Anandiben Patel, Governor of Uttar Pradesh and former Chief Minister of Gujarat, visited the Writer’s Village (Lekhak Gaon) in Uttarakhand during an unannounced tour. The visit highlighted the growing focus on cultural and literary initiatives in the hill state.
During her visit, the Governor offered prayers at the Narsingh Devta Temple and later inspected key facilities including the Nalanda Library, Sanjeevani Vatika, and Navgrah Vatika. She reviewed the overall concept and functioning of Lekhak Gaon, which has been developed as a dedicated space for literary, cultural, and intellectual activities in a natural setting.
Former Chief Minister of Uttarakhand and former Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, who is also the patron of the initiative, was present along with several dignitaries. These included Cabinet Minister Bharat Chaudhary, Kotdwar Mayor Shailendra Rawat, State Minister Omprakash Jamdagni, Padma Shri awardees Madhuri Barthwal, R K Jain and B K Sanjay, along with other officials and literary figures.
Anandiben Patel appreciated the concept, calling it a unique effort to connect literature with nature. She stated that such initiatives can contribute to cultural development and encouraged educational institutions to organise student visits to promote experiential learning.
A literary exchange also took place during the event. The Governor presented her book “Vo Mujhe Hamesha Yaad Rahenge” to Dr. Nishank, while he presented his work “Himalaya Mein Ram” in return.
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While the initiative has received appreciation at the policy level, its long-term effectiveness will depend on how widely it is integrated into academic programmes and public participation beyond official visits.
