by catpaw | 31 May, 2025
Ahilyabai Holkar, the “Philosopher Queen of Maheshwar” was born May 31, 1725.
She is remembered for her deep devotion to religion and public service. She restored 12 Jyotirlingas, including the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, and constructed numerous ghats and temples along India’s rivers. British historian John Keay referred to her as the “Philosopher Queen of Malwa,” praising her for her political wisdom and ethical governance.
Ahilyabai was also a courageous warrior, known to fight battles from the back of an elephant, and maintained strong relations with local tribal communities like the Bhils and Gonds, helping to ensure the stability of her kingdom.
Who Was Ahilyabai Holkar, ‘The Philosopher Queen’ Of Malwa Who Ruled Indore For 30 Years
Death Bicentenary of Ahilyabai Holkar (1725-1795)
Issued in 1996
Designer: Sankha Samanta
This year the Indian government released a special coin commemorating the 300th anniversary of her birth.
by catpaw | 15 Apr, 2025
Founder of Sikhism, spiritual leader and teacher Guru Nanak was born April 15, 1469.
(This date is generally quoted as his birth date)
Let mercy be the cotton, contentment the thread,
Continence the knot and truth the twist.
Oh priest! if you have such a thread,
Do give it to me.
It will not wear out, nor get soiled, nor be burnt, nor lost.
Says Nanak, blessed are those who go about wearing such a thread.
(Rag Asa)
Guru Nanak – SikhiWiki, free Sikh encyclopedia.
550th Anniversary of Birth of Guru Nanak
Issued 2019 by India Post
Designer: Kamleshwar Singh
Bābā Nānak “was an Indian spiritual teacher who is revered as the founder and the first Guru of Sikhism, a monotheistic religion that combines Hindu and Muslim influences.”
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Guru-Nanak
by catpaw | 28 Dec, 2024
The Indian National Congress was founded on December 28, 1885.
72 delegates gathered in Mumbai to establish the political party with a goal to create “polite dialogue” between Indians and the colonial British government.
The Indian National Congress (INC), founded in 1885, is one of India’s oldest and most prominent political parties. Initially formed as a platform for moderate political reforms and Indian representation under British colonial rule, it evolved into the central force in India’s freedom struggle. The INC played a key role in India’s independence movement, particularly under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, who introduced non-violent resistance strategies like civil disobedience and the Quit India Movement.
Post-independence, the INC became the dominant political party in India, leading the country for several decades under leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, and Rajiv Gandhi. The party’s core values include secularism, social justice, and democratic governance.
… Read more at:Indian National Congress History, Foundation, Objective and Feature
For the INC’s 100th anniversary, India’s post office released this 4 stamp block of stamps showing all of (to 1985) the presidents that came from the party.
Congress Presidents
From the Centenary of Indian National Congress release
Designer: Chitta Pakrashi
by catpaw | 24 Sep, 2024
On September 24, 1861, Indian activist Bhikaiji Cama, or Madam Cama, was born in Mumbai.
An early advocate for Indian independence, women’s rights, education.
Birth Centenary of Bhikaiji Cama (1861-1936)
Issued by India Post in 1962
Madam Bhikaiji Cama passed away on August 13, 1936. She is remembered as a fearless patriot, a pioneering woman leader, and a symbol of India’s struggle for freedom.
Her commitment to the cause of Indian independence and her efforts to garner international support for it remain noteworthy aspects of her legacy.
Bhikaiji Cama’s legacy continues to inspire generations of Indians. Her contribution to the design of the Indian National Flag earned her a special place in India’s history.
Madam Bhikaiji Cama’s activism in the spheres of women’s rights and Indian independence made her a trailblazing figure in the history of India’s struggle for freedom and women’s empowerment. Her commitment to both causes reflects the interconnectedness of gender equality and national liberation in the context of India’s fight for independence.
1 – Bhikaiji Cama: Mother of Indian Revolution – ClearIAS
by catpaw | 19 Aug, 2024
Indian educator, historian, novelist and literary critic Hazari Prasad Dwivedi was born August 19, 1907.
90th Birth Anniversary of Hazari Prasad Dwivedi (1907-1979)
Issued by India 1997
Steeped in traditional knowledge of Sanskrit, Pali andPrakrit, and modern Indian languages, Dwivedi was destined to be the great bridge maker between the past and the present. As a student of Sanskrit, steeped in the Sastras, he gave a new evaluation to Sahitya-sastra and he can rightly be considered as a great commentator on the textual tradition of the Indian literature.
He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1957 for his contribution to Hindi literature, and the 1973 Sahitya Akademi Award for his collection of essays, ‘Alok Parva’
Hazari_Prasad_Dwivedi-min.pdf (iitgn.ac.in)
