Anar Jayesh Patel

Anar Jayesh Patel is an Indian social entrepreneur and philanthropist often referred to as Didi. She is renowned for her women empowerment, skill development, rural development, value-based unconventional education for vulnerable children, and Indian Handicraft advocacy. She was an integral part of the youth and corporate social responsibility committees of Gujarat Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

The support and inspiration from her parents motivated Didi to seva (serving) the needy, which led her to lay the foundation of the organizations such as Manav Sadhna, Gramshree, and Craftroots later on. She has been actively working in the field of Seva (serving the society) for over 30 years and is the foundation and inspiration behind numerous organizations that promote and empower all marginalized facets of society.

The organizations founded by Didi are a catalyst for positive change in society and their efforts are also recognised by the Govt. of India and Assocham Ladies League. To date, Manav Sadhna has educated thousands of slum-dwelling children, Gramshree has enabled thousands of women to become self-reliant and Craftroots is a platform providing sustenance to artisans across India. She is also a trustee and mentor to many other organizations such as YUVA Unstoppable, Seva Cafe, ESI – Environmental Sanitation Institute and Moved by Love and is engaged in various social upliftment and welfare activities.

Didi has assisted her mother, Anandiben Patel, in her social and political endeavors intending to transform the lives of the needy. As a visionary woman entrepreneur, Didi has served as a role model for youth and women and worked as an advocate for poverty alleviation, education, and nutrition. She supported the artisans of India by providing them with nurturing platforms where people from all across the globe could connect with Indian Handicrafts. Her fashion statement of embracing traditional garments has inspired women from different countries to add Indian clothing to their wardrobes.

Early life

Didi was born to a humble family of scholars and educators in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, on 09th August. Her mother, Anandiben Patel, served as a Science and Mathematics teacher at Mohiniba Kanya Vidyalaya. Later, she became the Principal, administrating the functioning and operation of the school. Didi’s father, Mafatbhai Patel, started his career as a Psychology Professor at the Saraspur Art & Commerce College. His passion for education, social work, and writing enabled him to become a trustee of Achala Education Trust. His generous personality with extensive knowledge made him the 1st BJP candidate to win the Zilla Panchayat seat. Later, he also contested for MLA from Sabarmati Constituency. His intellect enabled him to write 70 books and felicitated him with 12+ awards and recognition.

Didi, being brought up with working parents and an elder brother, Shwetank (Sanjay) Patel, a Ph.D. holder in Sociology and Education, took the responsibility of home at a young age. Didi’s mother, Anandiben Patel, entered politics in 1987 due to her heroic act when she jumped into Sardar Sarovar Reservoir to save two girls who were drowning during a school picnic, for which she received a President's Bravery Award. Impressed by Patel's heroism, the BJP top cadre suggested that Anandiben Patel join the party. She then became the 1st women Chief Minister of Gujarat in 2014, and now serves as the governor of Uttar Pradesh. She is also the first woman governor of the state.

This one time she was asked by Anandiben to teach pupils at an informal settlement with the caveat that she will not pay for her tuition costs if she declined, that episode planted the seeds of equality and tolerance. These small, unorthodox learning activities were what taught her humility.

Influence of Ishwar Dada and Jayeshbai

Didi’s father-in-law, Late Padamshree Ishwarbhai Patel who was affectionately called as "Mr. Toilet" and "Toilet Man of India" spent his entire lifetime improving sanitation in rural areas. He was also often fondly referred to as "Ishwar Dada" by the kids and the people he worked for. Dada started volunteering at Gandhi’s Sevadal at the age of 12. Dedicated his life to improving sanitation, especially for women, and also to the issues related to Untouchability. Through Gandhi Ashram's "Safai Vidyalaya", he constructed more than 200,000 toilets. He also assisted in the founding of 118 organizations that would advance the cause of sanitation across the nation. He had a special relationship with Didi. He was one of the strongest pillars of Didi's social working life. With his guidance, Didi too played a major role in providing proper Sanitation through Manav Sadhna and Gramshree.

