Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

 

Vallabhbhai Jhaverbhai Patel was born in Nadiad, Kheda district, Gujarat. He was a successful lawyer. One of Mahatma Gandhi's earliest political lieutenants, he organised peasants from Kheda, Borsad, and Bardoli in Gujarat in non-violent civil disobedience against the British Raj, becoming one of the most influential leaders in Gujarat. He was an Indian statesman. He served as the first deputy Prime Minister of India from 1947 to 1950. He was a barrister and a senior leader of the Indian National Congress, who played a leading role in the country's struggle for independence, guiding its integration into a united, independent nation.

Family and Early Life

Vallabhbhai Jhaverbhai Patel, one of the six children of Jhaverbhai Patel and Ladba Patel, was born in Nadiad, Gujarat. Patel's date of birth was never officially recorded; Patel entered it as 31 October on his matriculation examination papers. Patel travelled to attend schools in Nadiad, Petlad, and Borsad, living self-sufficiently with other boys. He reputedly cultivated a stoic character. A popular anecdote recounts that he lanced his own painful boil without hesitation, even as the barber charged with doing it trembled. Patel spent years away from his family, studying on his own with books borrowed from other lawyers, passing his examinations within two years. He married Jhaverba Patel and set up his household in Godhra and immediately started practice. The couple had a daughter, Maniben and a son, Dahyabhai. During the many years it took him to save money, Patel became an advocate and earned a reputation as a fierce and skilled lawyer.

 

Movements and important works

1. Fight for self rule (1917)

Patel delivered a speech in Borsad, encouraging Indians nationwide to sign Gandhi's petition demanding Swaraj (self-rule) from Britain. A month later, he met Gandhi for the first time at the Gujarat Political Conference in Godhra. On Gandhi's encouragement, Patel became the secretary of the Gujarat Sabha, a public body that would become the Gujarati arm of the Indian National Congress. Patel now energetically fought against the forced servitude of Indians to Europeans and organised relief efforts in the wake of plague and famine in Kheda. The Kheda peasants' plea for exemption from taxation had been turned down by British authorities. Gandhi endorsed waging a struggle there, but could not lead it himself due to his activities in Champaran. When Gandhi asked Patel, he agreed instantly, much to Gandhi's delight.

2. Fundamental rights and economic policy (1931)

Under the chairmanship of Sardar Patel "Fundamental Rights and Economic Policy" resolution was passed by the Congress in 1931. As Gandhi embarked on the Dandi Salt March, Patel was arrested in the village of Ras and was put on trial without witnesses, with no lawyer or journalists allowed to attend. Patel's arrest and Gandhi's subsequent arrest caused the Salt Satyagraha to greatly intensify in Gujarat – districts across Gujarat launched an anti-tax rebellion until and unless Patel and Gandhi were released. Once released, Patel served as interim Congress president, but was re-arrested while leading a procession in Bombay. After the signing of the Gandhi–Irwin Pact, Patel was elected president of Congress for its 1931 session in Karachi – here the Congress ratified the pact and committed itself to the defence of fundamental rights and civil liberties. It advocated the establishment of a secular nation with a minimum wage and the abolition of untouchability and serfdom. Patel used his position as Congress president to organise the return of confiscated land to farmers in Gujarat. 

3. Legal Battle with Subhash Chandra Bose (1933)

Patel's elder brother Vithalbhai Patel, died in Geneva on 22 October 1933. Vithalbhai and Bose had been highly critical of Gandhi's leadership during their travels in Europe. By the time Vithalbhai died in October 1933, Bose had become his primary caregiver. On his deathbed he left a will of sorts, bequeathing three quarters of his money to Bose to use in promoting India's cause in other countries. When Patel saw a copy of the letter in which his brother had left a majority of his estate to Bose, he asked a series of questions: Why was the letter not attested by a doctor? Had the original paper been preserved? Why were the witnesses to that letter all men from Bengal and none of the many other veteran freedom activists and supporters of the Congress who had been present at Geneva where Vithalbhai had died? Patel may even have doubted the veracity of the signature on the document. The case went to the court and after a legal battle that lasted more than a year, the courts judged that Vithalbhai’s estate could only be inherited by his legal heirs, that is, his family. Patel promptly handed the money over to the Vithalbhai Memorial Trust.

