Vadodara: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred the “Sardar Gaurav Ratna” by organisations of the Patidar community in Vadodara on Monday, during an event linked to the inauguration of a major educational and residential complex developed under the Sardar Dham initiative.
The honour was presented at a programme attended by community leaders and dignitaries, alongside the inauguration of the newly constructed Sardar Dham Bhavan-3 in Vadodara.
According to project details, the complex has been built at an estimated cost of around Rs 150 crore and spans nearly 4.75 lakh square feet.
It has been developed as a residential-cum-training facility for students, with a capacity for about 2,000 residents, and is designed to support education and competitive examination preparation for youth from the community.
The Sardar Dham initiative is part of a wider community-led effort inspired by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s legacy, focusing on education, skill development, and social upliftment.
The Vadodara facility includes hostel accommodation for boys and girls, an e-library, training centres for examinations such as UPSC and GPSC, counselling facilities, and an auditorium for community events.
The “Sardar Gaurav Ratna” is a special, highest recognition instituted by eight major organisations of the Patidar community, conferred in appreciation of contributions to social development and nation-building themes associated with Sardar Patel’s legacy.
Sardardham Pramukh Sevak Gagji Sutariya said: “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken several decisions that his government describes as historic, including the abolition of Triple Talaq, the revocation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, a new foreign policy approach, and the ‘Make in India’ initiative. We are aligned with ‘Viksit Bharat @2047’.”
Community representatives said the award also acknowledges initiatives aimed at educating and empowering youth through institutions such as Sardar Dham.
The facility has been described by organisers as part of a broader vision to strengthen educational infrastructure within the community and promote access to training and guidance.
The event in Vadodara also marked the formal operational expansion of Sardar Dham’s third major centre in Gujarat.
Previous facilities of the initiative are already functional in Ahmedabad, where similar residential and training infrastructure has been developed for students.
The Patidar community leaders present at the event stated that the initiative draws inspiration from Sardar Patel’s emphasis on unity and progress, and aims to build long-term capacity among young people through education and skill development.
(IANS)
