Vallabhbhai Jhaverbhai Patel, popularly known as ‘Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’ and ‘the Iron Man of India’, was one of those leaders who are remembered for their selfless service to the nation. He not only played a crucial role in India’s freedom struggle but also a much more instrumental role after the Independence.
Sardar Patel was born on October 31, 1875, in Gujarat. At the age of 75, Sardar Patel died on December 15, 1950 at Birla House in Bombay after suffering a massive heart attack. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna posthumously. The Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award of the Republic of India. It is no joke to be awarded an honour this high. It was Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s unconditional sacrifices and dedication to India due to which he was given this civilian award, and justly so.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel studied law in the Middle Temple Inn in London, practiced it in India and became one of the most successful lawyers in the country. He was married to Jhaverba and the couple had two children, daughter Maniben and son Dahyabhai. His wife, however, died of cancer when their children were just 5 and 3 and Sardar Patel raised them with his family’s support.
Patel joined the Indian Independence struggle after he met Mahatama Gandhi in 1917. He encouraged Indians nationwide to sign a petition demanding Swaraj (self-rule) from Britain. He organised relief efforts in the wake of plague and famine in Gujarat’s Kheda and after personal contemplation left his ambition as a lawyer and devoted himself completely to the freedom struggle. He was the force behind the ‘Gujarat Satyagraha’.
In 1920, Sardar Patel became the President of Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee and worked extensively against alcoholism, untouchability, caste discrimination and empowerment of women in the state. Sardar Patel supported Mahatama Gandhi’s Non-Cooperation Movement and switched to wearing only khadi clothes.
During colonial rule, there was a British law banning the hoisting of the Indian Flag. When Mahatma Gandhi was imprisoned, it was Patel who led the Satyagraha movement in Nagpur in 1923 against the British law. In 1930, British arrested Sardar Patel during the Salt Satyagraha and put him on trial without witnesses. On the outbreak of World War II (1939), Patel the supported Nehru’s decision to withdraw the Congress from central and provincial legislatures. Patel was at his persuasive best when he spoke at the Gwalia Tank ground (now called August Kranti Maidan) in Mumbai to launch the nation-wide civil disobedience movement in 1942 at the behest of Mahatma Gandhi. During Quit India Movement (1942), the British arrested Patel. He was imprisoned with the entire Congress Working Committee from 1942 to 1945 at the fort in Ahmednagar.
Post-independence, Patel served as the first Deputy Prime Minister of India in the government headed by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. The crucial Home Ministry was also under his charge. Patel was responsible for uniting all 562 princely states of the country to build the Republic of India. From invoking the patriotism of the princes to reminding them of the possibility of anarchy on event of their refusal to join, he kept trying to convince them to join India. He also introduced the concept of “privy purses” — a payment to be made to royal families for their agreement to merge with India. Patel’s tireless efforts paid off when most of the rulers agreed to the dissolution of their respective states, surrendering control of thousands of villages, jagirs, palaces, institutes, cash balances amounting to crores and a railway system of about 12,000 miles to the Indian government without receiving any compensation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has often expressed his deep admiration and respect for Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and has been the brain behind the Statue of Unity project in Gujarat. At 182 metres, Statue of Unity is the tallest statue in the world. It towers over China’s Spring Temple Buddha statue by 29 metres and the world famous Statue of Liberty by 89 metres. The height of the base of Statue of Unity is 58 metres.
Every year, various programmes in schools, colleges and workplaces are organized across the country to spread knowledge about one of the nation’s greatest sons and his contributions. There were many who used to think that a diverse country like India can never remain united. It will fall apart. But, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel showed how it is done. We should learn how to grow from strength to strength, how to always stay united. Sardar Patel used Kautilya’s wisdom and Shivaji Maharaj’s bravery to achieve the great feat of uniting India after partition. He did something that was unparalleled. From Kutch to Kohima, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, Sardar Patel united the country.