Her husband Jayeshbhai Patel has done no less for society. After returning from the UK, Jayesh Patel, also known as Jayesh Dada, followed in the footsteps of his late father. Jayesh Patel was born and raised at Gandhi Ashram with Late Padma Shri Ishwarbhai Patel as his father and inspiration. Later, as the Director of the Environmental Sanitation Institute (ESI), he had worked to address the sanitation issue with the holistic perspective that the problem affects the environment, health, education, and economy of the entire nation. Her mother NGO is Safai Vidyalaya, which was founded by Ishwarbhai Patel himself. In addition to this, Jayesh Dada serves as the President of the Harijan Sevak Sangh in Gujarat and Chairman and the managing trustee of the Sabarmati Harijan Ashram Trust in Ahmedabad.

Education

Didi was a studious child due to the influence of her parents and elder brother. Her formal education happened at Navrang School, where she studied from KG to 07th grade and subsequently enrolled in Mohiniba Kanya Vidyalaya, where she learned from 08th to 10th. Her enthusiasm for Safai Karamcharis and their services grew thanks to lessons like "Swachya Vishaya" (Teachings on Hygiene). Furthermore, Didi promoted these techniques as a requirement for the educational programs that she oversaw. Her analytical approach and curious mind encouraged her to opt for science in her 11th & 12th, which she did at CU Shah School. After completing her schooling, with a deep interest in Analytics and Mathematics, Didi enrolled to pursue B.Sc in Mathematics from St. Xavier's College, Ahmedabad. While being good at academics, she has also represented Gujarat in the State Hockey Championship. After almost a gap of over 10 years, Didi chose to enroll in Higher Education in Business Studies at Nirma University.

Family

Didi's eldest child is Sanskruti. She has inherited all the social work skills from both sides of her family, as seen by her volunteer work at Manav Sadhna, Gramshree, Craftroots, and Seva Café. She attended Sattva Vikas School in Ahmedabad for her formal education. Because of her intense love for both acting and fashion, after earning a degree in fashion management from the London College of Fashion, she opened Ahmedabad's "Sans- The Multi designer Studio," a fashion studio featuring her creations. In addition, Sanskruti completed a short-acting study at City Academy, London and earned her acting diploma from the Old Diorama Arts Centre. She has also done a Producing Course and a Film Course from New York Film Academy and Method Acting from Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute, New York City. She has been in 14 plays in New York, including some well-known ones as Tony Kushner's Harper in the Angels and Tennessee Williams's Glass Menagerie, Anton Chekhov's Three Sisters, Clifford Odets' Awake and Sing, and Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie.

Service and philanthropy

Uplifting of Chhara Community

One of the communities in Ahmedabad with the tightest links is the Charra Community of Chharanagar. But also one with some questionable habits. Previously, the local women would make alcohol in their homes. Strangely enough, a girl was only married to a man who had served at least one sentence in prison. No car could pass by the community homes because they were so closely spaced. It was a required walkway. Didi travelled into the interiors of Chharanagar to observe the situation firsthand along with Leena Ben, her close aide and discovered women hiding in their homes and unwilling to speak for clear reasons. Didi gathered the neighborhood residents at the Police Station's grounds. There were about 1,000 men and women present. After establishing a rapport with them, she began inquiring about their scholastic and educational backgrounds. Around 300 of those men were attorneys. When asked why they are unemployed, the response was "caste concerns". And under pressure from other forces, women were producing alcohol. Didi then started organizing Beauty Parlor sessions for the women and taught them how to cook and weave after convincing all the women to formally stop their negative habits.

They were included under Gramshree for various forms of training. She pushed children to learn and prepared lectures for them with the help of volunteers. One of them had a strong interest in theater, which led to their admission to "Darpana" by Didi herself.

Equal love and respect for all

Being compassionate and showing respect for people from various backgrounds is very rare when one comes from a privileged household and has the freedom to do anything one wants because one can.

