Overview
Anand district is a district in the central part of the state of Gujarat, India. Its administrative headquarters is the town of Anand. The district is widely known as the centre of India's cooperative dairy movement and is often referred to as the "Milk Capital of India" on account of the establishment of the Amul cooperative and related institutions in the region.
Key facts
| Name | Anand district |
|---|---|
| State | Gujarat |
| Country | India |
| Headquarters | Anand |
| Region | Charotar, central Gujarat |
| Formed | 2 October 1997 (carved out of Kheda district) |
| Official language | Gujarati |
Background
Anand district lies in the fertile Charotar tract between the Mahi and Sabarmati rivers in central Gujarat. The area is predominantly agricultural, with crops such as tobacco, paddy, wheat, banana and various pulses cultivated alongside extensive dairying. The district is bordered by Kheda district to the north, Vadodara district to the east, and the Gulf of Khambhat to the south-west.
The district was constituted on 2 October 1997 when it was bifurcated from the older Kheda district, with the town of Anand becoming its headquarters.
Administration
Anand district is divided into a number of talukas (sub-districts), which include:
- Anand
- Anklav
- Borsad
- Khambhat
- Petlad
- Sojitra
- Tarapur
- Umreth
Major urban centres in the district include Anand, Vallabh Vidyanagar, Karamsad, Khambhat, Borsad, Petlad and Umreth.
Economy and institutions
The district's economy is anchored by cooperative dairying, agriculture and education. The Kaira District Co-operative Milk Producers' Union Limited, popularly known by the brand Amul, was founded in 1946 in the region and is headquartered at Anand. The success of this cooperative inspired Operation Flood, the national dairy development programme launched in 1970 by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), which is also based in Anand.
Khambhat, on the Gulf of Khambhat, has a long mercantile history and is known for its agate and bead craft. Petlad and Borsad are traditional trading and agricultural towns.
Education
Anand district is a notable education hub in Gujarat, especially the twin-town complex of Anand–Vallabh Vidyanagar–Karamsad. Important institutions include:
- Sardar Patel University, established in 1955 at Vallabh Vidyanagar.
- Anand Agricultural University, established in 2004.
- Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA), founded in 1979 by Verghese Kurien.
- Charutar Vidya Mandal (CVM) institutions and Bhaikaka University at Karamsad.
Notable people associated with the district
- Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who grew up in Karamsad.
- Verghese Kurien, architect of the cooperative dairy movement, long associated with Anand.
- Tribhuvandas Patel, founder of the Kaira cooperative.
- Bhailalbhai Patel (Bhaikaka), founder of Vallabh Vidyanagar.
Transport
The district is served by the Western Railway's Mumbai–Ahmedabad main line, with Anand Junction being a major station. National Highway 48 (the old NH 8) and several state highways pass through the district, linking it to Ahmedabad, V