Post graduation[edit]

Patel moved to Ahmedabad in 1965 with her husband Mafatbhai Patel where she earned a master
of science degree. In Ahmedabad, she took on the responsibility of educating all the children of her
extended family; at one time, more than 10 extended family members were staying in her home. She
enrolled in a bachelor of education program to pursue her interest in teaching. While pursuing her
bachelor of education program, her elder son, Sanjay was just 2 years old. She balanced her family
life, her education and the job with utmost difficulty. Even though the financial condition was not so
ripe, she left no stone unturned in getting educated and bringing up two children with utmost care.
She received a gold medal in her master of education program. [7][citation needed]

Teacher[edit]
Anandiben Patel was not keen on becoming a teacher. She took the job of a teacher to support the
family financially, responding to an advertisement in the newspaper. In her interview as a teacher,
she chose to teach the most difficult problem of Mathematics. Patel worked as the teacher at
Mohiniba Kanya Vidyalaya, Ahmedabad in 1967 or 1970, where she taught science and
mathematics to higher secondary students. Later, she became the school's principal. [8]

Political career[edit]
Bravery[edit]
Patel's entry into politics began with an accident during a school picnic in 1987, when she jumped in
the Sardar Sarovar reservoir to save two girls who were drowning during a school picnic, for which
she received a president's bravery award.[9] Impressed by Patel's heroism, BJP top cadre suggested
Anandiben Patel to join the party. At first, she was hesitant in joining the party, but on persuasion
by Narendra Modi and Keshubhai Patel, she joined BJP as the Gujarat Pradesh Mahila Morcha
President in 1987.[10]

Bird flu and service[edit]

Patel's first notable work was during a spread of bird flu in the Viramgam district, where she spent
weeks helping local citizens and appealing to government officials to take strong action. [citation needed] In
1992, she participated in Ekta Yatra from Kanyakumari to Srinagar with BJP veteran leader Murli
Manohar Joshi.[11]

As a member of Parliament[edit]
Patel was elected to Rajya Sabha from Gujarat in 1994.[11] As an MP, she participated in the Fourth
World Women's Conference at Beijing (China) in 1994–95, representing India. She also visited
Bulgaria with the BJP Leader, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and speaker of the Lok Sabha, P. A. Sangma.
[citation needed]

1998 – First election in MANDAL (As an Education Minister)[edit]

Patel resigned from Rajyasabha in 1998 and contested her first assembly election
from MANDAL assembly constituency. She won and became the cabinet minister for education
under the Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel.[11]
In her first term as Education Minister, Patel started "Lokdarbar" to address issues related to schools
and education. It was under her leadership that the state Government first launched "Shala
Praveshotsav" to increase enrollment in schools, which is still the flagship program of the Education
department. Her efforts resulted in a 100% increase in enrollment. [8]
In her first two years as an Education Minister, Patel initiated a campaign to recruit 26,000 teachers
to fill positions that had been vacant for six years. She is also credited for her work to reduce
corruption in the transfer of teachers. She established a school for handicapped children. [citation needed]