Anandiben Patel

Early life

Birth

Anandiben Patel was born on 21 November 1941, in present-day Kharod village of Vijapur taluka of Mehsana district, Gujarat, where her father, Jethabhai, was a teacher.

Education

School

She moved to N.M. High School for her high school studies which had only three girl students. She joined college for studying BSc (Bachelor of Science) in 1960. She was awarded "Veer Bala" award in Mehsana for her outstanding achievement in athletics.

Teacher

Patel worked as the teacher at Mohiniba Kanya Vidyalaya, Ahmedabad in 1967 or 1970, where she taught science and mathematics to higher secondary students. Later, she became the school's principal.

Political career

Bravery

Patel's entry into politics began with an accident during a school picnic in 1987, when she jumped in the Sardar Sarovar reservoir to save two girls who were drowning during a school picnic, for which she received a president's bravery award. On persuasion by Keshubhai Patel and Narendra Modi, she joined BJP as the Gujarat Pradesh Mahila Morcha President in 1987.

Bird flu and service

In 1992, she participated in Ekta Yatra from Kanyakumari to Srinagar with BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi.

As a member of Parliament

Patel was elected to Rajya Sabha from Gujarat in 1994.

1998 – First election in Mandal (as an education minister)

Patel resigned from Rajyasabha in 1998 and contested her first assembly election from Mandal assembly constituency. She won and became the cabinet minister for education under the Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel.

In her first term as Education Minister, Patel started "Lokdarbar" to address issues related to schools and education. It was under her leadership that the state Government first launched "Shala Praveshotsav" to increase enrolment in schools, which is still the flagship program of the Education department. Her efforts resulted in a 100% increase in enrolment.

Second and third election from Patan (2002–2012)

Patel contested her second and third assembly elections in 2002 and 2007 from Patan assembly constituency and was elected. She continued as a cabinet minister for education in her second term and was assigned to Roads & Building and Revenue in her third term.

2012 – fourth term from Ghatlodiya

Patel contested and won from Ghatlodiya constituency in the 2012 elections. She won the election with a margin of more than 175,000 votes, the highest in the election. She continued as the cabinet minister of Road and Building, Revenue, Urban Development, and Urban Housing, Disaster Management and Capital Projects.

2014 – 2016 Chief Minister of Gujarat

On 22 May 2014, Patel took oath as the 15th Chief Minister of Gujarat succeeding Narendra Modi, after the latter was elected as Prime Minister of India following the victory of BJP in the 2014 Indian general election. Patel was the first female Chief Minister of Gujarat. She expressed her desire to resign on 1 August 2016 as she was turning 75 years old in November 2016. She submitted her resignation to the Governor O. P. Kohli on 4 August 2016 which was accepted. She continued to hold the office until her successor Vijay Rupani took over on 7 August 2016.

Governorships (2018–)

In January 2018, she became the Governor of Madhya Pradesh replacing Om Prakash Kohli, who was an additional charge governor. Later in August 2018, she took additional charge as the Governor of Chhattisgarh due to sudden demise of then governor Balram Das Tandon. On 20 July 2019, she became Governor of Uttar Pradesh on end of term of Ram Naik.

Personal life

On 29 May 1962, Anandiben and Mafatlal Patel married; Mafatlal was 28 years old. After living in Mehsana district for four years, the couple moved to Ahmedabad. Mafatlal was a professor of psychology at the Saraspur Art and Commerce College, and Anandiben taught mathematics and science, and later became principal, at Mohiniba Kanya Vidyalaya on Ashram Road, Ahmedabad. They did not legally separate, but they began living apart in 1985. Patel voluntarily retired from teaching after 31 years. The couple have two children, Sanjay and Anar. Sanjay is married to Hina and they have one son, Dharm. Anar is married to Jayesh, and they have one daughter Sanskruti.

Recognition

The Indian Express has listed her in top 100 most influential people of India for the year 2014.

• Felicitated with Governor's Award for best teacher in Gujarat (1988)
• Felicitated with the President's Award for the best teacher (1989)
• Felicitated with 'Sardar Patel' Award by Patel Jagruti Mandal, Mumbai (1999)
• Felicitated with the 'Vidya Gaurav' Award by Shri Tapodhan Brahman Vikas Mandal (2000)
• Felicitated with 'Patidar Shiromani' Award by the Patel community (2005)
• Special honour bestowed by Dharati Vikas Mandal for Women's Upliftment Campaign.
• 'Veerbala' award for ranking first in Mahesana District school sports event.

Gallantry awards

• Gallantry Award for rescuing two girls of Mohinaba Girls' school from drowning at Navagam reservoir in Narmada.
• Winner of Charumati Yoddha Award (Jyotisangh), Ahmedabad.
• Winner of Ambubhai Purani Vyayam Vidyalay Award (Rajpipala).

References

References

1. "Anandiben homepage".
2. "Anandiben Patel Resigned". [[The Indian Express]].
3. (18 February 2012). "Minister asks officials not to harass investors". [[The Times of India]].
4. (5 August 2016). "Some Rare Photos of Ananadiben Patel". [[Divya Bhaskar]].
5. (19 September 2018). "Madhya Pradesh: Former Gujarat CM Anandiben Patel to be Madhya Pradesh's governor". The Times of India.
6. "Raj Bhavan MP {{!}} The Hon'ble Governor".
7. Jiwrajka, Shikhar. (20 May 2014). "All you want to know about Anandiben Patel".
8. Jiwrajka, Shikhar. (20 May 2014). "All you want to know about Anandiben Patel".
9. (10 August 2013). "All you want to know about Anandiben Patel". India.com.
10. (10 August 2013). "Anandiben Patel, iron lady in Waiting". India.com.
11. (3 August 2016). "The teacher who became Gujarat's first woman Chief Minister".
12. "Profile".
13. (22 May 2014). "Ghatlodia cheers Anandiben Patel's anointment". The Times of India.
14. "Anandiben Patel takes oath as first woman CM of Gujarat".
15. Umarji, Vinay. (4 August 2016). "Governor accepts CM Anandiben's resignation". Business Standard India.
16. (7 August 2016). "Vijay Rupani sworn in as new Gujarat Chief Minister".
17. (19 January 2018). "Former Gujarat CM Anandiben Patel to be Madhya Pradesh's governor". [[The Times of India]].
18. "UP Governor profile". Official.
19. (3 January 2014). "Gujarat revenue minister Anandiben's husband to join AAP". The Times of India.
20. Mashla, Dipak. (22 May 2014). "Proud to be her husband". Ahmedabad Mirror.
21. (13 March 2014). "IE 100: Aamir Khan, Virat Kohli in power list". The Indian Express.
22. admin. (21 May 2014). "Anandiben Patel: A teacher turned politician".