Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Role: Freedom fighter, Indian politician
Who is called Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel?
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel is elected as the first deputy prime minister of India. His original name was Vallabhbhai Jhaverbhai Patel. Sardar is meant by chief in Hindi, Urdu and Persian language. He was a barrister and also the senior leader of Indian National Congress.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel childhood:
Vallabhbhai was born in Nadiad in Gujarat. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was born to Ladba and Jhaverbhai Patel. He was born on October 31, 1875 and was one of the 6 children of their parents. Their parents were farmers and belong to lower middle-class. He has attended his school at Karamasad followed by the high school at Petlad. Mostly he was self taught. He finished his matriculation at the age of twenty two because of his family situation. After that he couldn’t continue his education. Vallabhbhai father had participated in Mutiny under the Rani of Jhansi and was taken to prison by Malhar Rao Holkar.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Personal life:
At the age of 16, he got married to Zaverbai. They got a son and a daughter. Vallabhbhai wife Zaverbai, died at an early age on 1909 after an abdominal operation.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel early days:
His leadership begins at his early age itself. As a sixth form boy, he managed to organize a strike against his teacher who was very much fond of rod. The strike lasts for 3 days. Later he took a course in law and established a small law practice at Godhra. In 1902, He moved to Borsad. On that time a lot of criminal cases were recorded in Gujarat. So Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel becomes famous as he was a defense lawyer. Now he has to go to England for studies to become Barrister. Although he earned a lot, he couldn’t make up the trip. On 1910, he went to England and joined middle Temple. He finished the Roman law and topper it within two years where it usually takes three years to complete it. After he returned to India on 1913, he opened a law practice firm on Ahmedabad. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel helped the people who caught in the hands of the English officials. So he earned a lot of respect among the public people.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel political career:
On 1917, Patel got influenced by Mohandas K. Gandhi. He was very much attached to Gandhi salt satyagraha. On 1924 he was elected as the Municipal President and been in the position until 1928. In the Lahore session of the Indian National Congress, Patel was the successor of Mohandas K. Gandhi. For participating in Salt Satyagraha on 1930, he was imprisoned for 3 months. In Karachi session of the Indian National Congress Patel presided and got imprisoned on 1932. On 1940, Gandhi launched Individual Civil Disobedience to oppose the fact of India participating in the war. And the congress leaders got arrested following that Vallabhbhai Patel was arrested on November 17, 1940.
How Vallabhbhai got his title Sardar?
First sardar is meant by chief or leader in Urdu, Hindi and Persian language. A woman of Bardoli, in Gujarat gave him the name Sardar. Governor of Bombay put 30% increase in tax for the farmer. But the farmers of Bardoli couldn’t afford that. So they went through years of floods and famines. And they were already facing a very difficult situation.
The tax imposition created a sorrow on their lives. They asked the Governor of Bombay to reduce the tax. But he is not hearing their plead. So the people went to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel to lead a non violence movement. But patel remind them by this revolt they may go to jail and even their land may be confiscated by the Government.
But the people of Bardoli stood unity and fight the injustice of Government in a non-violent way under the guidance of Vallabhbhai. When the people didn’t pay tax the British Raj ordered the Government officials to crust the revolt. Soon the government began to auction the land of the farmers. But no people across India came to buy that land.
Also the people who were working in Bombay Government begin to resign their job and express their support for the farmers. So the Government approved with farmers and pushes back the tax payment for two years. And Patel credit those winnings to people unity and Gandhi teaching. But people of India recognized Vallabhbhai leadership.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and quit India movement:
Initially many people were criisised for following the doctrines of Gandhi As they are truth and no wars. Patel was one of the intensive employers of Gandhi teachings. He believed that the British Government will move out of India due to the no bloo[i]
Why Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel is called the “Iron Man of India?
- Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi about Vallabhbhai, many were prepared to follow me but I couldn’t make up my mind to choose my deputy commander and I thought of Vallabhbhai Patel.
- It is because of him we can easily travel between the states of India from Kashmir to Kanyakumari without visa.
- Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru once told that, the history will call him the builder and consolidator of New India.
- Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was a great instrument in the India’s Independence struggle. He was the one for the reason of unity of 500 princely states in India.
- He created the Union of India. No one thought that the diverse India would stand unity.
- With great courage and wisdom patel united from Kutch to Kohima and from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.
- M. Venkaiah Naidu told that he make the most remarkable integration without any bloodshed.
What is called statue of unity?
There is a statue built for Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in the height of 597 ft that is 182 meters. The statue is called, statue of unity and it is a colossal statue. The statue was inaugurated by Narendra Modi on 31st October 2018.
- The project was started by 2010 and finished on October 2013 by Larsen & Toubro.
- It took totally 2989 crores to complete the project. It is the world’s tallest statue.
- And was designed by the sculptor Ram V. Sutar.
- The statue was located at Narmada Valley of Gujarat in India.
- This was a big size of the small statue located at the Ahmedabad International Airport.
How Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel did created Union of India?
Once the British left India, they left behind India, Pakistan and over 562 princely states. They were colonized by British over 200 years. All the princely states were given the opportunity to join Union of India. Vallabhbhai convinced 559 of 562 princely states to join the Union of India. But 3 states refused to join. They are Jammu and Kashmir, Hyderabad and Junagadh. In Hyderabad, it includes Telengana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra. The Nizam refused to join India so Patel used operation Polo to let him join with Union of India. And in Junagadh, Patel used force to make the Nawab.
Achievements of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel:
On 1917 Patel was selected as the first Indian municipal commissioner of Ahmadabad until 1924. In Nagpur, Patel led a Satyagraha against a law banning the raising of the Indian flag. His successful leadership was recognized all over India. On 1928, British government increases tax of people in Bardoli. Patel led a no violent strike against British Government and earned a title called “Sardar” to him. Then on 1945, patel led the Presidency of Indian National Congress. But Gandhi made Nehru as the candidate. Later on 1947 that is after India’s independence Patel became India’s first Home Minister and Minister of Information and Broadcasting. But he came to know that British were no longer in its urge to move away from India. So he takes place in all the rebellious reforms against India. He argued that British would leave India with their colonial administration and the power will transformed to Indian people.
Between 1930 and 1945, he was imprisoned for more than 10 times. But after each release, he was affected by serious health issue. He gave emotional and motivational speech to the crowd. And he told the people to not pay taxes to participate in civil disobedience. It is the duty of every Indian to put forth his utmost effort—within non-violence. No source is to be left untapped; no weapon to be untried. This is going to be the opportunity of a lifetime” – Sardar Patel
Honors and awards of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel:
- Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was called the Iron Man of India.
- He was awarded the India’s highest civilian award Bharat Ratna on 1991.
Last days of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel:
Sardar breathed his last breath on December 15, 1950. He died in Delhi after having a heart attack.