Leena Ben, one of her closest assistants with whom she has collaborated ever since she began her social work career, was unable to stop talking about her. She would describe how Didi would invite the women she worked with to her house, prepare meals, and everyone would dine together if and when they were unable to bring food because of the busy schedule. Sometimes she would lend Leena Ben some of her clothes. Take the women on excursions. If the car breaks down, travel with them on the local buses. Every time she went to the neighborhood slums, she would invariably embarrass the children. Spend hours talking and listening to other women's tales while sharing her own. People began referring to her as "Didi" because she always treated them as equals and frequently made jokes about being the same age as them, whether they were older or younger. It eventually became her identity.

Didi's natural curiosity and informal schooling (field trips) proved to be a solid foundation that had a long-lasting effect on her throughout her youth. Early in her adolescence, Didi did not hesitate to speak up in favor of the opportunities that females of her age lacked. Always stood up against any sort of inequality. At a very young age, she knew that child marriage was wrong, and she questioned the practice of it in one of her distant relatives. She frequently questioned the point of her service during her Seva years at some point in her life.

Even though her work wasn't the best course, she felt content with it. She started studying spirituality and Vipassana at that point and realized " मै सेवा कर रही हूँ, साधना नहीं," (I’m doing a service, not meditation.) as Didi put it.

Promotion of brotherhood between the artisans

There are always going to be difficulties when working with Craftspeople who have never been exposed to the outside world or market. Naturally, it also occurred with Didi. She saw that these artisans, who shared the same villages and perhaps the same art, were incredibly insecure with one another. For instance, if two artisans practicing the same art form were assigned stalls adjacent to each other, this would cause a rift and lead to animosity among them all. Didi found this unacceptable, so she once called all the artists together to discuss it. The artisans then laid the blame for this on one another's competition and dishonesty. She then imparted upon them the value of brotherhood as well as the necessity of trust and candor amongst one another. And she didn't just remind them once; she made sure they were reminded of this frequently, which ultimately had a significant influence. Things improved to the point when artisans from the same town began traveling to shows in the same van.

When and if someone wasn't there, they would watch over each other's stalls.

Manav Sadhna

Anar Patel, Jayeshbhai Patel, and Virenbhai Joshi founded the nonprofit organization Manav Sadhana in 1994 after Didi graduated from St. Xavier’s. Her natural desire to give back to society led her to support the children of slums by providing value-based education intended to serve underprivileged children. Today, 41 projects are being carried out at 82 preschools, 6 Community Centers, 7 supported Centers, and 7 supported Centers through the organization's service. The organization is focused on programs for holistic Education, Youth Empowerment, Women's Empowerment, Senior Care, Nutrition, Health and Hygiene, and Livelihoods, with over thousands of yearly health beneficiaries and 1,000 + beneficiaries fed through programs daily.

Gramshree

Didi went deeper into Gujarat's slums and rural areas to ignite social change. There, she discovered that a group of women was facing insurmountable challenges because they lacked information, skills, and confidence. Gramshree was established as a result in 1993. A business that empowers women to drive long-lasting economic and social impact. When Gramshree first began, it was quite difficult for Didi to persuade the rural women to even leave their homes to acquire new skills. Didi tried for months persuading them, and she frequently questioned them about why their art shouldn't be displayed publicly but the women were unable to respond. She once went to a slum (Ramaben no Tekro) in 1998 and discovered that all the women used to go pick up litter to make a living. She also included all of those women in skill-development initiatives. For the past 20 years, Gramshree has trained hundreds of women in sustainable income-generating opportunities and activities, such as handicrafts. Through Gramshree initiatives including medical camps, health, and sanitation awareness campaigns, skill development, self-defense instruction, the celebration of numerous festivals, and more, thousands of women have benefited. Gramshree along with ‘Mahila Nigam’ also provided sewing machines to women. Didi has received the esteemed "All Grassroots Women of the Decade Achievers" Award from the Assocham Ladies League in recognition of her extraordinary work and dedication to preserving the lives of several women and children in Ahmedabad (ALL).

