Sardar
Vallabhbhai Patel
Honouring a prominent freedom Fighter, statesman and social activist , also known as the “Iron Man of India”
(31.10. 1875 –
15 .12.1950)
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was born on 31.10.1875 in Nadiad
(Gujarat, India) in the family of a poor farmer. Despite economic hardships, he
studied in N.K.High School, Petlad, and passed High School in 1896, but he could
not continue higher studies, because of lack of financial resources.
Later, he cleared the District Leader’s Examination in
1899 after studying privately at home after borrowing law books from his
friends.
Thereafter, he started a legal practice in Godhra, where
he had a flourishing practice. The family came upon better times and he got
married and even arranged for his brother to become a barrister in England. He
lost his wife in 1909 and grief-stricken, he, too, left for England where he
studied to become a barrister. He returned to India in 1913, where he set up a
legal practice in Ahmedabad.
Social Activist
and participation in the Indian Nationalist/Freedom movement:
In 1915, he had met Mahatma Gandhi at Ahmedabad, at the
height of the Indian Nationalist Movement and was very impressed with his ideals,
philosophy and method of Satyagrah but initially he was not politically
inclined, although he abhorred working for the British Government, which he resisted,
even though he had attractive offers from the British administration.
Sardar Patel gave a speech in Borsad in September 1917
encouraging Indians nation-wide to sign Mahatma Gandhi’s petition demanding
“Swaraj” (independence or self rule) from the British. This was one of his
first forays in National politics.
While practicing at Ahmedabad, he became familiar with
problems being faced by Indians under British rule and he rendered selfless
social service to anyone who came for his help. Based on his popularity as a
social activist, he was elected to the Municipal Corporation of Ahmedabad in
1917 and was appointed the Sanitation Commissioner of Ahmedabad.
In 1918, there was a drought in the Kheda Division of Gujarat.
The British Government refused to lower the high rate of taxation for the
drought affected farmers, even on humanitarian grounds as a special case .
He was
by now, taking an active part in the Indian Freedom movement and one of his
first actions was to organize the farmers into a lobby and raise a protest
against the confiscation of Farmer’s lands by the State due to non-payment of
high taxes. The peaceful “No tax Campaign” started by him, forced the British
Government to suspend revenue collection and to roll back the high rates of
taxation on farmers. This success
instantly projected him as a leader of National repute.
Then, in 1928, Bardoli Taluka (Gujarat) suffered from
flood and famine. The British Government, oblivious to the plight of farmers demanded
a heavy rate of taxation which was again protested vociferously by the farmers
, who led by Vallabhbhai Patel refused
to pay any taxes at all on the lines of the Kheda agitation. Once again the British Government had to
concede major concessions to the farmers.
Both these incidents are remembered as the Kheda
Satyagrah and the Bardoli Revolt. These successes against unreasonable British
Taxation, earned him the title of “Sardar” (or “Leader of men” or “leader of a
community”).
He participated in Gandhiji’s non-cooperation movement in
his capacity as President of the Gujarat Congress and organized symbolic
boycott of British goods by burning them in several bonfires. He started
wearing Khadi (swadeshi – indigenously made) clothes. He was elected the
President of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation thrice viz., in 1922, 1924 and
1927. During his tenures, the electrical power supply in the city improved,
educational reforms took place, Drainage and sanitation systems were extended
to the whole city.
He was a powerful orator and his speeches were considered
inflammatory by the British India Government, leading to his imprisonment on
several occasions.
In 1930, he was imprisoned for participating in
Gandhiji’s “Salt Satyagrah” (Dandi march) against unreasonable British Salt-tax
laws. He was freed in 1931 when Gandhiji and Lord Irwin, the then Viceroy of India
signed a treaty known as the Gandhi-Irwin pact. In the same year he was elected
as the President of the Indian National Congress at Karachi. He was
instrumental in getting a resolution passed in the Karachi session, where the
Congress party committed itself to the defending of fundamental rights and
human rights and dream of a secular nation.
Upon the failure of the Round Table Conference in London,
he was taken into custody in 1932 with Gandhiji and lodged in Yerwada Central
Jail, Pune. This association with Gandhiji, made the two of them good friends
who admired each other’s commitment to India’s Freedom struggle. He was
released in 1934.
He took part in the Quit India Movement led by Mahatma
Gandhi in 1942 and was imprisoned in Ahmednagar.
In 1942, when the Quit India Movement was launched by the
Indian National Congress after a lot of internal opposition to the Movement, he
was among the leaders of the Congress who were taken into custody. He was
released in 1945.
When, in 1946, 13 of the 16 Indian states, proposed
Sardar Patel’s name for the post of Indian National Congress President, and it
was a foregone conclusion that the Congress President will eventually become
the Prime Minister of India, at Mahatma Gandhi’s instance, Patel left the candidacy
to in favour of Nehru.
Other major Achievements at the National
level:
He was India’s first Deputy Prime Minister, Home Minister
and Information and Broadcasting Minister in Nehru’s 14 member Cabinet which
started functioning from 15th August 1947.
He played a key role in the political integration of
India and with his steely resolve, he
managed to overcome the initial reluctance of the smaller kingdoms/princely
states in India and got over 550 of them to join the Indian Union, including the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Nawab of
Junagarh among others. Because he
achieved all this without an armed conflict with any of the states and solely
by hard negotiations, he was also given the title “Iron Man of India”.
Death and
legacy:
He considered Mahatma Gandhi as his ideal and teacher,
and the assassination of Gandhiji left him deeply disturbed. He passed away on
15th December 1950 after a cardiac arrest.
He was conferred with the Bharat Ratna in 1991, the
highest National Award in India.
He was one of the greatest social leaders of his time. His
strength of character, organizing capabilities, oratory and entire efforts were
given towards achieving India’s freedom under Gandhiji’s leadership and later
on towards seeing a consolidated India.
At least 17 educational institutions and Universities,
across major cities in India are named after him. There is a Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Stadium, an International Airport
and a Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Memorial in Ahmedabad. He has also been
portrayed in several films by prominent cine artists/actors. Several books have
been written in his life, works, ideals and achievements.
The Reserve Bank of
India, to commemorate the life of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, has brought out a two
rupee coin in 1996 for general circulation.
The obverse of the coin has the Lion Capital in the centre
together with the words “Satyameva Jayate” (Truth always Prevails) which
together form the emblem/Coat of Arms of India. The numeral “2” denoting the
denomination of the coin is below the emblem. On the left periphery are the
words “Bharat” and “Rupiye” in Hindi and on the right periphery are the words
“India” and “Rupees” in English.
On the reverse of the coin is a portrait/image of Sardar
Vallabhbhai Patel with his name spelt out both in Hindi and English. The year
1996 is mentioned below his portrait which is the year of minting of this coin.
This coin was minted at Hyderabad mint. Notice the “five-pointed star” mint
mark below the year of issue.
The Posts and Telegraphs Department, India have also honoured
him by releasing a five rupee postage envelope with his portrait on the stamp.
No comments:
Post a Comment