India's Patel community: Its history and prominent personalities

New Delhi: Patel (also known as a Patidar) is a surname of Indian origin mainly used by Hindu groups whose ancestors belonged to the Landlords community. Patels are originally Kurmi Kshatriyas. The name Patel is found primarily in the Indian state of Gujarat, along with , Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, as well as metropolitan cities like Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, and Delhi. Patels are originally Kurmi Kshatriyas. Within the United Kingdom, it is the twenty-fourth most common surname nationally, and the third most common in the Greater London region. In the US, the surname "Patel" ranks 174 among the top 500 list of most common last names. The majority of those with the Patel last name are Hindus. Patels represent a large section of the population of Gujarat State in India; the term Patel itself meaning "village headman". Gujarati Patels were historically landowners and farmers, and traditionally strict vegetarians. The Patel community varies by religion and ideology, with disparate groups having their own samaj (social gatherings) and mandirs. Traditionally Gujarati Patels married within their own gol (circle), though this custom has faded in the modern era. The modern Patel communities have branched out of agriculture and landowning to a variety of business trades. Notable personalities of PatelsVallabhbhai PatelSardar Vallabhbhai Jhaverbhai Patel was an Indian barrister and statesman, one of the leaders of the Indian National Congress and one of the founding fathers of the Republic of India. He is known to be a social leader of India who played an unparalleled role in the country's struggle for independence and guided its integration into a united, independent nation. Therefore he is also regarded as the "Bismarck of India" and "Iron Man of India". In India and across the world, he was often addressed as Sardar, which means Chief in Hindi, Urdu, and Persian.Keshubhai PatelKeshubhai Patel is an Indian politician and has served as Chief Minister of Gujarat from March 1995 to October 1995 and from March 1998 to October 2001. He was a senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader in the state until he resigned from BJP on 4th August 2012 to launch a new political party named as "Gujarat Parivartan Party" to contest in Gujarat Vidhan Sabha Election 2012. He hails from the electorally significant Patel community which holds the key to government formations in Gujarat. In 2001, his party lost two key by-elections which led to the arrival of Narendra Modi in Gujarat as CM. Since then he has been unhappy and has called for revolt.Parthiv PatelParthiv Ajay Patel is an Indian cricketer, wicketkeeper-batsman, and a member of the Indian national cricket team. He is a left-handed batsman. He got married in 2008 (at the age of 23) to Avni Zaveri. Patel made his ODI debut against New Zealand in January 2003. He made his Test debut in 2002 in the 2nd Test against England at Nottingham after Ajay Ratra was injured, becoming the youngest wicket-keeper in Test history at 17 years 152 days, eclipsing the previous record of Pakistan's Hanif Mohammad (which stood at 17 years 300 days since 1952), despite still not having played in any domestic first-class matches. Chimanbhai PatelChimanbhai Patel was a former Chief Minister of Gujarat. He was born on 3 June 1929 in Chikodra village of Sankheda Tehsil in Vadodara district. He was elected the first president of student union of The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda in Vadodara in 1950. He has done Masters in Economics from that university. On 17 July 1973, he toppled the Ghanshyambhai C. Oza government and became the Chief minister. He served in that office till 9 February 1974. Chimanbhai Patel was forced out of office in the 1974 by the Navnirman movement on charges of corruption. After being expelled from the party, he helped in the formation of Janata Morcha government in the leadership of Babubhai J Patel. He came back to power on 4 March 1990 as the head of a Janata Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party coalition government. On breaking of the coalition on 25 October 1990, he managed to retain his post with the help of 34 legislatures of Congress. Later he joined the congress and continued till his death on 17 February 1994.