Sardar Vallahbhai Patel - The Iron Man of India

Sardar Vallahbhai Patel- The Iron man of India, was born on October 31, 1875. He was a barrister and statesman. He was also one of the leaders of Indian National Congress.Patel is remembered as one who held the country together, in the spirit of unity and was one of the founding fathers of the Republic of India.Patel is referred to as ‘Sardar' which means Chief. October 31st, 2014 marks Sardar Vallahbhai Patel's 139th birthday.Sardar Vallahbhai Patel dreamed of an India that would be united in diversity. His vision was to see India moving forward, and every citizen living with a sense of belonging and passion for their motherland.To keep this spirit alive amongst the masses, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has marked his birthday as “Rashtriya Ekta Diwas” (National Unity Day).Employees of government offices, public sector undertakings and other institutions will pledge to maintain the unity and integrity of the country on October 31. The Prime Minister will flag off a ‘Run for Unity' for which he has invited not only the NDA, but the opposition as well.Last year too, Modi had launched this marathon in Gujarat on Sardar Vallahbai Patel's death anniversary on December 15. According to State government sources, more than 40 lakh people participated in the events held at 1,100 places across India.Human resource development ministry has been “requested to issue suitable instructions” that the students of schools and colleges may be administered the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas Pledge to motivate them to strive to maintain the unity and integrity of the country.All ministries and departments of the government and all the state governments and administrators of all the Union Territories have been requested to organise programmes, including the ‘Pledge-taking Ceremony', ‘Run for Unity' involving people from all sections of society.A march-past by the police, the central armed police forces and other organisations like the National Cadet Corps (NCC), National Service Scheme (NSS), Scouts and Guides, Home Guards will also be organised in the evening.Modi had earlier announced building a ‘Statue of Unity', a 182-metre-high monument of Vallabhbhai Patel. It is being constructed directly facing the Narmada Dam, 3.2 kms away on the river island called Sadhu Bet near Vadodara in Gujarat.The statue of Unity will be twice as large as the Statue of Liberty in the US.Let us know more about Sardar Vallahbhai Patel:Patel was brought up in Patidar gurjar farmer family of Gujarat. He began his career as a lawyer and achieved considerable success in his profession.Encouraged by friends, Patel decided to enter politics. Hence he contested and won elections to become the sanitation commissioner of Ahmedabad in 1917.Patel then began a village-by-village tour in the Kheda district, documenting grievances and asking villagers for their support for a statewide revolt by refusing the payment of taxes. He was supported by Congress volunteers Narhari Parikh, Mohanlal Pandya and Abbas Tyabji.He received enthusiastic responses from virtually every village. Here too his primary agenda was unity.Patel supported Mahatma Gandhi's Non-co-operation movement and toured the state to recruit more than 300,000 members and raise over Rs. 1.5 million in funds.Patel also supported Gandhi's controversial suspension of resistance in wake of the Chauri Chaura incident. He worked extensively in the following years in Gujarat against alcoholism, untouchability and caste discrimination, as well as for the empowerment of women.In 1923 when Gandhi was in prison, Sardar Patel was asked by the Congress to lead the ‘satyagraha' against a law banning the raising of the Indian flag.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 pressman allowed to attend.With both Patel and Gandhi in jail, supporters intensified their protest across all districts of Gujarat.Eventually they were released and Patel was made the President of the Congress in 1931.After the outbreak of World War II, Patel supported Nehru's decision to withdraw the Congress from central and provincial legislatures, contrary to Gandhi's advice.But when Gandhi called for a Civil disobedience movement, he once again pledged his support to Gandhi's bold decision. This was opposed by most leaders. When All India Congress Committee (AICC) eventually agreed for an all out protest, Patel gave emotional speeches to awaken the masses. He urged them not to pay tax, participate in civil disobedience and shut down civil services. Despite his failing health, Patel wet head on to make Civil Disobedience Movement a success.Patel was arrested on 9 August and was imprisoned with the entire Congress Working Committee from 1942 to 1945 at the fort in Ahmednagar.Here he spun cloth, played bridge, read a large number of books, took long walks, practised gardening. He also provided emotional support to his colleagues while awaiting news and developments from the outside.In the 1946 election for the Congress presidency, Patel stepped down in favour of Nehru at the request of Mahatma Gandhi.Vallabhbhai Patel was one of the first Congress leaders to accept the partition of India as a solution to the rising Muslim separatist movement led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah.Patel represented India on the Partition Council, where he oversaw the division of public assets, and selected the Indian council of ministers with Nehru.However, neither he nor any other Indian leader had foreseen the intense violence and population transfer that would take place with partition.He then became the pillar behind bringing peace. He motivated people through inspiring speeches.This event formed the cornerstone of Patel's popularity in post-independence era and even today, he is remembered as the man who united India.Mahatma Gandhi had once told Patel, “the problem of the States is so difficult that you alone can solve it”Patel's health declined rapidly through the summer of 1950. After suffering a massive heart attack (his second), he died on 15 December 1950 at Birla House in Bombay.Till date, he is regarded as the most successful Home Minister. Sardar Vallahabhai Patel was an excellent orator. His thought provoking speeches, touched every soul that heard them.Patel was a true son of the soil. As the nation celebrates his birthday, here are some noble words of Sardar Vallahbhai Patel that people can reflect on:It is the prime responsibility of every citizen to feel that his country is free and to defend its freedom is his duty.My only desire is that India should be a good producer and no one should be hungry, shedding tears for food in the country.Even if we lose the wealth of thousands, and our life is sacrificed, we should keep smiling and be cheerful keeping our faith in God and Truth.Manpower without Unity is not a strength unless it is harmonised and united properly, then it becomes a spiritual power.Every citizen of India must remember that he is an Indian and he has every right in this country but with certain duties.