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Dr. Archana Shailesh Patel
Dr. Archana Shailesh Patel (born 28 April 1976) is an Indian theatre and TV artist, writer, animal rescuer, and social activist. She is known for her contributions to Gujarati literature, extensive reptile and stray animal rescue work, and her role as a motivational speaker. Over the years, she has been honored with multiple national and international recognitions for her humanitarian and literary achievements.
| Dr. Archana Shailesh Patel | |
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| Born | 28 April 1976, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Residence | Dharmaj, Gujarat, India |
| Occupation | |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Known for |
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| Education |
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| Awards |
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| Website | Instagram – Dhunn Petting Farm |
Early Life and Education
Dr. Archana was born in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, to renowned Gujarati columnist and writer Mrs. Jyoti Bhatt and well-known comedian theatre artist Mr. Satish Bhatt. She completed her schooling at Kameshwar Vidhyalaya and later pursued a Bachelor of Arts in Indian Culture from HK Arts College under Gujarat University. She also holds a Diploma in Nursing from Ahmedabad Para Medical College.
Her upbringing in a culturally rich family deeply influenced her interests in the arts and literature, while her empathy toward animals steered her into rescue and welfare work from a young age.
Additional Certifications
She has completed several web-based veterinary care certifications from VETMEDUX and Clinician’s Brief (2024–2025), focusing on suturing, dermatology, primary care, and behavioral interventions for animals.
Career
Dr. Archana began her career as a child artist in television and amateur theatre in 1986. She worked as a model, client servicing executive at Goldmine Advertising Pvt. Ltd. (1996–2000), and later as HR Head at AZZURE Informatics (2000–2004). In 1995, she served as a vocal artist for All India Radio.
Her entrepreneurial journey includes being:
- Proprietor of Radhika Tobacco Processor
- Founder of GypsyEvents (since 1998)
- Owner of Dhunn – The Petting Farm, which houses over 350+ exotic live species including birds, animals, reptiles, primates, and marsupials
- Settlor of Dhunn Charitable Trust
Writing Career
She is a published author of five ISBN-registered Gujarati books and over 67 eBooks on the Matrubharti platform. Her works include poetry, short stories, and motivational essays.
Rescue and Welfare Work
Since 1992, she has been actively rescuing reptiles and stray animals. Her work includes:
- Collaborations with CWLW staff and other NGOs
- Conducting awareness programs
- Managing an animal welfare farm
Published Works
- Sant Tulsidasji ni Kavitavali no Rasaswaad – Gurjar Sahitya Prakashan (2015)
- Hriday Name Ukhanu – Gurjar Sahitya Prakashan (2015)
- Shamna to Ashru Ni Jaat – Gurjar Sahitya Prakashan (2015)
- Manomanthan – Navbharat Sahitya Mandir (2023)
- Gurudakshina – Navbharat Sahitya Mandir (2023)
She has also contributed poems and articles to magazines and newspapers including *Divya Bhaskar* and *Jalaramdeep*.
Awards and Recognitions
- Rashtriya Pratishtha Puraskar – Worthy Wellness Foundation (2022)
- Honorary Doctorate as Author – HDAC (2025)
- Indian Visionary Award – Real Heroes – Golden Sparrows under I&B Ministry (2025)
- Doctorate in Animal Primary Care (Rescue Specialization) – American Merit Council (2025)
- Women’s Empowerment Award – LPAC, with recognition from Ministry of Corporate Affairs, NITI Aayog, and MSME (2025)
- Reptile Rescuer Award – Global Excellence Forum (2025)
- Doctorate in Reptile Rescue Techniques – WCEPC under NITI Aayog and Ministry of MSME (2025)
- Rashtriya Shaurya Sammaan – Govt. of India-recognized (2025)
Personal Life
Dr. Archana resides in Dharmaj, Gujarat, where she runs her petting farm and welfare trust. Her linguistic abilities span over 8 languages including Gujarati, Hindi, English, Brajbhasha, Sanskrit, Devnagari, Marathi, and Punjabi.
Social Media
See Also
- Animal welfare in India
- Gujarati literature