Acharya Devvrat has earned the distinction of being the longest-serving Governor of Gujarat since the state’s formation in 1960. Appointed on July 22, 2019, by the Narendra Modi-led central government, Devvrat has not only surpassed his predecessors in tenure but also emerged as the longest-serving uninterrupted Governor under the current administration, having earlier served as Governor of Himachal Pradesh from August 12, 2015, to July 21, 2019.
A couple of days ago, Devvrat, 66, took on additional responsibilities as he assumed charge as the acting Governor of Maharashtra. This temporary appointment followed the resignation of C P Radhakrishnan, who stepped down after being elected Vice-President.
To attend his swearing-in ceremony in Mumbai, Devvrat and his wife Darshana Devi chose to travel from Ahmedabad by the Tejas Express, a decision that caught public attention when videos of their train journey went viral on social media.
Devvrat is widely admired for his frugal and simple lifestyle. Earlier this year, he made headlines when he and his aide-de-camp took a state transport bus to attend a government function in Anand. A media report quoted one of his aides, “Two tickets had been booked online, but without names. It was only when he reached the Pathik Ashram bus stop in Gandhinagar that the transport staff realized the Governor himself was among the passengers.”
The Governor is rarely seen in anything other than his signature white dhoti-kurta and Nehru jacket, sticking to this attire even during official functions. Only on rare occasions, such as International Yoga Day, does he deviate from this dress code.
When Devvrat completed five years in office last year, there was considerable speculation in political circles about a possible replacement. But at a press event in Gandhinagar’s Raj Bhavan, he remained calm and unbothered, instead sharing details about natural farming and showing journalists pictures of earthworms “the size of snakes” from his farm in Kurukshetra.
As Gujarat Governor, Devvrat has given his assent to several key legislations. Among them is the Gujarat Public Universities Act, 2023, aimed at streamlining governance and standardising administrative procedures across state universities. He also approved the Gujarat Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2023, which cracks down on paper leaks in competitive exams with punishments that include jail terms of up to 10 years and fines as high as ₹1 crore. Another notable bill he signed into law is the amended Gujarat Freedom of Religion Act, which targets religious conversions via marriage, carrying penalties of up to ten years in prison.
However, Devvrat declined to give his assent to the Gujarat Cattle Control (Keeping and Moving) in Urban Areas Bill, passed in March 2022. After a six-hour-long debate in the Assembly and opposition from cattle-rearing communities, he returned the Bill in September 2022.
By virtue of his role, Devvrat also serves as the Chancellor of 24 state universities in Gujarat. In October 2022, his appointment as Chancellor of Gujarat Vidyapith—an institution founded by Mahatma Gandhi in 1920—sparked some controversy. Devvrat defended his appointment, saying, “I am a Gandhian. I’ve worn Gandhi’s khadi and dhoti-kurta all my life. Gandhi ji respected cows, and I am a gaupala. I promote natural, poison-free farming. If Gandhi ji were alive today, he would have blessed me.”
University officials and vice-chancellors often point to his strong academic background. Devvrat has spent 45 years in education and administration, including a long tenure as principal of Kurukshetra Gurukul, where he also manages a 180-acre organic farm. Under his influence, natural farming practices have gained traction among farmers in Gujarat. In fact, since the 2022–23 academic session, agricultural universities in the state have included natural farming in their curriculum at his initiative.
Originally from Panipat in Haryana, Devvrat is an ardent follower of Arya Samaj and deeply influenced by the teachings of Swami Dayanand Saraswati. After becoming principal of the Gurukul in 1981, he assumed the title “Acharya.” As a tribute to Dayanand Saraswati, Devvrat had a hall built at Gandhinagar Raj Bhavan named Maharishi Dayanand Sabhamandap. He also led the 200th birth anniversary celebrations of the Arya Samaj founder at his birthplace in Morbi’s Tankara.
Devvrat’s concern for sustainability extends beyond farming to day-to-day energy use. “The Governor has made it a strict rule that all electrical appliances—lights, fans, ACs—must be turned off whenever a room is not in use,” said a Raj Bhavan staff member. “He often switches them off himself and scolds staff if anything is left running unnecessarily. He even objects to turning on garden lights before dusk and opposes central air conditioning, seeing it as wasteful.”
Inspired by his personal conservation habits, Devvrat launched a state-wide energy-saving initiative this summer. He personally wrote to all district collectors, municipal commissioners, and the Roads and Buildings Department, requesting that street lights be switched on 30 minutes later in the evening and turned off 30 minutes earlier in the morning. Officials said the campaign has led to substantial energy and cost savings.
The Raj Bhavan in Gandhinagar now runs entirely on solar power and even has a gaushala housing two Gir cows and two calves. Devvrat grows organic vegetables on the premises using natural farming methods. He often carries a simple tiffin to public events, usually packed with homemade khichdi.
“He gets daily updates about the cows at his Kurukshetra gaushala over the phone,” Harshad Patel, Vice-Chancellor of Gujarat Vidyapith, was quoted by a national daily.
Even during his tenure in Himachal Pradesh, Devvrat’s commitment to cleanliness was evident—he used to keep a tasla (shallow pan) and broom in his car. In Gujarat, he has expanded this habit into a broader initiative, visiting villages twice a month as part of cleanliness drives. He recently visited Prantij as part of this ongoing campaign.
Through his consistent simplicity, legislative engagement, academic advocacy, and environmental initiatives, Acharya Devvrat’s tenure continues to stand out—not just for its length, but for its substance.
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