The Prime Minister of India has recently commemorated the 71st death anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the country’s first home minister, on December 15. Sardar Patel was hailed as a distinctive leader, playing a crucial role in the unification of India post-independence and leaving a lasting legacy that continues to inspire initiatives like Atmanirbhar Bharat.
Early Life and Political Career
Born on October 31, 1875, in Nadiad, Gujarat, Sardar Patel was an instrumental figure in India’s freedom struggle. He held the positions of the First Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of India, advocating for unity (Ek Bharat) to foster a strong and prosperous nation (Shresth Bharat).
Influential Committees and Social Reforms
Sardar Patel headed several committees within the Constituent Assembly of India, including the Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights, Committee on Minorities and Tribal and Excluded Areas, and the Provincial Constitution Committee. Beyond his political work, he championed social causes such as alcohol prohibition, the eradication of untouchability, caste discrimination, and the empowerment of women. His commitment to societal change was evident in Gujarat and beyond.
Incorporation of Farmers’ Cause into Freedom Struggle
Sardar Patel’s tireless efforts also led to the integration of the farmer’s cause in Kheda Satyagraha (1918) and Bardoli Satyagraha (1928). These movements combined agricultural protests with the broader push for national independence. Because of his leadership during the Bardoli Satyagraha, he was bestowed with the title ‘Sardar’, implying ‘a Chief or a Leader.’
Establishment of Modern All-India Service System
Sardar Patel’s influence extended to the bureaucracy as well. Known as the ‘Patron Saint of India’s Civil Servants’, he established the modern all-India services system.
Integration of Princely States
As India’s first Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Patel was instrumental in merging approximately 565 princely states into the Indian Union. He worked relentlessly to build consensus among the former kingdoms and did not hesitate to use various methods necessary for nation-building. He even incorporated princely states like Junagadh and Hyderabad into the Union of India despite resistance.
Sardar Patel – The “Iron Man of India”
Remembered as the “Iron Man of India”, Sardar Patel played a crucial role in unifying and integrating the princely states into the Indian federation. He convinced these states to align with the Indian Union, preventing India’s potential balkanization.
Death and Tributes: The Statue of Unity
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel passed away on 15th December 1950 in Bombay. To honor his contributions, the Statue of Unity was inaugurated on his 143rd birth anniversary on 31st October, 2018. Standing at 182 meters, the statue is the tallest in the world, surpassing China’s Spring Temple Buddha statue and the Statue of Liberty in the US. In January 2020, it was added to the ‘Eight Wonders’ of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). His legacy continues to inspire modern India, shaping its direction towards becoming self-reliant, under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
