https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Malhar_Rao_HolkarMalhar Rao Holkar - Revision history2026-08-01T00:20:55ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Malhar_Rao_Holkar&diff=457565&oldid=prevAnnettLevi9 at 22:20, 21 March 20262026-03-21T22:20:36Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Maharaja of Indore from 1732 to 1766}}<br />
{{Cleanup rewrite|date=February 2025}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2013}}<br />
{{Infobox royalty<br />
| title = [[Subahdar|Subedar]] of [[Malwa]]<br />[[Maharaja]]<br />
| name = Malhar Rao<br />
| image = Malhar Rao Holkar contemporary.jpg<br />
| image_size = 250px<br />
| caption = ''Malhar Rao Holkar'', Contemporary Painting {{circa|1770}} from Bundi, Rajasthan<br />
| succession = [[Indore State|Maharaja of Indore]]<br />
| reign = {{Nowrap|29 July 1732 – 20 May 1766}}<br />
| predecessor = ''Position established''<br />
| successor = [[Male Rao Holkar]]<br />
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1693|3|16|df=y}}<br />
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1766|5|20|1693|3|16|df=yes}}<br />
| birth_place = [[Murum]], [[Phaltan]], [[Satara district]]<br />
| death_place = [[Alampur, Madhya Pradesh]], [[Maratha Empire]]<br />
| module = {{Infobox military person<br />
| embed = yes<br />
| nickname = <br />
| allegiance = [[File:Flag of the Maratha Empire.svg|20px]] [[Maratha Empire]]<br />
| branch = <br />
| serviceyears = <br />
| rank = Maratha Empire 's general<ref>[http://indore.nic.in/holkar.htm Holkars of Indore] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030213114/http://www.indore.nic.in/holkar.htm |date=30 October 2013 }}</ref><br />
| unit = <br />
| commands = <br />
| battles = {{collapsible list|title = {{nobold|''See list''}}|{{tree list}}<br />
<br />
*[[Battle of Balapur]]<br />
*[[Battle of Vasai]]<br />
*[[Battle of Palkhed]]<br />
*[[Battle of Sikandarabad]]<br />
* [[Battle of Mandsaur]]<br />
* Siege of Thane<br />
*Battle of Farrukhabad (1751)<br />
*Maratha-Nizam war (1751-1752)<br />
*Battle of Mangrol<br />
*[[Battle of Delhi (1757)]]<br />
*Siege of Barwara (1757)<br />
*Capture of Peshawar (1758)<br />
*[[Battle of Kakkor]]<br />
*[[Battle of Sikandarabad]]<br />
*[[Capture of Delhi (1760)]]<br />
*[[Battle of Delhi (1764)]]<br />
*[[Third Battle of Panipat]]<br />
*[[Battle of Bagru]]<br />
*[[Battle of Rakshasbhuvan]]<br />
*[[Battle of Dholpur (1766)]]<br />
{{tree list/end}}<br />
}}<br />
| spouse = [[Gautama Bai Holkar]]<br /> Bana Bai Sahib Holkar<br />Dwarka Bai Sahib Holkar<br />Harkuwar Bai Sahib Holkar<br />
| children = [[Khanderao Holkar]], [[Tukojirao Holkar]]<br />
| relations = {{ubl|[[Khanderao Holkar]] (son)<br />
|[[Ahilyabai Holkar]] (daughter-in-law)<br />
|[[Male Rao Holkar]] (grandson)<br />
|[[Tukoji Rao Holkar]] (grand-nephew and adopted son)<br />
}}<br />
}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Malhar Rao Holkar''' (16 March 1693 – 20 May 1766) was a noble [[subedar]] of the [[Maratha Empire]] and the first [[Indore State|Maharaja of Indore]] from 1732 until his death in 1766. He was one of the early officers along with [[Ranoji Scindia]], appointed by Peshwa [[Bajirao I]] to help spread the Maratha rule to northern states and was given the estate of Indore to rule by the King chief, during the reign of the [[Maratha Empire|Maratha Emperor]] [[Shahu I]]. He was founder of the [[House of Holkar|Holkar dynasty]] that ruled [[Malwa]].<br />
<br />
==Early life==<br />
