Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah released the Gujarati edition of the book ‘Chunotiya Mujhe Pasand Hai’ (‘Challenges I Like’), based on the life of Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, in Ahmedabad, Gujarat December 7, 2025. On this occasion, several dignitaries were present, including the Chief Minister of Gujarat Bhupendra Patel and Governor Anandiben Patel, a press release from the Press Information Bureau (PIB) said.
Speaking at the event, Minister Shah said that the book beautifully chronicles Anandiben’s entire life and her work. He said that the book narrates the journey of a daughter born in a lower-middle-class family, and vividly portrays the entire journey, from a time when educating daughters was a struggle, to becoming the first woman Chief Minister of a progressive state like Gujarat, serving as a Member of Parliament and Governor of three states, and now holding the position of Governor of Uttar Pradesh – India’s largest state.
Shah went on to say that all of Anandiben’s struggles, the challenges she faced, and the inspiration she drew from those struggles are beautifully captured in this book. If the essence of this entire journey were to be expressed in one sentence, it would be: ‘Leadership is not for a position or a post; leadership is for a purpose,’ he noted.
Minister noted how it is very difficult for a person to remain bound by a single principle from birth to death, to continuously pursue a single goal throughout their life. It is difficult even when the goal is for oneself, but it becomes far more challenging when that goal is for the benefit of society. He said that looking at Anandiben’s life journey, it can be said with certainty that she has dedicated her entire life to fulfilling goals set for the betterment of society.
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When Anandiben was growing up, there were only three science colleges in the entire Mehsana district, and MSc studies were offered in just one of them, Shah noted. In those days for a daughter to pursue an MSc in science while staying in a hostel required courage in the daughter which was rare among parents. He said that in that college hostel, Anandiben was the only female student; all the others were male students. Imagine that era, when Anandiben pursued her studies going against the mainstream societal norms, he asked the audience.
Minister Shah recalled how he has worked very closely with Anandiben. He said that in 2014, when the party set the goal for expansion, they identified gaps in 1 lakh, 86 thousands booths, increased membership, and today the party’s reach stretches from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, and from Dwarka to Kamakhya. The core foundation of this achievement was the work at the booth level, he noted. What once seemed impossible became possible through a small beginning.
The fundamental idea was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the organizational campaign at that time, Shah noted. Anandiben was in charge of that organizational campaign, and he was responsible for tracking the data. “Together, we advanced that work,” Shah said. He said that sometimes, sitting alone at night, he often reflects on how much the booth structure has changed from then to now and how far the party has come. “There should be documentation of each booth, noting which booths are weak,” he said and this idea became the greatest source of inspiration for the party’s growth. Later, with the resolve of ‘Ideological Booth, Ideological Worker,’ the party accelerated its journey from 2014 onwards.
Speaking more about Anandiben’s journey, Shah noted how she had faced struggles throughout her life — as a student, as a teacher, as a social worker, and later in politics at every step. He said that Anandiben became a legislator, Education Minister, Revenue Minister, Chief Minister, and then Governor of three states.
Prime Minister Modi had revitalized the Governor’s institution by linking it to various initiatives such as TB elimination, reducing dropout ratios, achieving 100 per cent enrollment, sanitation, and natural farming, Minister Shah said, adding that he himself had prepared the team to implement all these ideas.
However, wherever Anandiben served as Governor, she carried out all these tasks with the perfection and discipline of a teacher, not only completing them but doing so excellently, Shah said. As a result, qualitative changes occurred in the social life of those states. In a vast state like Uttar Pradesh, raising the standard of education, ensuring that all universities got NAAC registration — today, the highest number of NAAC A+ graded universities are in Uttar Pradesh. That is a significant achievement, Shah pointed out.
He also dwelt on the completion of the Narmada project, which he noted, was achieved during PM Modi’s tenure as Prime Minister and Anandiben’s tenure as Chief Minister. When Anandiben was the Revenue Minister, the land acquisition was carried out so efficiently that even today, the Narmada project holds the record in India for acquiring the largest amount of land for any major project at the lowest cost, Shah said. Overcoming numerous obstacles, the dam’s height was completed, gates were installed, and water reached not only Kutch but also Rajasthan. “The primary credit for this goes to Anandiben, who was the Revenue Minister at the time,” Shah added.
This book describes many poignant incidents as well, Minister Shah said. Each incident reflects Anandiben’s capability, determination, and immense affection. He said that even at the age of 85, the speed and energy with which Anandiben is working in Uttar Pradesh would make any young person feel humbled, serving as a great inspiration for everyone. He expressed confidence that when this book reaches millions and crores of people, it will certainly become a source of inspiration for them as well.