Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on Sunday released the Gujarati edition of “Chunotiya Mujhe Pasand Hai”, a book based on the life and public service career of Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel. The event was held in Ahmedabad in the presence of Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Governor Anandiben Patel.
Speaking at the event, Shah said the book presents the journey of Anandiben, who was born into a lower-middle-class family and went on to become Gujarat’s first woman CM, a Member of Parliament, and the Governor of three states. He said her life shows that leadership is driven by purpose and service, not by position.
Shah said Anandiben dedicated her entire life to society and consistently worked toward public welfare. Recalling her student years, he noted that she pursued an MSc degree at a time when very few women studied science, and was the only woman in her hostel.
The Home Minister said he worked closely with Anandiben during organisational expansion efforts in 2014, when she led a major campaign to strengthen booth-level structures of the BJP. He said this work laid a major foundation for the party’s growth nationwide.
Shah also said Prime Minister Narendra Modi strengthened the Governor’s institution by linking it to initiatives such as TB elimination, improving school enrollment, sanitation, and natural farming. He added that Anandiben carried out these responsibilities with discipline and efficiency wherever she served as Governor. In Uttar Pradesh, he said, her efforts contributed to improvements in higher education, including a rise in NAAC A+ graded universities.
Shah highlighted Anandiben’s role in land acquisition for the Narmada project during her tenure as Gujarat’s Revenue Minister, saying the project still holds the record for efficient land acquisition at minimal cost. He added that water from the project eventually reached Kutch and Rajasthan due to work completed during her term.
Shah said the book contains several key incidents from Anandiben’s life that show her determination and commitment. He noted that at 85, she continues to work in Uttar Pradesh with energy and focus, and said her life would serve as an inspiration to readers.
