Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

Biography of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

Early Life and Background

• Born: October 31, 1875, in Nadiad, Gujarat, to Jhaverbhai Patel and Ladba Patel​

• Family Background: Belonged to the Leuva Patel Patidar landowning community of Gujarat​

• Childhood: Known for his courage and simplicity from an early age despite financial hardships​

• Education: Studied in local schools and worked hard to save funds for higher education​

• Legal Training: Traveled to England at age 36 and studied law at the Middle Temple; topped his class and became a successful barrister in Ahmedabad​

Early Political Career

• First Political Role (1917): Appointed Sanitation Commissioner of Ahmedabad​

• Municipal Leadership (1924-1928): Served as President/Chairman of Ahmedabad Municipal Committee; introduced key reforms in urban planning, sanitation, cleanliness, and water supply systems​

• Gujarat Sabha Secretary (1917): Assisted Mahatma Gandhi in political campaigns​

• Congress Presidency (1931): Appointed as the 49th President of Indian National Congress at the Karachi session; presided over passage of Fundamental Rights and National Economic Program resolutions​

Role in Indian Independence Movement

• Kheda Satyagraha (1918): Led farmers’ movement to secure exemption from land revenue payments during crop failure and famine; successfully negotiated relief after three months of intense campaigning​

• Non-Cooperation Movement (1920): Fully committed to the movement; left his lucrative law practice to engage in political work, toured villages, organized protests against British goods, and promoted boycott of foreign products​

• Bardoli Satyagraha (1928): Led massive peasant protest against a 22-30% unfair increase in land revenue imposed during floods and famine; earned the honorific title “Sardar” (meaning leader) for his successful negotiation that reduced taxes to 6.03% and returned confiscated properties​

• Quit India Movement (1942): Supported the All India Congress Committee resolution; arrested and detained in Ahmednagar Fort for participation; gave a climactic speech to over 100,000 people at Gowalia Tank in Bombay on August 7, 1942, that electrified nationalists​

Major Contributions to Post-Independence India

• First Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister (1947-1950): Oversaw critical ministries including Home Affairs, States, and Information and Broadcasting​

• Political Integration of Princely States: Spearheaded the integration of approximately 565 princely states into the Indian Union, preventing the Balkanization of India​

  • Successfully merged over 560 states through diplomatic acumen combined with strategic use of Privy Purses (monetary incentives for cooperation)​

  • Notable mergers included Saurashtra (222 states in Kathiawar peninsula), Madhya Bharat, Patiala and East Punjab States Union, and United State of Rajasthan​

  • Handled defiant states decisively, such as Hyderabad (Operation Polo in September 1948) and Junagadh (secured 99% plebiscite support)​

  • Brought approximately 99 million people (28% of India’s population) and 48% of pre-partition land area into the Indian Union​

• Founder of All India Services: Established the “Steel Frame of India” through the All India Services system; pioneered modern Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Police Service (IPS)​

  • Ensured officers maintained highest standards of integrity and honesty as partners in administration​

  • Known as the “patron saint of India’s civil servants” for defending their privileges and preventing political involvement​

• Constitutional Role: Senior leader in the Constituent Assembly of India; chaired committees on minorities, tribal areas, fundamental rights, and provincial constitutions​

• Partition Management: Organized relief efforts for partition refugees fleeing to Punjab and Delhi from Pakistan; advocated for partition as a pragmatic solution to prevent civil war​

• Somnath Temple Restoration: Oversaw the reconstruction of the ancient but dilapidated Somnath Temple in Saurashtra and pledged its dedication upon completion​

• Milk Cooperative Initiative: When Gujarati farmers approached him about marketing difficulties, he guided them to create the Kaira District Co-operative Milk Producers’ Union Limited, which preceded the Amul brand​

Legacy and Honors

• Title: Known as the “Iron Man of India” for his unwavering commitment to national unity and his indomitable spirit in integrating the nation​

• Death: Died on December 15, 1950, at age 75 in Bombay (Mumbai) from a heart attack​

• Bharat Ratna: Awarded posthumously in 1991, India’s highest civilian honor​

• Statue of Unity: World’s tallest statue, erected in his honor at Kevadia, Gujarat, standing 182 meters (597 feet) high, dedicated on October 31, 2018​

• National Unity Day: Observed annually on October 31st to commemorate his birth anniversary and promote national unity​

Famous Sayings and Quotes of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

• “Manpower without unity is not a strength unless it is harmonised and united properly, then it becomes a spiritual power.”​​

• “The main task before India today is to consolidate herself into a well-knit and united power…”​​

• “There is something unique in this soil, which, despite many obstacles, has always remained the abode of great souls.”​​

• “Every Indian should now forget that he is a Rajput, a Sikh, or a Jat. He must remember that he is an Indian and he has every right in his country but with certain duties.”​

• “Caste, community will rapidly disappear. We have to speedily forget all these things. Such boundaries hamper our growth.”​​

• “Religion is a matter between the man and his Maker.”​​

• “The negligence of a few could easily send a ship to the bottom, but if it has the wholehearted cooperation of all on board; she could be safely brought to port.”​

• “Faith is of no evil in the absence of strength. Faith and strength, both are essential to accomplish any great work.”​​

• “By common endeavour we can raise the country to a new greatness, while a lack of unity will expose us to fresh calamities.”​​

• “Ours is a non-violent war, it is Dharma YUDDHA.”​

• “It is in my nature to be a friend of the friendless.”​

• “Satyagraha is not a creed for the weak or the cowardly.”​

• “In a domestic Government unity and co-operation are essential requisites.”​​

• “It is the prime responsibility of every citizen to feel that his country is free and to defend its freedom is his duty.”​

• “No distinctions of caste and creed should hamper us. All are the sons and daughters of India. We should all love our country and build our destiny on mutual love and help.”​

• “The war started by Mahatmaji is against two things – the Government and secondly against oneself. The former kind of war is closed, but the latter shall never cease. It is meant for self-purification.”​

• “Non-violence has to be observed in thought, word and deed. The measure of our non-violence will be the measure of our success.”​

• “Happiness and misery are paper balls. Don’t be afraid of death. Join the nationalist forces, be united. Give work to those who are hungry, food to invalids, forget your quarrels.”

Stories of Leaders

“My heart is full of agony because I had to leave Mahatma Gandhi while he was fasting. Nowadays some Hindus go out of their way in their speeches to speak ill of Gandhiji. I do not consider these people Hindus at all. If anybody has raised the status of India in the world, it is Gandhiji. The penance and purification of mind which he is able to undergo, we are unable to do. Yet they behave as if they have the monopoly of patriotism, reason and commonsense.

I appeal to you to implement Gandhiji’s programme. Now is the time for testing your bravery and courage. Gandhiji has got us independence by his penance. I will tell you how you can have Ram Rajya as contemplated by him. The first thing to do is to achieve Hindu-Muslim unity. The second thing is removal of untouchability. The third thing is to attain self-sufficiency. We should make our own clothes. We should be self-sufficient in all other things as well. We should establish gram panchayats in villages. Preserve the best in your tradition and culture, and live for selfless devotion to your ideals. If you can do this you are sure to achieve your goal and establish Ram Rajya.”

• Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Rajkot, January 15, 1948 (On Indian Problems)