Malhar Rao Holkar was born on 16 March 1693 to Khandu Ji Holkar into a [[Marathi people|Marathi]] [[Dhangar]] - [[Gadaria people|Gadaria]] family in Murum village near [[Phaltan]] in Satara district of Maharashtra. His father died in 1696, when he was only three years of age. Malhar Rao grew up in [[Taloda]] (Nandurbar District, Maharashtra) in the castle of his maternal uncle, Sardar Bhojrajrao Bargal. His maternal uncle held a cavalry under [[Maratha]] noble Sardar Kadam Bande. Bargal asked Malhar Rao to join his cavalry and soon after that he was placed in-charge of cavalry detachment.<ref>{{cite book |title=Indian States: A Biographical, Historical, and Administrative Survey|first1=R. V.| last1=Solomon |first2=J. W. |last2=Bond |publisher=Asian Educational Services |year=2006 |isbn=9788120619654 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=47sfj8DUwNgC |page=70}}</ref><br />
<br />
He married [[Gautama Bai Holkar]] (née Bargal) (d. 29 September 1761), his maternal uncle's(Mama) daughter, in 1717. He also married Bana Bai Sahib Holkar, Dwarka Bai Sahib Holkar, Harku Bai Sahib Holkar, a Khanda Rani between 1719 and 1726. This Khanda Rani status stems from the fact that she was a princess, he had sent his [[sword]] (K''haandaa'' in Marathi) to represent him at the wedding, to maintain appearances.{{citation needed|date=December 2013}}<br />
<br />
==War against the Rohillas and the Durrani Empire==<br />
One of the foremost commanders of the [[Maratha Empire]] (1760), he participated in the battles such as the Battle of Jalesar (1737), the Battle of Delhi (1737), and the defeat of the Nizam in the [[Battle of Bhopal|Battle of Bhopal (1737)]]. He was also part of the campaign that wrested [[Vasai]] from the [[Portuguese India|Portuguese]] in 1739. He received [[Rampura, Neemuch|Rampura]], [[Bhanpura]] and [[Tonk (princely state)|Tonk]] in 1757, for the assistance given to [[Madhosingh I]] of [[Jaipur]] in his contest with [[Ishvari Singh|Ishwari Singh]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sinh |first=Raghubir |title=Malwa in Transition Or A Century of Anarchy: the First Phase 1698—1765 |publisher=Kalpaz Publications |year=2017 |isbn=9789351289166 |editor-last=Sarkar |editor-first=Sir Jadunath |pages=302}}</ref> Granted an Imperial Sardeshmukhi for Chandore, for his gallantry in the [[Rohilla]] campaign of 1748. From 1748 onwards, Malhar Rao Holkar's position in Malwa became firm and secure. Such was his terror that when Ishwari Singh learned that Malhar Rao is coming to arrest him, he killed himself. However, as an act of chivalry, Malhar Rao cremated his body as per the Hindu rituals.<br />
<br />
He was called as the foster father of [[Najib ad-Dawlah|Najib-ud-Daulah]]. Malhar Rao Holkar, [[Jayappa Sindhia]], Gangadhar Tatya, [[Tukojirao Holkar]] and [[Khanderao Holkar]] went to help [[Safdarjung]] against Shadulla Khan, Ahmed Khan Bangash, Mohamud Khan and Bahadur Khan [[Rohilla]] as per the directions of Peshwa [[Balaji Bajirao]]. In the Battle of Fatthegad and [[Farukhabad]], they defeated the Rohillas and Bangash (March 1751-April 1752). When the Mughal Emperor learned that Ahmed Shah Abdali had attacked Punjab in December 1751, he asked Safdarjung to make peace with Rohillas and Bangash. On 12 April 1752, Safdarjung agreed to help Marathas but the Emperor didn't ratify the agreement and instead signed a treaty with Ahmed Shah Abdali on 23 April 1752. Meanwhile, the Peshwa asked Malhar Rao Holkar to return to Pune as Salabat Khan had attacked the city.<br />
<br />
