Global Patidar Business Summit (GPBS) - 2022

Tags: National Popular Summits

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Global Patidar Business Summit (GPBS) in Surat, Gujarat on 29 april via video conferencing.

• Sardardham is organising GPBS under Mission-2026 to accelerate the socio-economic development of the Patidar community. 

• The summit is held every two years. The first two summits were held in Gandhinagar in 2020 and 2018 and the current summit is now being held in Surat.

• The main theme of GPBS-2022 - Atma Nirbhar Community to Atma Nirbhar Gujarat and India.

• Aims of the Summit -

• to bring together small, medium and large enterprises within the community. 

• nurture and support new entrepreneurs  

• provide training and employment assistance to the educated youth. 

• Who are the Patidars?

• The Patidars or Patels claim themselves to be descendants of Lord Rama.

• They are divided into two main sub-castes: Leuva Patels and Kadva Patels

• The Patidars are spread throughout Gujarat, except in the eastern tribal belt, with high concentrations in northern Gujarat and Saurashtra.

• ‘Patidar’ means one who owns a strip of land. 

• Post independence, tenants got land ownership rights, and thus Patidars became lords of large swathes of prime agricultural land.

• In mediaeval society, they were placed better in the caste hierarchy.

• Patidars represent 12.3% of the population of Gujarat.