SARDAR VALLABHBHAI PATEL
Introduction
1. Vallabhbhai Patel (31 October 1875 – 15 December 1950) also known as ‘Iron Man of India’, was a major political and social leader of India and he was a self-educated and a successful Gujarati lawyer. He was inspired by the work and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi. Patel organized the peasants of Kheda, Borsad, and Bardoli in Gujarat in non-violent ‘Civil Disobedience’ against the oppressive policies imposed by the British Raj. He rose to the leadership of the Indian National Congress at the forefront of rebellions and political events organising the party for elections and leading Indians into the Quit India movement. He was imprisoned by the British government on numerous occasions, especially from 1932 to 1934, and from 1942 to 1945.As the first Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of India, Patel organised relief efforts for refugees in Punjab and Delhi.
Early Life
2. Vallabhbhai Jhaverbhai Patel was born at Nadiad, Gujarat in 1875. He was the fourth son of Jhaverbhai and Ladba Patel, and lived in the village of Karamsad in the Kheda district. As a young boy, Patel helped his father in the fields, and bi-monthly kept a day-long fast, abstaining from food and water - a cultural observance that enabled him to develop physical toughness. He passed his matriculation at the late age of 22. Patel decided to become a lawyer and for this he worked hard, travelled to England to study to become a barrister. He passed graduation examinations within two years. At the age of 36, he enrolled at the Middle Temple Inn in London. Finishing a 36-month course in 30 months, Patel topped his class despite having no previous college background. Returning to India, Patel settled in the city of Ahmedabad, and became one of the city's most successful barristers.
Fighting for Independence
3. At the urging of his friends, Patel contested and won an election to become the sanitation commissioner of Ahmedabad in 1917. Patel was deeply impressed when Gandhi defied the British in Champaran for the sake of the area's oppressed farmers. He met Gandhiji for the first time at the Gujarat Political Conference in Godhra and later on became the secretary of the Gujarat Sabha.
Satyagraha Across Gujarat
4. Patel supported Gandhi's Non-Cooperation Movement in Gujarat, and as President of the Gujarat Congress, personally supervised efforts across the state to recruit more than 300,000 members and raise over Rs. 1.5 million in funds. He diligently worked in Gujarat against alcoholism, untouchability and caste discrimination, as well as for the empowerment of women. In the Congress he was a resolute supporter of Gandhiji.
Leading the Congress
5. Patel became the leader of the Congress's all-India election campaign in 1934. He guided the Congress ministries that had won power across India in order to maintain unity and disallow the British any opportunity to divide the Congress. He differed with Nehru, opposing declarations of the adoption of socialism at the 1936 Congress session, and with Subhash Chandra Bose over the latter's rejection of Gandhi's leadership.
Quit India
6. He participated in Gandhi's call for individual disobedience movement and was arrested in 1940 and imprisoned for nine months. He also opposed the proposals of the Cripps' mission in 1942. Patel gave emotional speeches to large crowds across India, even though his health had suffered during his stay in jail.
Partition
7. Vallabhbhai Patel was the first Congress leader to accept the partition of India as a solution to the rising Muslim separatist movement led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah. He had been outraged by Jinnah’s ‘Direct Action’ campaign, which had provoked communal violence across India.
Political Integration of India
8. Patel was considered the best man for the task by the Congress Party, as well as Lord Mountbatten and senior British officials. 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. Patel was willing to stand up for national interest and enforce the word of the Government.
Death
9. Until his last few days, he was constantly at work in Delhi. However, his personal staff became alarmed as Patel, whom they knew to be very sharp and alert, began failing to remember details in the summer of 1950. After suffering a massive heart attack, he died on December 15, 1950.
1. Vallabhbhai Patel (31 October 1875 – 15 December 1950) also known as ‘Iron Man of India’, was a major political and social leader of India and he was a self-educated and a successful Gujarati lawyer. He was inspired by the work and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi. Patel organized the peasants of Kheda, Borsad, and Bardoli in Gujarat in non-violent ‘Civil Disobedience’ against the oppressive policies imposed by the British Raj. He rose to the leadership of the Indian National Congress at the forefront of rebellions and political events organising the party for elections and leading Indians into the Quit India movement. He was imprisoned by the British government on numerous occasions, especially from 1932 to 1934, and from 1942 to 1945.As the first Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of India, Patel organised relief efforts for refugees in Punjab and Delhi.
Early Life
2. Vallabhbhai Jhaverbhai Patel was born at Nadiad, Gujarat in 1875. He was the fourth son of Jhaverbhai and Ladba Patel, and lived in the village of Karamsad in the Kheda district. As a young boy, Patel helped his father in the fields, and bi-monthly kept a day-long fast, abstaining from food and water - a cultural observance that enabled him to develop physical toughness. He passed his matriculation at the late age of 22. Patel decided to become a lawyer and for this he worked hard, travelled to England to study to become a barrister. He passed graduation examinations within two years. At the age of 36, he enrolled at the Middle Temple Inn in London. Finishing a 36-month course in 30 months, Patel topped his class despite having no previous college background. Returning to India, Patel settled in the city of Ahmedabad, and became one of the city's most successful barristers.
Fighting for Independence
3. At the urging of his friends, Patel contested and won an election to become the sanitation commissioner of Ahmedabad in 1917. Patel was deeply impressed when Gandhi defied the British in Champaran for the sake of the area's oppressed farmers. He met Gandhiji for the first time at the Gujarat Political Conference in Godhra and later on became the secretary of the Gujarat Sabha.
Satyagraha Across Gujarat
4. Patel supported Gandhi's Non-Cooperation Movement in Gujarat, and as President of the Gujarat Congress, personally supervised efforts across the state to recruit more than 300,000 members and raise over Rs. 1.5 million in funds. He diligently worked in Gujarat against alcoholism, untouchability and caste discrimination, as well as for the empowerment of women. In the Congress he was a resolute supporter of Gandhiji.
Leading the Congress
5. Patel became the leader of the Congress's all-India election campaign in 1934. He guided the Congress ministries that had won power across India in order to maintain unity and disallow the British any opportunity to divide the Congress. He differed with Nehru, opposing declarations of the adoption of socialism at the 1936 Congress session, and with Subhash Chandra Bose over the latter's rejection of Gandhi's leadership.
Quit India
6. He participated in Gandhi's call for individual disobedience movement and was arrested in 1940 and imprisoned for nine months. He also opposed the proposals of the Cripps' mission in 1942. Patel gave emotional speeches to large crowds across India, even though his health had suffered during his stay in jail.
Partition
7. Vallabhbhai Patel was the first Congress leader to accept the partition of India as a solution to the rising Muslim separatist movement led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah. He had been outraged by Jinnah’s ‘Direct Action’ campaign, which had provoked communal violence across India.
Political Integration of India
8. Patel was considered the best man for the task by the Congress Party, as well as Lord Mountbatten and senior British officials. 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. Patel was willing to stand up for national interest and enforce the word of the Government.
Death
9. Until his last few days, he was constantly at work in Delhi. However, his personal staff became alarmed as Patel, whom they knew to be very sharp and alert, began failing to remember details in the summer of 1950. After suffering a massive heart attack, he died on December 15, 1950.