Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

Vallabhbhai Patel was one of the important social and political leaders of India. He played an important role in India's struggle for freedom. He was born on 31 October 1875 at Nadiad, Gujarat and was often addressed as Sardar after the triumph in Bardoli.

There is one interesting childhood story I would like to share with you. He used to travel everyday along with his friends for school. On the way there was a big stone that was blocking people’s way. He noticed that people were irritated but no one was thinking or making any effort to move that stone away. He decided to move that stone by himself. This shows that he had values of helping people, right from his young age.

After India's independence, he became the first Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of India. He organised relief camps for refugees in Punjab and Delhi. He was the man behind the consolidation of 565 semi-autonomous princely states to form a united India. Patel was very attached to Mahatma Gandhi. After Mahatma Gandhi's death his condition also started deteriorating, he suffered a major heart attack within two months of Gandhi's death. He died on 15 December 1950. He was a man of courage and determination and in the true sense the 'Iron Man of India'. 

He did his matriculation at the age of 22. He wanted to become a barrister. At the age of 36, he went to England to fulfill his dream and joined Middle Temple Inn. He completed his 36-month course in just 30 months. After returning to India he became one of the most successful barristers of Ahmedabad. 

He was man with a substance and a perfect example of professionalism. He received the news of his wife’s death while prosecuting a witness in court. His was seemingly unaffected by the news and continued the case which he won.

Inspired by the work and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi, he joined India's struggle for independence. He organised peasants of Kheda, Bardoli and other parts of Gujarat and launched non-violent Civil Disobedience Movement in Gujarat, against the payment of raised tax, levied by the British government. He succeeded in his goal and the British Government suspended the payment of revenue for that year. With this he became one of the most influential leaders in Gujarat. He was a strong supporter of the Non -Cooperation Movement of Gandhi and toured the state to recruit 3,00,00 members and raised funds of 1.5 million. He worked against alcoholism, Untouchability and caste discrimination in Gujarat. When Mahatma Gandhi was in prison, he led the Satyagraha in Nagpur in 1923 against the British law. He was elected as the President of Indian National Congress in 1931. He was a prominent leader in organising the Quit India Movement in 1942. He was arrested prior to the Quit India Movement and was released in 1945. 

His strength of character, the sharpness of his mind, his organizing skills, and all his energy were offered up for achieving the freedom of India under Gandhi's leadership, and after independence, for India's consolidation. Vallabhbhai Patel showed the defiance of the oppressed, a trial lawyer's brilliance, the daring to give up a flourishing career, the discipline of a soldier in freedom's battles, the strategies of a General, indifference as a prisoner of the Raj, the generosity of the strong, the firmness of a patriot, and the farsightedness of a statesman. If times are depressing or daunting, Sardar Patel reminds us of India's and Indians' potential. When times are good, we can think of him with glad gratitude.

I would like to conclude with patelji’s quote which is still relevant after 65 years of Independance

“It is the prime responsibility of every citizen to feel that his country is free and to defend its freedom is his duty. Every Indian should now forget that he is a Rajput, a Sikh or a Jat. He must remember that he is an Indian and he has every right in this country but with certain duties.”