Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Thursday, 28 May inaugurated a new hostel complex for boys and girls at the Maa Umiya Dham campus in Ahmedabad, calling the facility a milestone in strengthening educational access for students and a testament to the social and economic advancement of the Patidar community. The hostel, developed by Shri Umiya Mataji Sansthan of Unjha, is designed to accommodate approximately 1,600 students.

Key Developments at the Inauguration

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Cabinet Minister Rushikesh Patel were present at the ceremony. During the event, Shah felicitated donors associated with the institution and unveiled the Taam Patra, a commemorative copper plate, alongside the Hundi, a traditional donation collection box.

Other dignitaries in attendance included former Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel, former Union Minister and Member of Parliament Parshottam Rupala, MLA and institution president Babu Patel, State Minister Kantilal Amrutiya, and a large gathering of community leaders, donors, and members.

What Amit Shah Said

Extending his wishes to the Patidar community for establishing what he described as modern educational facilities at a prime city location, Shah called the community's transformation within society 'remarkable'. 'The progress achieved by the Patidar community of Gujarat is unparalleled,' he said.

Shah credited the community's 'simplicity and inclusive outlook' for earning it acceptance and respect across India and abroad. He praised values of 'sacrifice, penance, hard work, honesty and patriotism', adding: 'Patidars today hold a prominent position in sectors including agriculture, education, textiles, pharmaceuticals, diamonds and real estate.'

Shah also stated that a Demography Change Commission had been constituted to study what he termed 'unnatural changes in population ratios', examine the causes behind such changes, and implement corrective programmes where those changes were found to be linked to infiltration. He further asserted that under BJP governance, the country had witnessed 'transformative changes' from the economy to internal security, and that 'terrorism and Naxalism have been effectively eradicated across the country over the past 10 years' under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Chief Minister Patel's Address

Chief Minister Patel described the newly inaugurated hostel at Umiya Dham Sola as 'a source of new direction and inspiration for society'. He noted that the combined development of a grand temple, student hostel, and party plot at the campus would create 'a confluence of faith, education and social infrastructure'.

Paying tribute to Veer Savarkar on his birth anniversary, Patel said Savarkar 'laid the foundation of cultural nationalism while harmoniously embracing modernity and tradition'. He also described Shah as 'one of the country's most successful Home Ministers', citing milestones in internal security, border management, the eradication of Naxalism, and the abrogation of Article 370 from Kashmir.

Referring to the ongoing conflict in West Asia, Patel appealed to those present to support the Prime Minister's appeal made in the national interest.

Significance of the Maa Umiya Dham Campus

The hostel complex is part of a broader development at Maa Umiya Dham that integrates religious, educational, and social infrastructure under one campus. The Shri Umiya Mataji Sansthan, headquartered in Unjha in north Gujarat, is one of the most prominent religious and social organisations associated with the Patidar community. This inauguration adds a significant educational dimension to the institution's existing footprint, with the capacity to house 1,600 students from across the state and beyond.

As demand for student accommodation in urban Gujarat continues to grow, facilities of this scale are increasingly seen as critical enablers for students from smaller towns and rural areas seeking access to Ahmedabad's education ecosystem.