PCM S.D. College for Women holds Guest Lecture on Ahilyabai Holkar’s Vision on Education under Indian knowledge system 

Jalandhar, March 8, 2025: The Department of Hindi of PCM S.D. College for Women, Jalandhar, in collaboration with the NCC unit of the college, organized a Guest Lecture on “Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar – A Visionary Reformer and Torchbearer of Women’s Education.” 

The session was graced by Parmod Kumar, Regional Samrasta Incharge of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), who provided an insightful discourse on the remarkable contributions of Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar to education, governance, and social reform. Head, Department of Hindi, Dr Neena Mittal and NCC Incharge, Captain Priya Mahajan gave a green welcome to the guest.

Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar was a pioneer in promoting inclusive education, ethical leadership, and nation-building. Her visionary approach to governance emphasized access to education for all, especially women, at a time when their participation in intellectual and administrative domains was severely restricted. By establishing educational institutions, supporting scholars, and fostering a culture of learning, she laid the foundation for a progressive society, making her a timeless icon of reform and empowerment.

The lecture emphasized how Holkar’s contributions align with the principles of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the Indian Knowledge System (IKS). The NEP 2020 envisions an educational framework that is inclusive, value-based, and deeply rooted in India’s intellectual traditions, much like the model upheld by Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar. The emphasis on gender equality in education, multidisciplinary learning, and the integration of ethical values in governance finds a strong parallel in her policies. Her patronage of Sanskrit scholars and traditional learning reflects the IKS principles that the NEP seeks to revive, ensuring that indigenous knowledge systems remain central to India’s academic landscape.

A key takeaway from the lecture was how Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar’s decentralized governance model resonates with the NEP’s vision of academic and institutional autonomy. She believed in participatory leadership, where decision-making was not confined to a select few but included scholars, saints, and the local populace. 

President Naresh Budhia, Senior Vice President Vinod Dada, other members of the managing committee and Principal Prof.(Dr.) Pooja Prashar applauded the Department of Hindi and the NCC unit for facilitating an enriching academic experience.