Acharya Devvrat is an Indian academic, educationist and public functionary who has served as a Governor in two Indian states. A long-time figure associated with the Arya Samaj and the Gurukul system of education, he was appointed Governor of Himachal Pradesh in 2015 and subsequently Governor of Gujarat in 2019. He is widely known for his advocacy of natural farming, traditional Indian education, and rural development.
| Name | Acharya Devvrat |
|---|---|
| Known for | Governor of Gujarat; former Governor of Himachal Pradesh |
| Background | Educationist; associated with Gurukul Kurukshetra |
| Governor of Himachal Pradesh | 2015–2019 |
| Governor of Gujarat | From 2019 |
| Affiliated movement | Arya Samaj |
| Notable advocacy | Natural farming, traditional/Vedic education |
Before entering public office, Acharya Devvrat was associated for several decades with the Gurukul Kurukshetra in Haryana, an educational institution rooted in the Arya Samaj tradition founded by Swami Dayananda Saraswati. He served as the Principal of the Gurukul, where he was involved in promoting Vedic studies, Sanskrit, yoga, and value-based education alongside modern academic streams.
His work at the Gurukul brought him into close contact with movements concerned with rural reform, cow protection, organic and natural farming, and traditional Indian knowledge systems.
Acharya Devvrat was appointed the Governor of Himachal Pradesh in 2015 and was sworn in at Shimla. During his tenure he focused on themes of education, environment and agriculture, and frequently engaged with farmers on the practice of natural farming, including the promotion of zero-budget natural farming methods in the hill state. He completed his term in 2019.
In July 2019 he was appointed Governor of Gujarat, succeeding O. P. Kohli. He took the oath of office at Raj Bhavan, Gandhinagar, administered by the Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court. As Governor he is the constitutional head of the state and serves as the ex officio Chancellor of state universities in Gujarat.
In Gujarat, he has continued his advocacy of natural farming and has been associated with state-level initiatives that encourage farmers to adopt chemical-free cultivation. He has also engaged with universities, tribal welfare programmes, and rural education initiatives.
Acharya Devvrat's career bridges the worlds of traditional Indian education and constitutional public office. His tenure as Governor in two states has been marked by sustained public messaging on agriculture and education rather than party politics, in keeping with the constitutional role of a Governor in India.