Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the first Home Minister of independent India, birth anniversary is celebrated as National Unity Day (Rashtriya Ekta Diwas). Born on October 31, 1875, into a landowning Leva Patidar family, Patel, also known as the 'Iron Man of India,' will mark his 150th anniversary this week.
He began his education at Karamasad primary school and continued at Petlad high school. Married at 16, he matriculated by 22 and passed the district pleader's examination, allowing him to practise law. In August 1910, he travelled to London to study law and returned to India in February 1913, he settled in Ahmedabad and quickly became the leading barrister in criminal law.
In 1917, inspired by Mohandas K Gandhi's principles of satyagraha, he adopted a simpler lifestyle, forsaking the Gujarat Club and donning the white cloth of Indian peasants. He first gained prominence in 1918 by organising mass campaigns in Kaira, Gujarat, against the Bombay government's decision to collect full annual revenue taxes despite crop failures.
In 1928, he successfully led landowners in Bardoli against increased taxes. His effective leadership in this campaign earned him the title 'Sardar' (leader) and solidified his reputation as a prominent nationalist leader across India.
In the first three years of India's independence, Sardar Patel served as Deputy Prime Minister and held various ministerial roles, but his lasting legacy is his successful integration of princely states into the Indian Union. He would have been the first de facto premier of India, if Gandhi had not intervened.
He persuaded nearly 565 self-governing princely states to accede to India by offering favourable terms, including privy purses for their rulers' descendants. While he appealed to their patriotism, he also hinted at the use of force if necessary, setting a deadline of August 15, 1947, for signing the accession documents. Ultimately, all but three states—Jammu and Kashmir, Junagadh, and Hyderabad—did not agree to join the Indian Union.
Junagadh was particularly significant to Sardar Patel, as it was located in his home state of Gujarat and housed the historically important Somnath temple, which had been looted by Mahmud of Ghazni in the 11th century. After the Nawab of Junagadh acceded to Pakistan under pressure from Sir Shah Nawaz Bhutto, Patel, noting that 80% of the population was Hindu, demanded the Nawab’s accession to India. He sent the Army to occupy key areas of Junagadh, leading to widespread protests and the establishment of a civil government. As a result, both the Nawab and Bhutto fled to Karachi, and under Patel's orders, Indian forces moved in. A subsequent plebiscite showed an overwhelming 99.5% support for joining India.
Hyderabad, the largest princely state, presented a different challenge. Its ruler, the Muslim Nizam Osman Ali Khan, sought either independence or accession to Pakistan, despite an 80% Hindu population. The Nizam faced pressure from the Razakars, Muslim militia loyal to him, who organised attacks against Indian interests. Although a Standstill Agreement was initially reached, the Nizam ultimately rejected negotiations. Following an ultimatum from Jawaharlal Nehru to disband the Razakars and allow Indian troops to return, India launched an invasion on September 13, 1948, after Muhammad Ali Jinnah's death. Defeated, the Nizam signed an instrument of accession, joining India.
Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on the nation to celebrate the 150th birth anniversaries of two revered leaders, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Birsa Munda. In the 115th episode of his monthly radio address, ‘Mann Ki Baat, PM Modi highlighted the importance of honouring the legacies of these great figures who championed India's unity and freedom.
Home Minister Amit Shah announced a two-year nationwide celebration for Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's 150th birth anniversary, running from 2024 to 2026. Since 2014, Patel's birth anniversary has been observed as National Unity Day. Additional tributes include the 182-metre Statue of Unity and the revocation of Article 370, both dedicated to his legacy.
Sardar Patel and his UK connection
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel studied law at the Middle Temple in London before returning to India to establish himself as a barrister. In recognition of his contributions, a blue plaque was erected at 23 Aldridge Road Villas in Ladbroke Grove by the Greater London Council in 1986. Additionally, the Sardar Patel Memorial Society UK (SPMSUK) was founded the same year to raise awareness about Patel, often referred to as the Iron Man of India, among the Indian community in the UK.
