“1,000 years after Minal Devi, Gujarat has got another Naari Ratna at the helm in Anandiben”

Ahmedabad

“1,000 years after Minal Devi, Gujarat has got a shining gem woman in Anandiben Patel at the helm of the state,” Chief Minister Anandiben Patel’s college teacher Keshubhai Patel said today in a book launch function in Ahmedabad.

A coffee table book ‘Aage Kadam Gujarat’ priced at Rs 1200 was launched by noted author Gunvant Shah at Gujarat University Convention hall in a function hosted by Ameya publication.

Keshubhai Patel, Anandiben’s professor when she was a student at Pilvai college in north Gujarat in 1960s in his address said, “Anandiben had entered the college with aim to become a doctor. The science class was located in the last room of GC high school building on third floor. The entire lobby to reach the class was full of mischievous boys. Anandiben was the only girl student. She would enter the lobby with full confidence, aggression and bravery like a Frontier Express. The boys standing on both the sides would step back like they were making way for some Maharaja. Anandiben would walk speedily.”

Principal of same college in 1960s when Anandiben was student there Shri NR Shah in his speech said, “When Pilvai college started in 1960, I was chemistry professor. There was only one girl as student in Science college first year and she was Anandiben. She was simple, regular and bright student.”

In her speech Anandiben Patel said that initially she was the lone girl student, but later her sisters too joined here and then there were four girl students. Our principal would take us four girl students to nearby villages late in the evening to create awareness among women to join education. In those years girls would not study even upto high school, while we four girls had reached college. We were asked to share out experience in village meetings and there only I learnt to deliver speech.”

Anandiben said, “nowadays we read in newspapers about misbehave of teachers with girl students. We too faced same. I don’t want to mention his name, but there was a physical training(PT) teacher. And in those years passing marks in PT was mandatory. Representing our college, we went to Bharuch for sports, and we had some argument with our PT teacher over some issue. He was wishing that we should travel 1 km distance and go to the place where he was staying to collect our coupons. I was farmer’s daughter and Patel by caste, I told him straight that I would not come there. When PT exam was conducted he noted down our running time and measurement of height of jump wrongly. He wanted me to fail to stop my elevation to second year of college. He had no idea that I would go to the principal office to complain. I met principal who asked Keshubhai to take retest of PT. Keshubhai again conducted our PT exam and took record of measurements of high jump and running time which was enough to pass the test. The PT teacher was suspended later.”

Anandiben said that her father was on nationwide tour and he had written a postcard to her elder brother asking him to ensure admission of me and my sister in Pilvai college.”

In this function, 12 women achievers from across Gujarat were present on the stage along with the Chief Minister. A woman who works as sand miner, a woman who has become pilot, a woman working as forest guard in Gir forest, a woman who is into organic food cultivation, women into handicraft art were some of them.

Ahmedabad cit Mayor Minakshiben Patel who was also on the stage described Anandiben as her Guru and political Guru who has availed her the post of Mayor to serve over 400 sq km area and 65 lakh people.

Anandiben’s entire family, number of ministers, captain of industries(Gautam Adani, Sudhir Mehta, Pankaj Patel) were among those present in this function in the not fully packed but power packed hall.

– DeshGujarat

Government release

Gujarat Chief Minister Mrs. Anandiben Patel today attended a launching ceremony of coffee table book titled “Gujarat….Marching Ahead” focuses on inclusive growth story of Gujarat.

Well-known Gujarati thinker, writer and philosopher Mr. Gunvant Shah and 12 women achievers of different sections of society unveiled the illustrative book containing depiction of various aspects of the state governance. The book is written-edited by Mr. Ulhas Latkar and published by Pune based publication Ameya Inspiring Books in both Gujarati and English editions.

At the occasion Mrs. Patel expressed her commitment to make persistent efforts towards better last-mile delivery of government schemes, to reach out to every individual across the state and include everyone in the mainstream development.

She honoured the 12 women achievers at the occasion. While describing efforts and success these women achieved in their respective sectors, she stated that her government will form new policy to encourage such women working in certain kind of sectors. She also felicitated her teachers Mr. N.R.Shah and Mr. Keshubhai Patel at the occasion and conveyed her thanks to them.

Mr. Gunvant Shah regarded Mrs. Patel as Kisan Kanya. He said that women have always been a victim of injustice in this male-dominated society and women empowerment is the only solution to eliminate this attitude. He also lauded CM’s efforts in encouraging women power in the state.

At the occasion, Education Minister Mr. Bhupendrasinh Chudasma, Minister of State for Women Development Mrs. Vasuben Trivedi, Minister of State for Law Mr. Pradipsinh Jadeja, Ahmedabad Mayor Mrs. Meenakshiben Patel, MLAs, senior officials and number of citizens were present.

PTI report

A coffee-table book on Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel’s one year tenure was today released here.

Anandiben Patel was herself present on the occasion.

The book ‘Gujarat- Marching Ahead’ published by Pune-based ‘Ameya Inspiring books’, focuses on initiative taken by Patel for women empowerment.

Anandiben Patel stressed for inclusive development and said the government needs to reach to people who are left behind.

“Narendrabahi (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) gave us a mantra of ‘Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas’ (support from all, development of all). There are some people who are completely developed,” the Chief Minister said.

“However, there are people who have reached middle way to the path of development. But there are certain people who are completely deprived of the development. We need to reach out to those people,” Patel added.

Patel remembered an incident of her college days, when one of her teacher had harassed her and she had retaliated to it.

“Now a days we hear that some teachers harass their students. I had witnessed a similar incident in my college time in first year when a PT (Physical Training) teacher had tried to harassed me and two other girls,” Patel said.

She added the teacher had tried to disqualify her and two other girls in PT exam because she had protested against him on a very trivial issue.

Patel had complained to school principal and her teacher Keshubhai Patel that the PT teacher was trying to disqualify her and other girls.

Later, another teacher had taken her PT exam. The PT teacher was found guilty, which led the college authorities to sack him, she added.

Patel narrated the incident before her teacher Keshubhai Patel, who helped her to fight against the teacher, and her professor N R Shah – who was present at the book launch.

Gujarat ministers Bhupendrasinh Chudasma, Pradipsinh Jadeja and Vasuben Trivedi along with industrialists Gautam Adani and Pankaj Patel, senior BPJ leaders and 12 women achievers from various fields were also present on the occasion.