Anandiben Patel

Anandiben Patel
15th Chief Minister of Gujarat
Assumed office
22 May 2014
Preceded by Narendra Modi
Constituency Ghatlodiya
Assembly Member
for Ghatlodiya
In office
2012 – Incumbent
Assembly Member
for Patan
In office
2007–2012
Assembly Member
for Patan
In office
2002–2007
Assembly Member
for Mandal, Ahmedabad district
In office
1998–2002
Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
In office
1994–1998
Personal details
Born (1941-11-21) 21 November 1941
Kharod, Bombay Presidency, British India
Nationality Indian
Political party Bharatiya Janata Party
Spouse(s) Mafatlal Patel (estranged)
Children Anar Patel, Sanjay Patel
Parents Jethabhai Patel
Residence Ahmedabad
Occupation Politician, teacher
Cabinet Government of Gujarat
Portfolio

Ministry of Education, Higher and Technical Education, Women and Child Welfare, Sports, Youth and Cultural Activities (1998–2007)

Ministry of Revenue, Disaster Management, Roads & Buildings Capital Project, Women & Child Welfare (2007–2014)
Religion Hinduism
Website anandibenpatel.com

Anandiben Mafatbhai Patel (born 21 November 1941)[1] is an Indian politician and the incumbent Chief Minister of Gujarat, a western state of India. She is the first woman Chief Minister of the state.[2] She is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) since 1987. She was the Cabinet Minister of Road and Building, Revenue, Urban development and Urban Housing, Disaster Management and Capital Projects in the Government of Gujarat from 2007 to 2014.[3]

Early life

Anandiben Patel was born on 22 November 1941, in Kharod village of [Vijapur] taluka of Mehsana district, Gujarat, where her father, Jethabhai, was a teacher. Not many know this fact, but Anandiben and Narendra Modi shared the same high school. She moved to N.M. High School for her high school studies which had only three girl students. As a student she was an athlete and remained a district level champion for three consecutive years. Even when she joined college for studying B.Sc in 1960, she was the only girl in the entire college. She has excelled throughout as a student in her studies. She was awarded "VeerBala" award in Mehsana for her outstanding achievement in athletics.[4]

Patel began attending the M. G. Panchal Science College[5] at Pilvai in 1960, where she was the only female student enrolled in first year science in the entire college. She completed a bachelor's degree in science in Visnagar. She joined Mahila Vikas Gruh for the upliftment of women as her first job, where she taught vocational courses to more than 50 widows.

Patel moved to Ahmedabad in 1965 with her husband Mafatbhai Patel where she earned a master of science degree. In Ahmedabad, she took on the responsibility of educating all the children of her extended family; at one time, more than 10 extended family members were staying in her home. She enrolled in a bachelor of education program to pursue her interest in teaching. She received a gold medal in her master of education program.

Patel joined the faculty at Mohiniba Vidyalaya in 1970, where she taught science and mathematics to higher secondary students. Later, she became the school's principal.[6]

Political career

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.[7] Impressed by Patel's heroism, BJP top cadre suggested Anandiben Patel join the party. She joined BJP as the Gujarat Pradesh Mahila Morcha President in 1987.[8]

Patel's first notable work was during a spread of bird flu in the Viramgam district, where she spent weeks helping local citizens and appealing to government officials to take strong action. In 1992, she became the only female leader from Gujarat in Ekta yatra (journey for unity) led by BJP, with BJP veteran Murli Manohar Joshi.

As a member of Parliament

Patel was selected to Rajyasabha from Gujarat in 1994. As an MP, she participated in the Fourth World Women's Conference at Beijing (China) in 1994–95, representing India. She also visited Bulgaria with the B.J.P. Leader, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and speaker of the Loksabha, P.A. Sangma.

1998 – First election in Mandal (As an Education Minister)

Patel resigned from Rajyasabha in 1998 and contested her first assembly election from Mandal assembly seat in Ahmedabad district of Gujarat. She became the State Minister in Government of Gujarat under the leadership of Keshubhai Patel. Later, she became the fifth Woman Cabinet Minister of Gujarat and was assigned the Education portfolio.

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.[9]

In her first two years as an Education Minister, Patel initiated a campaign to recruit 26,000 teachers to fill positions that had been vacant for six years. She is also credited for her work to reduce corruption in the transfer of teachers. She established a school for handicapped children.

Second and Third Election from Patan (2002–2012)

Patel fought her second and third assembly elections under the leadership of Narendra Modi in 2002 and 2007 from Patan Constituency. Against the familiar trend of Education Minister not being elected, she won the 2002 and 2007 elections. She continued as a Cabinet Minister for Education in her second term and was assigned to Roads & Building and Revenue in her third term.

A few of the high impact projects that took place during her time are: connecting Patan with the Narmada canal for the welfare of farmers; creating 174 check dams in the region; building one of the largest water filtration plants to provide citizens of Patan with pure drinking water; the construction of a new medical and engineering college in the region; and the creation of more than 700 km worth of road networks and underground drainage systems.

2012 – Fourth term election from Ghatlodiya

Patel moved to the Ghatlodiya constituency of Ahmedabad for the 2012 elections. She won the election with a margin of more than 175,000 votes; Patel's charismatic presence won her the maximum lead in the state.

2014 – 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 Indian general election, 2014. Patel's name was proposed and adopted unanimously at a meeting of the Legislature Party in the presence of Modi, who moments earlier had resigned as the Chief Minister. Patel is the first woman Chief Minister of Gujarat. [10]

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.[11] 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. Despite of her busy schedule, Ms. Patel takes out time for her family frequently.[12]

Recognition

The Indian Express has listed her in top 100 most influential people of India for the year 2014.[13]

Gallantry Awards

References

  1. ↑ "Anandiben homepage". Retrieved 23 June 2014.
  2. ↑ "Narendra Modi resigns, Anandiben Patel elected new Chief Minister of Gujarat unopposed". Desh Gujarat. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
  3. ↑ "Minister asks officials not to harass investors". Vapi. Times of India. 18 February 2012. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  4. ↑
  5. ↑ "Pilvai College of Arts,Science and Commerce". pilvaicollege.org. Retrieved 2015-12-26.
  6. ↑ "Profile". Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  7. ↑ "http://www.india.com/loudspeaker/anandiben-patel-all-you-want-to-know-about-the-ben-who-will-take-mantle-from-narendra-modi-in-gujarat-60763/". IndiaToday. 10 August 2013. External link in |title= (help);
  8. ↑ "Iron Lady in Waiting". IndiaToday. 10 August 2013. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  9. ↑ "Profile". Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  10. ↑ "Anandiben Patel takes oath as first woman CM of Gujarat". hindustantimes. Retrieved 22 April 2014.
  11. ↑ "Gujarat revenue minister Anandiben's husband to join AAP". The Times of India. 3 January 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  12. ↑ Mashla, Dipak (22 May 2014). "Proud to be her husband". Ahmedabad Mirror. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  13. ↑ "IE India's 100 most influential people". IndianExpress. Retrieved 16 April 2014.

External links

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Political offices
Preceded by
Narendra Modi		 Chief Minister of Gujarat
2014 – present 		Incumbent
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