4. Political Integration of India 

Patel took charge of the integration of the princely states into India. This achievement formed the cornerstone of Patel's popularity in the post independence era. Even today he is remembered as the man who united India. Under the plan of 3 June, more than 565 princely states were given the option of joining either India or Pakistan, or choosing independence. Indian nationalists and large segments of the public feared that if these states did not accede, most of the people and territory would be fragmented. The Congress, as well as senior British officials, considered Patel the best man for the task of achieving conquest of the princely states by the Indian dominion. Gandhi had said to Patel, "The problem of the States is so difficult that you alone can solve it". Patel asked V. P. Menon, with whom he had worked on the partition of India, to become the chief secretary of the States Ministry. Patel used social meetings and unofficial surroundings to engage most of the monarchs, inviting them to lunch and tea at his home in Delhi. At these meetings, Patel explained that there was no inherent conflict between the Congress and the princely order. Patel invoked the patriotism of India's monarchs, asking them to join in the independence of their nation and act as responsible rulers who cared about the future of their people. He persuaded the princes of 565 states of the impossibility of independence from the Indian republic, especially in the presence of growing opposition from their subjects. Patel did not rule out force. Stressing that the princes would need to accede to India in good faith, he set a deadline of 15 August 1947 for them to sign the instrument of accession document. All but three of the states willingly merged into the Indian union; only Jammu and Kashmir, Junagadh, and Hyderabad did not fall into his basket. Junagadh was especially important to Patel, since it was in his home state of Gujarat. It was also important because in this Kathiawar district was the ultra-rich Somnath temple. Under pressure from Shah Nawaz Bhutto, the Nawab had acceded to Pakistan. It was, however, quite far from Pakistan, and 80% of its population was Hindu. Patel combined diplomacy with force, demanding that Pakistan annul the accession, and that the Nawab accede to India. He sent the Army to occupy three principalities of Junagadh to show his resolve. Following widespread protests, both Bhutto and the Nawab fled to Karachi. A plebiscite organised later produced a 99.5% vote for merger with India. Hyderabad was the largest of the princely states. Its ruler, the Nizam Osman Ali Khan, was a Muslim, although over 80% of its people were Hindu. The Nizam sought independence. Even though a Standstill Agreement was signed due to the desperate efforts of Lord Mountbatten to avoid a war, the Nizam rejected deals and changed his positions. In September 1948 Patel emphasised in Cabinet meetings that India should talk no more, and reconciled Nehru and the Governor-General, Chakravarti Rajgopalachari, to military action. Following preparations, Patel ordered the Indian Army to invade Hyderabad. The action was termed Operation Polo, and thousands of Muslim forces were killed, but Hyderabad was secured and integrated into the Indian Union. Patel insisted that if Hyderabad were allowed to continue as an independent nation enclave surrounded by India, the prestige of the government would fall, and then neither Hindus nor Muslims would feel secure in its realm. In Kashmir the king, Hari Singh, was Hindu but the majority population was Muslim. Pakistan sent their troops to occupy Kashmir, with the support of the locals, they annexed some part of Kashmir. Raja Hari Singh requested the military help from India and Sardar Patel accepted to give help under the condition that Kashmir would merge with India. The Indian Forces won the battle and Kashmir hence became a part of India.

Death

Patel's health declined rapidly through the summer of 1950. He later began coughing blood. The Chief Minister of West Bengal and doctor Bidhan Roy heard Patel make jokes about his impending end. Patel's health worsened after 2 November, when he began losing consciousness frequently and was confined to his bed. He was flown to Bombay on 12 December on advice from Dr Roy, to recuperate as his condition was deemed critical. Patel was extremely weak and had to be carried onto the aircraft in a chair. In Bombay, large crowds gathered at Santacruz Airport to greet him. To spare him from this stress, the aircraft landed at Juhu Aerodrome and a car took Vallabhbhai to Birla House. After suffering a massive heart attack , Patel died on 15 December 1950 at Birla House in Bombay. His cremation in Sonapur in Bombay was attended by a crowd of one million including Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Rajagopalachari and President Rajendra Prasad.

Sardar Patel was known as the "Iron Man of India" he was a great patriot, a great administrator and a great man. It's because of him that India is a country, otherwise it would have been a mini-continent with many small countries. It would have taken us atleast 10-15 visas just to travel throughout the country. Rashtriya Ekta Divas and the Statue of Unity (the tallest statue in the world) are some of the many tributes paid to Sardar Patel by The Government of India. We must not forget his values of determination and speaking up for one's right and implement these in our lives to become a better Individual.