Nation remembers the Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, on his birth anniversary today. Born on 31st October 1875, Sardar Patel played a crucial role in India’s freedom movement. With tireless efforts, he persuaded the 562 princely states to accede to independent India.
Moved by a belief in unity throughout his life:
A lawyer by profession, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was elected to the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation in 1917 and was the president of the city’s civic body in 1922, 1924, and 1927. During Sardar Patel’s term, he made sure that the city’s infrastructure saw improvement and took special care of the drainage and sanitation system. Patel is often referred to as the father of the Indian Constitution and was a key member of the Constituent Assembly.
He was also the first Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of independent India. In this position, he organised relief for refugees in Punjab and Delhi and led efforts to restore peace across the nation. He is also remembered as the ‘Patron Saint’ of India’s civil servants for establishing modern all-India services.
During the British rule, he organised the peasants of Kheda, Borsad, and Bardoli in Gujarat in a non-violent civil disobedience movement. With this and other such efforts, Patel became one of the most influential leaders in Gujarat. After the Kheda Satyagrah, in 1928, when Bardoli Taluka in Gujarat suffered from major natural calamities, Patel stood firm on behalf of the farmers. With many such acts of resistance against the oppressive policies of Britsh, he was bestowed the title of ‘Sardar’ by his co-workers.
He was also one of the earliest proponents of property rights and free enterprise. Patel worked extensively against alcohol consumption, untouchability, caste discrimination and for the emancipation of women.
In remembrance of Patel, Lectures to impart Knowledge:
In 1955, a series of lectures in honour of Sardar Patel’s contribution to the nation was started. Over the years, many great leaders, scientists, and historians have delivered the lecture. Some of the prominent names among them are Dr. C. Rajagopalachari, Dr. Zakir Hussain, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Morarji Desai, Dr. Karan Singh, Vasant Sathe, Dr. K. Kasthuri Rangan, Prof. M.G.K. Menon, Dr. M. S. Swaminathan, Justice Leila Seth, Dr. Romila Thapar, J. N. Dixit and Montek Singh Ahluwalia. This year Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur delivered the lecture, embracing the tireless efforts done by Patel to unify India. Also, in 1991, posthumously he was awarded the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian honor.
In 2014, the government declared Sardar Patel’s birth anniversary as National Unity Day (Rashtriya Ekta Diwas). He is renowned as the architect of Independent India, as he united all diverse 562 princely states to build the one Republic of India. Most importantly, Patel’s role was instrumental in ensuring Hyderabad’s inclusion in India as it was the biggest princely state. This year, a year-long celebration was announced by the government to mark 75 years of Liberation of Hyderabad on 17th September 2022.
The Statue of Unity was created in Gujarat as a tribute to Patel, it is world’s tallest statue with a height of 182 metres. The statue is located on the Narmada River in Kevadia town, 100 kilometres southeast of Vadodara, opposite the Sardar Sarovar Dam. It was inaugurated on 31st October 2018 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it took 57 months to complete the construction and installation of the statue.
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