Question

In which battle did Khanderao Holkar die?

A) Battle of Panipat

B) Battle of Chakan

C) Battle of Kumher

D) Battle of Khed

Answer 1

Hint: Khanderao Holkar was born in the year 1723. He was the only son of Malhar Rao Holkar, the founder of the Holkar Dynasty of Indore, born from Gautama Bai.

Complete solution:

Shrimant Sardar Khande Rao Holkar Subedar Bahadur, who belonged to the Holkar family of the Marathas, was the Maharaja of Indore. Born in Poona in 1798, he was the posthumous son of Malhar Rao Holkar. Khanderao had ten wives. Ahilyabai Holkar was his first wife to rule Indore (Hokar State) from 1767 to 1795, after his death. He had a son and a daughter.

In 1754, at the behest of Mughal Emperor Ahmad Shah Bahadur's Mir Bakhshi Imad-ul-Mulk, Khanderao seized Kumher Fort of Jat Maharaja Suraj Mal of Bharatpur Province, who had sided with Ahmad Shah's adversary Safdar Jang. Khanderao was inspecting his troops on an open palanquin in the battle of Kumher when a cannonball from the Jat army was struck and killed. In Khanderao's honour, Jat Maharaja Suraj Mal constructed a chatter, in Hindu style of architecture, on the cremation site of Kumher near Deeg.

After he died in 1754, nine of his ten wives committed Sati, but his father, Malhar Rao, prevented his first wife, Ahilya Bai, from committing Sati. Malhar Rao died in 1766, 12 years after his son Khanderao died. Malhar Rao's grandson and Khanderao's young son Male Rao Holkar became ruler of Indore in 1766 under the reign of Ahilyabai, but he also died in 1767 within a few months. After the death of her son with Khanderao, Ahilyabai became the ruler of Indore.

Hence, the correct answer is option C.

Note:

H.H. Maharajadhiraja Raj Rajeshwar Sawai Shri Khande Rao II Holkar X Bahadur belonging to the Holkar dynasty of the Marathas was Maharaja of Indore (Hokar State) He was born in Jotsikhera in 1828, the eldest son of Shriman Sardar Bapuji Rao Holkar of Jotsikhera. He was adopted by his cousin, Maharaja Hari Rao Holkar IX, on 2 July 1841and succeeded in the death of his adopted father, 24 October 1843.