Sardar
VallabhBhai Patel
Vallabh Bhai Patel the iron-man of India was born on 13th October,
1875, in a small village Karamsadh of Bombay region. His father Jhaber
Bhai Patel was a simple farmer and mother Laad Bai was a simple lady.
From his childhood itself, Patel was a very hard-working individual.
He used to help his father in farming and studied in a school at Patelaad.
He passed his high-school examination in 1896. Throughout school he
was a very wise and intelligent student. Inspite of poor financial
conditions his father decided to send him to college but VallabhBhai
refused. Around three years he stayed at home, worked hard and prepared
for the District Leader's examinaton, hence passing with very good
precentage.
Sardar Patel hated to work for anyone especially the Britishers.
He was a person of independent nature. He started his own practice
of law in a place called Godhara. Soon the practice flourished. He
saved money, made financial arrangement for the entire family. He
got married to Jhaberaba. In 1904, he got a baby daughter Maniben,
and in 1905 his son Dahya was born. He sent his elder brother to England
for higher studies in law. In 1908, Vittha Bhai returned as barrister
and started practising in Bombay. In 1909 his wife became seriously
ill and was taken to Bombay for treatment VallabhBhai had to go for
the hearing of an urgent case and his wife died. He was stunned. He
admitted his children in St. Mary's school Bombay, and he left for
England. He became a barrister and retuned to India in 1913.
He started his practice in Ahmedabad and soon he became aware of
the local life, activities and people's problems. He became an extremely
popular person and he got elected in the Municipal Corportaion in
1917. Around 1915, he came across Mahatma Gandhi. The Swadeshi Movement
was at its peak. Gandhiji gave a lecture at a place in Ahmedabad where
Patel heard him and was very impressed and started actively participating
in the freedom movement. The British government's atrocities were
increasing. The government declared to confiscate all the lands of
farmers. He forced the British government to amend the rules. He brought
together the farmers and encouraged them and hence got the title of
'Sardar' and thus became famous.
The British government considered him as a threat and his lectures
were considered anti-government and he was imprisoned several times.
In 1942, he took part in the Quit India Movement under the leadership
of Mahatma Gandhi. He was arrested along with other leaders and was
sent to Ahmednagar jail. Inspite of the British Rule, rulers of the
small kingdoms were spending a lot of public money, and were having
a nice time. Sardar Vallabh Bhai opposed this.
With great wisdom and political foresight, he consolidated the small
kingdoms. The public was with him. He tackled the Nizam of Hyderabad
and the Nawab of Junagarh who intially did not want to join India.
There were a lot of problems connected with the reunion of the numerous
states into India. Sardar Patel's untiring efforts towards the unity
of the country brought success. Due to the achievement of this massive
task, Sardar Patel got the title of 'Iron Man'. ' He is one
of the prestigious leaders of the world who became immmortal by uniting
a scattered nation without any bloodshed.
His enthusiasm to work for the independent nation got a big jolt
when Gandhiji was murdered. Patel was very attached to Gandhiji and
considered him, his elder brother and teacher. He was encouraged by
Mahatma Gandhi in all his work. Gandhiji's death left him broken.
On 15th December, 1950 he died of a cardiac arrest. The news of his
death spread all over the world. The entire nation plunged into deep
sorrow, everyday life came to a standstill. A grateful nation paid
a tearful homage to it's beloved leader. In 1991 the grateful nation
conferred upon him the honour of Bharat Ratna.
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