Ahilyabai Holkar (31 May 1725 – 13 August 1795) was the hereditary noble sardar of the Maratha Empire, India. Ahilya was born in the village of Chondi in Jamkhed, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra. She moved the seat of her kingdom to Maheshwar south of Indore on the Narmada River.

Ahilyabai's husband Khanderao Holkar was killed in the battle of Kumbher in 1754. Twelve years later, her father-in-law, Malhar Rao Holkar, died. A year after that she took over the affairs of Holkar fief. She tried to protect her land from plundering invaders. She personally led armies into battle. She appointed Tukoji Rao Holkar as the Chief of her militia.

Rani Ahilyabai is a name that invokes reverence in the hearts of every Indian. Though she had departed a long ago, yet because of her dedicated services towards the mankind she continues to stay in our hearts as Lokmata. Ahilyabai did not rule a geographically large kingdom. Even the sphere of her activities were limited. Outside the boundaries of her kingdom Lokmata Ahilyabai got the temples constructed at all the famous places of pilgrimage throughout India; got the wells and ponds dug; got the roads constructed and improved; got the grain stores opened for the needy ones, appointed learned pandits in the temples for the contemplation and preaching on scriptures; above all she abandoned the false attachment of snobbery and strived to do justice till her last breath. In a nutshell, this book is a saga of the life of Lokmata Ahilvabai. Every stage of her life an expression in the book.