Popularly known as the Iron man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was born on October 31, 1875 in Nadiad, a small hamlet in Gujarat to Jhaverbhai, who was a farmer and Laad Bai. His early education took place in Karamsad and later joined a school in Petlad. After two years he joined a high school in Nadiad and from there he passed his high school examination in the year 1896. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was a brilliant student throughout his schooling and wanted to become a barrister. To realize this ambition he had to go to England. Despite of being a bright student his financial condition was so bad that he did not have enough to even join a college India. To give result to his ambition, he borrowed books from a lawyer of his associate and studied at home. Sporadically he attended Courts of law and listened attentively to the arguments of lawyer and passed the Law examination with flying colours. He started his Law practice in Godhra and flourished.
Vallabhbhai Patel got married to Jhaberaba and in the year 1904, he got a baby daughter Maniben, and in 1905 his son Dahyabhai was born. Vallabhbhai sent his elder brother Vitthalbhai, who himself was a lawyer, to England for higher studies in Law. Patel was only thirty-three years old when his wife died but he did not desire to marry again. After his brother's return, he went to England to study Barrister-at-Law and due to his utmost devotion, he stood first in the Examination.
Patel returned to India in 1913 and started his practice in Ahmedabad and in no time he became well-known. in 1917, at the influence of his friends, Patel contested and won elections to become the sanitation commissioner of Ahmedabad. Sardar Patel was deeply impressed by Gandhiji's success in Champaran Satyagraha. In 1918, there was a drought in the Kheda division of Gujarat. Peasants asked for relief from the high rate of taxes but the British government refused. Gandhiji took up peasants cause but could not devote his full time in Kheda. He was looking for someone who could lead the struggle in his absence. At this point Sardar Patel volunteered and lead the struggle. He gave up his profitable legal practice and entered public life.
Vallabhbhai successfully led the peasants revolt in Kheda and the revolt ended in 1919 when the British government agreed to shelve collection of revenue and roll back the rates. Kheda Satyagraha turned Vallabhbhai Patel into a national hero. He supported Gandhi's Non-Cooperation Movement, and as president of the Gujarat Congress, helped in organizing beacon of British goods in Ahmedabad. He gave up his Western clothes and started wearing Khadi and was elected Ahmedabad's municipal President in 1922, 1924 and 1927. During his terms, Ahmedabad was extended a major supply of electricity and endured major education reforms. Drainage and sanitation systems were extended over all the city.
In the year 1928, Bardoli Taluka in Gujarat suffered from floods and famine and during this time of distress the British government raised the revenue taxes by thirty percent. Sardar Patel took up sticks on behalf of the farmers and appealed to the Governor to reduce the taxes. The Governor refused and the government even announced the date of the collection of the taxes. Sardar Patel organized the farmers and told them not to pay even a single penny of it. The government tried to repress the revolt but ultimately bowed before Vallabhbhai Patel. It was during the struggle and after the victory in Bardoli that caused intense stimulation across India, that Patel was increasingly addressed by his colleagues and followers as Sardar.
In the year 1930 when the Disobedience Movement started, he actively participated in it an was arrested. Soon after signing of Gandhi-Irwin pact in 1931, Sardar Patel was released and was elected Congress president for the 1931 session in Karachi. The failure of the Round Table Conference in London, Gandhiji and Sardar Patel were arrested in January 1932 and imprisoned in the Yeravada Central Jail. During this time, Sardar Patel and Mahatma Gandhi grew close to one another, and the two developed a close bond of fondness, trust, and frankness without reserve. Sardar Patel was finally released in July 1934.
In August 1942, the Congress launched the Quit India Movement, the British government put all the important leaders of the Congress, including Vallabhai Patel behind the bars and everyone was released after three years. After achieving independence on 15th of August 1947, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru became the first Prime Minister of free India and Sardar Patel became the Deputy Prime Minister. He was in charge of Home Affairs, Information and Broadcasting and the Ministry of States.
