O P Sharma
Sardar Vallabhbhai Jhaverbhai Patel, popularly known as Iron Man of India, was a renowned barrister, an able administrator, statesman and one of the founding fathers the Republic of India. He was in the forefront of the freedom struggle and played a pivotal role in integration of over 500 princely States into a united Indian nation. In India and across the world, he was often addressed as Sardar, which means chief in Hindi, Urdu, and Persian.
He was raised in the countryside of Gujarat in a family of Gurjar Leva-Patidars. Vallabhbhai Patel practised as a lawyer when he was first inspired by the work and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi. First, he organized the peasants in Gujarat for non-violent civil disobedience against oppressive policies of the British Raj; in this role, he emerged as an influential leader. He led freedom struggle in 1934 and 1937 and later participated in the Quit India movement.
Sardar Patel became the first Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of independent India who effectively organized relief for mass influx of refugees and restored peace. Patel took charge of the task to forge a united India from the British colonial provinces allocated to India and more than five hundred self-governing princely States, released from British suzerainty by the Indian Independence Act 1947 by using diplomacy as also strong arms options. Patel’s leadership persuaded almost every princely State to accede to India.
Down to Earth man
It is worth mentioning that Sardar Patel is also instrumental in re-invigorating the civil administration for functioning in a new democratic spirit with full devotion to nation-building.
Born on October 31 at Nadiad in Leva Patidar community of Gujarat and mostly lived in Karamsad village in the Anand district of Gujarat in then Bombay Presidency he kept day-long fast, abstaining from food and water which helped him in physical fitness and mental alertness. Patel at 18 years of age married from a nearby village, Jhaverba, who was then only 12 or 13 years girl.
Patel during the students days was living with simplicity, self-reliance and strong character. He travelled to England for study and became a barrister in Godhra and earned reputation as a fierce and skilled lawyer.
Another interesting feature of this life is reflected during 1909 when Patel’s wife Jhaverba passed away in a hospital while Sardar Patel, who was cross-examining a witness in a court, was given a note informing him of his wife’s demise. It is stated that Patel read the note, pocketed it and continued to intensely cross-examine the witness and only then went for last riles of his wife. He won the case. Patel who had a son and a daughter himself decided against marrying again.
Sparkles of leaderships
At the age of 36, he journeyed to England and studied at the Middle Temple Inn in London finishing the 36-month course not only in 30 months but Patel topped his class. Returning to India, Patel settled down in Ahmedabad as a barrister, wore European-style clothes with urbane mannerism and only in later years that under influence of Gandhiji he took to Khadi. He was a pure vegetarian.
Pate in 1917 won election and became the Sanitation Commissioner of Ahmedabad and often clashed with British officials on civic issues. Patel was, however, deeply impressed when Gandhi defied the British in Champaran to support oppressed farmers. Patel fully supported Gandhi’s demand for Swaraj (independence from the British). Meeting Gandhi a month later at Godhra,, Patel became active in public life and took up popular causes.
Satyagraha in Gujarat
Supported by Congress volunteers, Patel successively led a satatewide revolt by refusing the payment of taxes. The government agreed to negotiate with him and also suspended payment of revenue. Patel emerged as a hero to Gujaratis and admired across India. In 1920, he was elected president of the newly formed Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee which he continued to serve till 1945.
Patel fully supported Gandhi’s Non-Cooperation Movement and toured the state and made bonfires of British goods in Ahmedabad and set an example by shunning in all his English-style clothes. With his daughter Mani and son Dahya, he switched completely for wearing khadi. He worked extensively against alcoholism, untouchability and caste discrimination, as well as for the empowerment of women. It was during the struggle and after the victory in Bardoli that Patel was increasingly addressed by his colleagues and followers as Sardar.
Gandhiji’s Follower
As Gandhi embarked on the Dandi Salt March, Patel was arrested. Once released, Patel served as interim Congress president. Subsequently, after the Gandhi-Irwin Pact was elected Congress president in 1931 during Karachi session which ratified the pact and committed itself to the defence of fundamental rights and human freedoms, and a vision of a secular nation, minimum wage and the abolition of untouchability and serfdom. Upon the failure of the Round Table Conference in London, Gandhi and Patel were again arrested in January 1932. During this imprisonment, Patel and Gandhi grew close to each other, and the two developed a close bond of affection, trust, and frankness.
Patel was released on June 15, 1945 when the British were realy preparing proposals to transfer power to Indian hands.
In the 1946 election for the Congress presidency, Patel stepped down in favour of Nehru at the request of Gandhi. The election’s importance stemmed from the fact that the elected President would lead free India’s first Government. Gandhi asked all 16 states representatives and Congress to elect the right person and Sardar Patel’s name was proposed by 13 states representatives out of 16, but Patel respected Gandhi’s request to not be the first prime minister. As a Home Minister, Patel merged all parts of India under federal control but Jammu and Kashmir was left out because of Pt Nehru was handling it.
Proud Achievements
Patel’s popularity in post-independence era is evident from the fact that he is remembered as the man who united India. Gandhi had said to Patel “the problem of the States is so difficult that you alone can solve it”. He was considered a statesman of integrity with the practical acumen and resolve to accomplish a monumental task. This senior leader in the Constituent Assembly of India and was responsible in a large measure for shaping India’s Constitution. Patel was a key force behind the appointment of Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar as the chairman of the drafting committee for Constitution of India and the inclusion of leaders from a diverse political spectrum.
After a brief illness, Sardar Patel breathed his last on December 15, 1950 and as per his wish he was cremated like a common man in Sonsapur in Bombay at same place as his wife and brother.
The Sardar Patel Memorial Trust organizes prestigious annual Sardar Patel Memorial Lectures and conducts other programmes. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour posthumously in 1991 and he still lives in the hearts of millions of countrymen.
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