Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, leader of the Indian National Congress, and a founding father of the Republic of India, played an important role in the country's struggle for independence. Not only the colonised India, Patel also led the task of bringing together a scattered India, successfully integrating the newly independent nation.
As the first Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of India, his commitment to national integration earned him the title of the 'Iron Man of India'. A commemoration is held on his birthday, October 31, every year, also known as the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas. In his bid for unity, Patel remained instrumental in mobilising the farmer community of India and bringing together various castes and communities to join the fight for freedom. Part of his achievements include; successfully leading the Kheda Satyagraha and Bardoli revolt against the British government, electing Ahmedabad's municipal President in 1922, 1924, and 1927, electing Congress President in 1931, amongst others.
Vallabhbhai Patel was born on October 31, 1875 in Nadiad, a small village in Gujarat. His father Jhaverbhai was a farmer and mother Laad Bai was a housewife. Patel had a successful practice as a lawyer, when he was first inspired by the work and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi. He eventually organised the farmers of Kheda, Borsad, and Bardoli in Gujarat, in a non-violent civil disobedience movement against oppressive policies imposed by the British Raj, becoming one of the most influential leaders in the State. The revolt ended in 1919 when the British government agreed to suspend collection of revenue and roll back the rates. The Kheda Satyagraha turned him into a national hero. He soon began to support Gandhi's Non-Cooperation Movement.
The Bardoli Taluka in Gujarat suffered from floods and famine in 1928. During this hour of distress, the British government raised the revenue taxes by 30 per cent. Patel, on behalf of the farmers appealed to the Governor to reduce the taxes, which he refused, and the Brit government even announced the date of the collection of the taxes. He organised the farmers, asking them not to pay a single paise of tax. The revolt was tried to suppress, but the government had to ultimately bow down before Patel. It was during this struggle, that he began being addressed by his colleagues and followers as Sardar.
