabai herself took part in the battle and crushed them. Their revolt in 1783 was also crushed.
Eventually, sensing weakness in Holkar kingdom, the Chandravats attacked Marathas again and the local Maratha commander fled. An infuriated Ahilyabai asked Sharief Bhai to lead a decisive battle against the Chandravats. She herself was in the battlefield arranging logistics and medical facilities. The Chandravats were defeated by the Martahas. On the order of Ahilyabai, the Chandravat rebel Saubhag Singh was tied to a canon and blown up. The Peshwa and Nana Fadnavis recognised Ahilyabai’s valour in the battlefield. Till then Ahilyabai was known for her piety and governance. The crushing of the Rajput revolt made her a valiant leader as well.

Ahilyabai was against the custom of Sati but was not able to overcome conservatives who supported the practice. However she ensured that no woman was forced to commit Sati against her free will. She gave full protection to the right of widows. They had complete rights to the property of their dead husbands. This ensured that their future is protected if they decide not to commit Sati. She also gave permission to widows to adopt a Son without needing State permission or going to pay a tax to the State. These steps greatly reduced the instances of Sati in the society.

Bhil tribals dominated the forest area of her State. They used to rob the travellers and because of this trade had got affected. Ahlyabhai initially tried diplomacy and negotiations with Bhils which failed. She then launched a firm military action against them. Many bhils were imprisoned and several were hanged to death. The firm action made Bhils seek pardon from Ahilyabai. She provided the Bhils with arable land and necessary equipment to support them to shift to farming.

Ahilyabai was renowned for all aspects of governance. She separated personal funds from the State funds. She was efficient in the collection of taxes and in depositing the share of Peshwa from the treasury and from the war loots. The justice system that she administered was quick and unbiassed. It took into consideration emotional aspects. She respected the practicality and quick justice provided by institutions like the Panchayats. Her charitable work is of course renowned and all major pilgrimage places of India have seen the contributions of Ahilyabai.

As a Rajmata Ahilyabai was unparallelled. The official communication records; and the accounts of historians and rival rulers acknowledge the prowess of Ahilyabai in governance, diplomacy, politics, justice and charity. Nana Fadnavis, Jadunath Sircar, Kavi Moropant, John Malcom and Vinobha Bhave all have recorded their appreciation of the rule of Ahilyabai. However, her personal life was unfortunate. Her husband and son fell into wasteful activities and died young. She lost her grandson and son-in-law also at a young age. She adopted Tukoji and conferred Subedarship on him but fell out with him in latter days. She herself acknowledged that she was unable to groom a heir. Finally, while she herself avoided Sati due to the beseeching of her father-in-law, she was unable to stop her daughters-in-law and her daughter from committing Sati.

The Government of Madhya Pradesh created a Trust called The Khasgi (Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Charities) Trust in 1962.
The public properties built by Ahilyabai with private funds were transferred to the Trust which would be responsible for maintaining them.
However a series of unauthorised sale of Trust properties took place. In response to a complaint filed by Sumitra Mahajan, who was the MP from Indore, in 2012, the Govt of Madhya Pradesh took over the Trust properties. This was challenged by the Trust in courts. In 2010 the Supreme Court held that the Trust cannot sell the properties without proper approval from the Registrar and the Trust will have to be registered as a Public Trust. Several properties had already been sold by 2012 and the Trust continues to be in controversy regarding these sales.
Source: SC Judgement on SLP (CIVIL) No. 12133 of 2020