Tukoji Rao Holkar


Tukoji Rao Holkar
Subahdar
Maharaja
Tukoji Rao Holkar
Maharaja of Indore
Reign13 August 1795 – 15 August 1797
PredecessorAhilyabai Holkar
SuccessorKashi Rao Holkar
Born(1723-06-26)26 June 1723
Died15 August 1797(1797-08-15) (aged 74)
Spouse
  • Rakhmabai Holkar
  • Radhabai Holkar
Issue
FatherTanuji Holkar
Malhar Rao Holkar (adoptive)
ReligionHinduism
Military career
Allegiance Maratha Empire
RankSenapati
Conflicts
See list

Tukoji Rao Holkar, a member of the Holkar clan, was the feudatory ruler of Indore during the Maratha Empire from 1795 to 1797. Tukoji was the second biological son of Tanuji Holkar and the adopted son of Malhar Rao Holkar. He had two wives and four sons.

Life and career

After the demise of Ahilyabai Holkar, Tukoji Rao became the fourth ruler of the Indore principality between 1795 and 1797. Tukoji Rao gained responsibility of the principality at a time of crisis. Khanderao, the husband of Ahilyabai, lost his life in the Battle of Kumbher in 1754.[relevant?] Tukoji Rao Holkar was the most trustworthy commander-in-chief of Malhar Rao Holkar. While on his death bed, Malhar Rao's appreciation of Tukoji further intensified his loyalty to the royal house of Holkars. Malhar Rao said, "You are the only one who can uphold my name and protect Prince Male Rao Holkar [grandson of Malhar Rao] after my death." However, Male Rao also had a very short life span. He died on 13 March 1767 due to sickness. At this juncture, Tukoji Rao submitted himself to the service of the ruling queen of Indore Ahilyabai and she could withstand the challenges she had in the service of her people of Malwa. Ahilyabai also respected him as her brother-in-law, as Tukoji Rao was the adopted son of Malhar Rao Holkar I.[1]

Tukoji Rao Holkar I acted during the reign of Malhar Rao Holkar I as a Commander in his army and during Ahilyabai Holkar as a Commander-in-Chief brought recognition to his talents in administration and as chief of the armed forces. In the meantime, he stood fast to his sense of obligation to the royal house of Holkars. He was dutiful to the royal chair, to which he was solely indebted for his high station. He was popular with the people of Malwa and the territories comprising the Holkar State continued to be prosperous for nearly two years after the death of Ahilya Bai.[citation needed]

He actively participated in the conquests of Punjab and fought in the Battles of Lahore, Attock, and Peshawar, in which he commanded many of the Maratha forces in the Punjab region and the frontier regions of Attock and Peshawar. He also conquered Jalalabad where he defeated Jahan Khan. Later, after the debacle in Third Battle of Panipat, he played an important role in the Maratha Resurrection, and subsequently in the First Anglo-Maratha War, after which his relation with Mahadaji Scindia deteriorated.[2]

Shah Alam spent six years in the Allahabad fort. After the capture of Delhi in 1771 by the Marathas, he left for his capital under their protection.[3] He was escorted to Delhi by Mahadaji Shinde, and left Allahabad in May 1771. During their short stay, Marathas constructed two temples in the Allahabad city, one of them being the famous Alopi Devi Mandir. However, after reaching Delhi in January 1772 and realizing the Maratha intent of territorial encroachment, Shah Alam ordered his general Mirza Najaf Khan to drive them out. In retaliation, Tukoji Rao Holkar and Visaji Krushna Biniwale attacked Delhi and defeated Mughal forces in 1772. The Marathas were granted an imperial sanad for Kora and Allahabad. They turned their attention to Oudh to gain these two territories. Shuja was, however, unwilling to give them up and made appeals to the English. As such, the Marathas did not fare well at the Battle of Ramghat.[4] The Maratha and British armies fought in Ramghat, but the sudden demise of the Peshwa and the civil war in Pune to choose the next Peshwa forced the Maratha to retreat.[5]

Tukoji Rao died on 15 August 1797. He left behind "the character of a good soldier, a plain, unaffected man and one whose courage was superior to his craft. The records show that during his lifetime he never used a seal of his own, and always remained loyal to Malhar Rao and his family until his last breath."[citation needed][by whom?]

  • In the 1994 Hindi TV series The Great Maratha, Tukoji's character was portrayed by Sanjay Mahendirata.
  • In 2021-22 Hindi TV series Punyashlok Ahilyabai, James Naivedhya Ghadge played the role of young Tukoji Rao Holkar followed by Siddharth Bannerjee initially and then Sandeep Vasantrao Gaikwad.

References

  1. ^ Sanish Nandakumar (7 February 2020). Rise and Fall of The Maratha Empire 1750-1818. Notion Press. ISBN 9781647839611. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  2. ^ N. G. Rathod (1994). The Great Maratha Mahadaji Scindia. Sarup & Sons. pp. 163–173. ISBN 9788185431529.
  3. ^ A. C. Banerjee; D. K. Ghose, eds. (1978). A Comprehensive History of India: Volume Nine (1712–1772). Indian History Congress, Orient Longman. pp. 60–61.
  4. ^ Sailendra Nath Sen (1998). Anglo-Maratha relations during the administration of Warren Hastings 1772–1785, Volume 1. Popular Prakashan. pp. 7–8. ISBN 9788171545780.
  5. ^ Chaurasia, Radhey Shyam (1947). History of Modern India: 1707 A.D. up to 2000 A.D.
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tukojirao_Holkar