ANANDIBEN PATEL: A LIFE ILLUMINATED BY NURTURE AND VALUES

Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel has just completed 84 years of an eventful and inspiring life.

- SUDHIR S. RAVAL

UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath extended his warm birthday wishes to Governor Anandiben Patel during a heartfelt meeting at Raj Bhavan, joined by daughter Anar, son-in-law Jayesh, grand daughter Sanskruti and her husband Ankit.

On her birthday, as greetings poured in from Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, family members, and countless well-wishers, several thoughts naturally came to mind. As a journalist who has observed her closely for the past 35 years, I can say with certainty that in today’s political landscape, Anandiben stands as an exceptional and unparalleled figure.

During a respectful meeting with her last week at the Raj Bhavan in Lucknow—where I had the privilege of visiting with my family—I sensed the same sharpness, the unwavering flow of moral clarity, and the depth of inner sensitivity that have defined her for decades. Rooted in values, culture, education, and love for the nation, Anandiben Patel is, before anything else—before being a politician, social worker, or educator—a remarkable citizen of India and a beloved figure for millions.

Across her long public journey, she has left an indelible mark as an outstanding teacher, dedicated party worker, popular political leader, and capable administrator. Fearlessness and decisiveness are signature traits of her personality. It was these very traits that once led her to jump into the Sardar Sarovar reservoir to save two drowning girls—a courageous act for which she received a President's Award for Bravery.

She was also the only woman from Gujarat to join the Bharatiya Janata Party’s ‘Ekta Yatra’, where, despite threats from terrorists, she participated in the historic hoisting of the national flag at Lal Chowk in Srinagar.