Indore’s DAVV Cycle Rally Celebrates 300 Years Of Ahilya Bai Holkar

Indore (Madhya Pradesh): In the first-of-its-kind initiative, Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya (DAVV) Vice-Chancellor Dr Rakesh Singhai pedalled from Indore to Maheshwar, aiming to encourage girls to pursue higher education.

Accompanied by 14 cyclists including teachers, officers and students, Dr Singhai covered the 90-kilometre distance in roughly six hours. The group took only one break for lunch at Jam Gate. "We started at 6:15 am from Indore and reached Maheshwar around 4:30 pm," said the Vice-Chancellor.

The cycle rally was organised on Saturday to commemorate Lokmata Punyashloka Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar's 300th birth anniversary. Themed "Educated Girls, Developed India," the rally began at the statue of Ahilya Bai at the university’s UTD campus and culminated at her revered statue in Maheshwar—a route rich in cultural and historical significance.

This historic event saw participation from 15 members of the DAVV community, including faculty members, officials and students, all united under a shared vision of promoting women’s education and celebrating the legacy of one of India’s most progressive rulers.

Former director of IIPS BK Tripathi shared his thoughts on the occasion, saying, "The event was extremely well-organised. The fact that our Vice Chancellor cycled such a long distance to spread awareness is commendable. He even encouraged the girls to motivate other young women around them to pursue education, assuring them that the university and officials would provide every possible support. Events like these reflect a larger, progressive vision."

Professor Sakharam Mujalde, Professor at the School of Economics and Head of the School of Tribal Studies, expressed his excitement, "It was an outstanding experience.

I was so thrilled that I couldn’t sleep the night before. Inspired by everything I’ve heard and read about Maa Ahilya, I set out with a purpose - to promote women’s education. The students who accompanied us were equally enthusiastic."

Other notable participants included assistant registrar Vishnu Narayan Mishra, IT assistant professor Amit Mittal, professor Laxman Shinde, professor Rajeev Dikshit from DCDC and head of commerce department professor Suresh Patidar. The chief guest of the event was professor Jyoti Singhai, wife of Vice Chancellor Dr Rakesh Singhai.

Harshali Jain, an MBA student from IIPS, shared, "This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Our Vice-Chancellor took care of every little detail along the way. It felt like we reached Maheshwar in no time!"

By combining a tribute to a legendary queen with a modern-day message of empowerment, the rally not only celebrated history - it made it.

news