Mahila Nigam case

Around 1997, concern about unequal compensation for female laborers who worked on construction sites first surfaced. Previously, they received a 60% lower salary than their male coworkers.

After demonstrating their ability to perform equally, they were then compensated on par with their coworkers.

Rehabilitation of Kutch – 2001: starting of Craftroots

Around 40% of the homes in Kutch were destroyed by the devastating earthquake of 2001. Together with other groups, Gramshree and Manav Sadhna adopted 5 villages in Kutch with immense destruction and communal disharmony. Not only that but those villages weren’t taken by anyone else for restoration due to them being on the border. Didi and her coworkers managed food and housing for the locals during their more than eight months of residence in Kutch. After that, she got involved in recovery initiatives like awareness campaigns, clean-up projects, infrastructure improvements, education for the needy, and more. She received criticism for selecting the unrest-ridden communities for Kutch.

"It's not always a beautiful path. We lived in secrecy, even though my mother was a political leader. When allegations of corruption and abuses of human rights plagued us, that period marked a spiritual turning point in my life. We are here to work for society, not for an individual; power shifts have the potential to destroy families and relationships," Didi said in one of her interviews. For her exceptional restoration work in Kutch, she was given the Gujarat Gaurav Award and Rajiv Gandhi Manav Seva Award (2008) by Shrimati Sonia Gandhi herself.

Didi observed the hand-made art that ladies had created on the walls of their homes when people started coming back into their new homes. She went back to talk to them about starting to sell their artwork outside of their town because of the lovely mud artwork and wooden carvings. However, they were unaware of any such location for the exhibit of their art. Didi then realized that Gujarat has a tremendous amount of rural, traditional craft but no venue to display it. She began by conducting her questionnaires. Teams were allotted to each town in the state with the mission of documenting regional art. In 2007, Didi registered "Craftroots", a platform that would give rural artisans a chance to display and market their works to a global audience. Didi held the first-ever Craftroots exhibition in 2008 at the Karnavati Club in Ahmedabad. For over two decades now, the initiative has engaged with thousands of artisans with more than 40 craft forms, documenting and showcasing art that are 5,000 years old.

Spiritual leadershp

Didi spent a lot of time with these rural women, but she soon discovered that they were equally ignorant of mental health issues. Some of them struggled to find peace of mind because they were too worried. She also desired to take action in that regard. But she decided to taste the tea first before filling the other people's cups. For a Vipassana course, she traveled to Bada. Once the course had been satisfactorily completed, she spoke to the Gramshree women and urged them to sign up for Vipassana as well.

Sabarmati Festival

In 2016 she inspired, conceptualized, and created the first of its kind 5 days long city festival in India "The Sabarmati Festival" to celebrate the cultural diversity and inclusiveness of Ahmedabad. Institutions such as the National Institute of Design, Nirma University, CN College of Fine Arts, and GLS Institute, made the installations at the festival. The festival created a record by giving a stage to more than 10,000 artists including Pre-Events and Main Events in its first edition. The festival has achieved a footfall of approximately 2 million people over two editions. The second edition of the Sabarmati Festival was organized in Jan 2018.

Awards and accomplishments

• Gujarat Gaurav Award, for building a model village — the Gandhi nu Gram with 455 eco-friendly houses, six lakes, and schools.
• Sakhi Shakti Award, for complementing her contribution to upholding and reviving Indian Handicrafts through underprivileged women and artisans.
• All Grassroots Women of the Decade Achievers Award, by Assocham Ladies League (ALL) for contribution and commitment to sustaining the lives of many women and children in Ahmedabad.
• National Youth Camp Award, by Ganpat University and Sneh Foundation for her impeccable work in the Social Sector.File:Anar Didi National Youth Camp Gujarat 2019 Award.
• Rajiv Gandhi Manav Seva Award, by Smt. Sonia Gandhi for her contribution to the Social Sector in the year 2008.File:Anar Didi Rajiv Gandhi Manav Seva Award from Smt. Sonia Gandhi.

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