But after India became independent in 1947, there was a fall of royal patronage owing to the dissolution of princely states. Following this, the looms of Maheshwar saw a period of decline. But since the 1980s, they have seen a revival thanks to the efforts of the Rehwa society (a not-for-profit foundation created by the royal Holkar family). Today, most of the weavers of Maheshwari saris are women, something Ahilyabai Holkar would have approved of!