The [[Marathas]] besieged [[Kumher]] Fort from 20 January to 18 May 1754. The war continued for about four months. During the war Khanderao Holkar, son of Malhar Rao Holkar, was one day inspecting his army in an open palanquin, when he was fired upon from the fort. The cannonball hit and killed him on 24 March 1754. Malhar Rao was infuriated by the death of his only son and wanted to take revenge. He vowed that he would cut off the head of [[Maharaja Suraj Mal]] and throw the soil of fort into [[Yamuna]] after destroying it. The Marathas increased pressure on the fort and Suraj Mal defended passively,{{clarify|date=April 2017}} but Suraj Mal was isolated as no other ruler was ready to help him. At this moment, Maharaja Suraj Mal was counseled by Maharani Kishori, who assured him not to worry and started diplomatic efforts. She contacted Diwan Roop Ram Katara. She knew that there were differences between Malhar Rao Holkar and Jayappa Sindhia and that Jayappa was very firm in his determinations. She advised Maharaja Suraj Mal to take advantage of mutual differences within Marathas. Diwan Roop Ram Katara was a friend of Jayappa Sindhia. She requested Diwan Roop Ram Katara to take a letter from Maharaja Suraj Mal proposing a treaty. Jayappa Sindhia assured Suraj Mal of assistance and contacted [[Raghunathrao]]. Raghunathrao in turn advised Holkar to sign a treaty with Suraj Mal. Malhar Rao Holkar assessed the situation and consented for the treaty due to possibility of isolation. This led to a treaty between both rulers on 18 May 1754. This treaty proved very beneficial for Maharaja Suraj Mal.<ref>Dr. Prakash Chandra Chandawat: Maharaja Suraj Mal aur unka yug, Jaypal Agencies Agra, 1982, Pages 110-118</ref><br />
<br />
[[Ghazi ud-Din Khan Feroze Jung III]], aided by the Marathas led by Malhar Rao Holkar, defeated [[Safdarjung]]. At this the Mughal Emperor [[Ahmad Shah Bahadur]] collected a large army and camped at [[Sikandrabad]]. On the other hand, the Peshwa's younger brother Raghunath Rao, Malhar Rao Holkar and 2,000 [[Maratha]]'s and their ally [[Ghazi ud-Din Khan Feroze Jung III|Feroze Jung III]] routed Imperial [[Mughal Army]] of the Mughal Emperor Ahmad Shah Bahadur at the First Battle of Sikandarabad (1754). The Emperor left his mother, wives and a retinue of 8,000 women behind and fled to Delhi.<ref>{{cite book |last=Jenkins |first=Everett Jr. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kSYkCQAAQBAJ&q=ahmad+shah+bahadur+abandoned+the+women+of+his+family&pg=PA261 |title=The Muslim Diaspora (Volume 2, 1500-1799): A Comprehensive Chronology of the Spread of Islam in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas |publisher=McFarland & Co Inc |year=2010 |isbn=9781476608891 |pages=261 |via=}}</ref><br />
<br />
Malhar Rao Holkar, Raghunathrao, Shamsher Bahadur, Gangadhar Tatya, Sakharambapu, Naroshankar and Maujiram Bania attacked Delhi on 11 August 1757 and defeated [[Najib-ul-Daula]] and Ahmed Khan became the [[Mir Bakshi]] in his place. In March 1758, they conquered Sarhind. On 20 April 1758, Malhar Rao Holkar and Raghunathrao attacked and conquered Lahore. Tukojirao Holkar conquered [[Attock]] while Sabaji Scindia, Vitthal Shivdev [[Vinchurkar]] met them at [[Peshawar]]. Raghunathrao and Malharrao Holkar returned from [[Punjab]]. He was the most feared [[Maratha]] [[Sardar]] at that time.<br />
<br />
He was raised to the rank of [[Subedar]] in 1757. Malhar Rao Holkar was defeated decisively by the cavalry of the [[Durrani Empire]] led by Jahan Khan at the Second Battle of Sikandarabad (1760).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sarkar |first=Jadunath |title=Fall of the Mughal Empire |publisher=A M S Press, Incorporated |year=1972 |isbn=9780404055820 |pages=228–230}}</ref><br />
