42) 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

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 15^th 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 15^th 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.