Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was born on 31st October 1875 in Nadiad in Gujarat into a small landowner family. His father Jhaverbhai had fought in the Uprising of 1857 in the army of Rani Lakshmi Bai and Vallabhbhai grew listening to the stories of brave warriors who sacrificed their lives for motherland. He was one of the six children of Jhaverbhai and Ladba Patel. His elder brother, Vithalbhai was also patriotic.He used to walk ten miles everyday from his home to school to save the bus fare. Sardar Patel somehow managed to go to England to study law. Vallabhbhai was longing to get his barrister’s degree from the Middle Temple Inn in London. Surprisingly he completed a 36 months course in just 30 months and topped the class.
Finally his dream turned into reality and he returned to India. After that he never left his motherland again. Both the brothers contributed immensely in the freedom movement,but they chose different path.
Vithalbhai believed in old constitutional way, where one can gain political rights by joining the Legislative Assembly and by petitioning the government.He joined the Swaraj party with Motilal Nehru and C.R.Das. Whereas Vallabhbhai was greatly inspired by Mahatma Gandhiji’s Satyagraha and supported him strongly. He was quite uncertain,whether the strategy of Satyagraha which Gandhiji adapted in South Africa would succeed in India.
So trail of Satyagraha was done. He organized two campaigns with guidance of Gandhiji, one in Kheda and other in Bardoli.
Patel also gave up his prestigious job, threw his western outfits into a bonfire and enrobed plain khadi kurta and dhoti. He was Gandhiji’s right hand man who tirelessly supported him in every walks of life.
In 1917,Gandhiji was elected the President of Gujarat and Patel became the Secretary.
He became independent India’s first Deputy Prime Minister, Home Minister,Minister for States and Minister of Information and Broadcasting.
During the Non- Cooperation movement Patel helped Gandhiji in raising funds,organizing rallies, and boycotting foreign goods.He did not show any interest in politics and often clashed with the British officials and opposed their rule.
He was elected the President of Indian National Congress in 1931. He was sent to prison many times but his self-confidence and will power was at the peak, so he never gave up. The efficient transformation from monarchy to democracy was possible only because of the unceasing efforts of Vallabhbhai Patel.
During the final years of freedom movement, the Congress Party was moving smoothly only because of the experience and skills of Sardar Patel. His great, courageous, practical, disciplined personality and his speeches with ironical comments which attracted many people.
On 31 October 2018 , the world’s tallest statue, The Statue Of Unity standing at a height of 597 ft (182 meters approx) was dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel for his crucial role in making India a independent and united nation.
It is also a major tourist attraction and large number of people pay homage to this great personality.
This year marks the 145th birth anniversary of ‘Iron Man of India’ which is also observed as the ‘National Unity Day’ or the ‘Rashtriya Ekta Diwas’ to acknowledge the efforts of Sardar Patel to unite the nation.
— Richie Elangical