<br />
Malhar Rao didn't help [[Dattaji Rao Scindia]] against [[Ahmad Shah Durrani|Ahmed Shah Abdali]] and remained in [[Rajputana]]. Many historians criticize him for not coming to the rescue of the Scindias in the time of a national danger, while some historians speak in favour of his move by claiming that it would have weakened his position in Rajputana. He tried guerrilla warfare after the defeat and death of Dattaji Shinde and achieved some success with his dream of capturing [[Delhi]] under his rule coming true. However, due to open plains between the forests in North India, lack of geographical knowledge and lack of support from the locals, he was decisively defeated by the Afghan general Jahan Khan at Rewadi and at the Second Battle of Sikandrabad. With it, his dream of conquering Delhi ended.<br />
<br />
He participated in the [[Third Battle of Panipat]]. He, along with [[Suraj Mal|Raja Surajmal]] is said to have advised [[Sadashivrao Bhau]], Peshwa's cousin and the de facto commander of the Maratha army to leave all their heavy luggage, civilians and heavy static French-made cannons in any of the Maratha forts behind the [[Chambal River|Chambal]] river and perform the traditional Maratha guerrilla warfare against the Afghans until they retreat from [[India]]. His advice was refused by Sadashivrao partly because he believed in the European modernized form of warfare and partly because Malharrao's guerilla warfare failed against the Afghans. Some sources also state that Sadashivrao's advisors asked him to not pay any heed to Malhar Rao's advice's as he didn't want Bhau to cross Central India and see how he and other Sardars mishandled the situation.<br />
<br />
He organized many raids against the Afghans and showed immense bravery, killing thousands of [[Durrani Empire|Durrani]] and [[Rohilla]] soldiers. He retreated from the battlefield of [[Panipat]] after seeing the Marathas losing and saved with him thousands of civilians and families of honorable Sardars. Many called him a coward for it while many argue that he was asked to save [[Parvatibai]] and many others by Sadashivrao himself if they are losing. Also if he would have remained in the battlefield, his light cavalry wouldn't have been able to do much against the Afghan [[Zamburak|Zamburaks]] and [[Jezail|Jezails]] in a pitched battle. The most probable outcome would have been a delayed Maratha defeat.<br />
<br />
He decisively defeated the [[Rajput]] forces at the Battle of Mangrol and played a pivotal role in the resurrection of the [[Maratha]] power in [[Central India]] following the [[Third Battle of Panipat]]. He also supported his daughter-in-law, [[Ahilyabai Holkar]] in laying foundation of her future glorious reign. He also helped [[Mahadaji Shinde|Mahadji Scindia alias Shinde]] in recovering form the debacle at Panipat and helped him in restoring the lost power of the Scindias.<br />
<br />
==Death and legacy==<br />
[[File:Chhatri of Malhar Rao Holkar at Alampur, India.jpg|thumb|400px|right|[[Chhatri]] of Malhar Rao Holkar, built by his daughter-in-law [[Ahilya Bai Holkar]], at [[Alampur, Madhya Pradesh]].]]<br />
[[File:Back View of Chhatri at Alampur.jpg|thumb|Back view of Malhar Rao Holkar's [[Chhatri]][[samadhi (shrine)|samadhi]] at [[Alampur, Madhya Pradesh]].]]<br />
<br />
He died at [[Alampur, Madhya Pradesh|Alampur]] on 20 May 1766. His only son [[Khanderao Holkar]] had already died in 1754 during the siege of [[Kumher|Kumher Fort]] against the [[Jat people|Jat]] [[Maharaja]] [[Suraj Mal]] of [[Bharatpur State]]. After his son Khanderao's death in 1754, Malhar Rao prevented [[Khanderao Holkar]]'s wife [[Ahilya Bai Holkar]] from committing sati.<ref name=kr2>[https://books.google.com/books?id=1YSU9Qp9w0MC&dq=khande+rao+Holkar+kumbher&pg=PA184 Images of Women in Maharashtrian Literature and Religion, edited by Anne Feldhaus, pp185-186]</ref> Malhar Rao's grandson and Khanderao's young son [[Male Rao Holkar]] became the ruler of Indore in 1766, under the regentship of Ahilyabai, but he too died within few months in 1767. Ahilyabai became the ruler of Indore after the death of her only son with Khanderao. He is considered one of the architects of Maratha control over India.<ref name=kr1>[https://books.google.com/books?id=d1wUgKKzawoC&dq=khande+rao+Holkar+kumbher&pg=PA606 Advanced Study in the History of Modern India 1707-1813, by Jaswant Lal Mehta, pp606]</ref><ref name=kr3>[https://books.google.com/books?id=_0RpUoGiou4C&dq=khande+rao+Holkar+kumbher&pg=PA60 Omkareshwar and Maheshwar: Travel Guide, p60]</ref><ref name=kr4>[https://books.google.com/books?id=47sfj8DUwNgC&dq=khande+rao+Holkar+kumbher&pg=PA70 Indian States: A Biographical, Historical, and Administrative Survey, by R. V. Solomon, J. W. Bond, p.72]</ref><br />
<br />
His daughter-in-law [[Ahilya Bai Holkar]] built his [[samadhi (shrine)|samadhi]] [[Chhatri]], at the spot of his cremation, at [[Alampur, Madhya Pradesh|Alampur]] of [[Lahar, India|Lahar]] in [[Bhind district]] of [[Madhya Pradesh]] state.<ref name=chat1>{{Cite web |url=https://www.mcbhind.com/pages.php?pv=History |title=History of Bhind district |access-date=19 May 2017 |archive-date=1 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180501034549/http://www.mcbhind.com/pages.php?pv=History |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=chat2>[http://tenders.gov.in/innerpage.asp?choice=tc5&tid=mp767630&work=1 India Govt tender for the improvement of Malhar Rao Holkar's Chhatri at Alampur]{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><br />
<br />
==In popular culture==<br />
*In the 1994 [[Hindi]] TV series ''[[The Great Maratha]]'', Holkar's character was portrayed by [[Parikshit Sahni]].<br />
*In the 2015 [[Bollywood]] movie ''[[Bajirao Mastani]]'', Malhar Rao Holkar was portrayed by Ganesh Yadav.<br />
*In the 2019 [[Bollywood]] war drama ''[[Panipat (film)|Panipat]]'', [[Ravindra Mahajani]] portrays the role of Malhar Rao Holkar.<br />
*In the [[Hindi]]-language TV series ''[[Peshwa Bajirao (TV series)|Peshwa Bajirao]]'', Rushiraj Pawar portrays a young Holkar.<br />
*In the [[Hindi]]-language TV series ''[[Punyashlok Ahilyabai|Punyashlok Ahilya Bai]]'', [[Rajesh Shringarpure]] plays the role of Malhar Rao Holkar.<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
<br />
==Further reading==<br />
*''Hindustancha Yugpurush Malharrao Holkar'' by Madhukar Salgare - 2009 (Marathi)<br />
*''Subhedar Thorale Malharrao Holkar Yanche Charitra'' by M.M. Atre - 1893 (Marathi)<br />
*''Peshwa Maratha Relations and Malharrao Holkar'' by N.N. Nagarale 1989 (English)<br />
{{MarathaEmpire}}<br />
{{Authority control}}<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Holkar, Malhar Rao}}<br />
[[Category:Maratha Chiefs in the Maratha Empire]]<br />
[[Category:Marathi people]]<br />
[[Category:1693 births]]<br />
[[Category:1766 deaths]]<br />
[[Category:Maharajas of Indore State]]<br />
[[Category:People from Nandurbar district]]</div>AnnettLevi9