There were 565 princely states in India at that time. Some of the Maharajas and Nawabs who ruled over these were sensible and patriotic. But most of them were drunk with wealth and power. They were dreaming of becoming independent rulers once the British quit India. They argued that the government of free India should treat them as equals. Some of them went to the extent of planning to send their representatives to the United Nations Organization. Patel invoked the patriotism of India's monarchs, asking them to join in the freedom of their nation and act as responsible rulers. He persuaded the princes of 565 states of the infeasibility of independence of the Indian republic, especially in the presence of growing opposition from their subjects. With great wisdom and political foresight, he united the small kingdoms. He tackled the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Nawab of Junagarh who initially did not want to join India. Sardar Patel's untiring efforts towards the unity of the country brought success. He united a scattered nation without much bloodshed. Due to the achievement of this massive task, Sardar Patel got the title of 'Iron Man'. Sardar Patel died of cardiac arrest on December 15, 1950. For his services to the nation Sardar Patel was conferred with Bharat Ratna in 1991.
Vallabhbhai Patel got married to Jhaberaba and in the year 1904, he got a baby daughter Maniben, and in 1905 his son Dahyabhai was born. Vallabhbhai sent his elder brother Vitthalbhai, who himself was a lawyer, to England for higher studies in Law. Patel was only thirty-three years old when his wife died but he did not desire to marry again. After his brother's return, he went to England to study Barrister-at-Law and due to his utmost devotion, he stood first in the Examination.
Patel returned to India in 1913 and started his practice in Ahmedabad and in no time he became well-known. in 1917, at the influence of his friends, Patel contested and won elections to become the sanitation commissioner of Ahmedabad. Sardar Patel was deeply impressed by Gandhiji's success in Champaran Satyagraha. In 1918, there was a drought in the Kheda division of Gujarat. Peasants asked for relief from the high rate of taxes but the British government refused. Gandhiji took up peasants cause but could not devote his full time in Kheda. He was looking for someone who could lead the struggle in his absence. At this point Sardar Patel volunteered and lead the struggle. He gave up his profitable legal practice and entered public life.
Vallabhbhai successfully led the peasants revolt in Kheda and the revolt ended in 1919 when the British government agreed to shelve collection of revenue and roll back the rates. Kheda Satyagraha turned Vallabhbhai Patel into a national hero. He supported Gandhi's Non-Cooperation Movement, and as president of the Gujarat Congress, helped in organizing beacon of British goods in Ahmedabad. He gave up his Western clothes and started wearing Khadi and was elected Ahmedabad's municipal President in 1922, 1924 and 1927. During his terms, Ahmedabad was extended a major supply of electricity and endured major education reforms. Drainage and sanitation systems were extended over all the city.
In the year 1928, Bardoli Taluka in Gujarat suffered from floods and famine and during this time of distress the British government raised the revenue taxes by thirty percent. Sardar Patel took up sticks on behalf of the farmers and appealed to the Governor to reduce the taxes. The Governor refused and the government even announced the date of the collection of the taxes. Sardar Patel organized the farmers and told them not to pay even a single penny of it. The government tried to repress the revolt but ultimately bowed before Vallabhbhai Patel. It was during the struggle and after the victory in Bardoli that caused intense stimulation across India, that Patel was increasingly addressed by his colleagues and followers as Sardar.
In the year 1930 when the Disobedience Movement started, he actively participated in it an was arrested. Soon after signing of Gandhi-Irwin pact in 1931, Sardar Patel was released and was elected Congress president for the 1931 session in Karachi. The failure of the Round Table Conference in London, Gandhiji and Sardar Patel were arrested in January 1932 and imprisoned in the Yeravada Central Jail. During this time, Sardar Patel and Mahatma Gandhi grew close to one another, and the two developed a close bond of fondness, trust, and frankness without reserve. Sardar Patel was finally released in July 1934.
In August 1942, the Congress launched the Quit India Movement, the British government put all the important leaders of the Congress, including Vallabhai Patel behind the bars and everyone was released after three years. After achieving independence on 15th of August 1947, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru became the first Prime Minister of free India and Sardar Patel became the Deputy Prime Minister. He was in charge of Home Affairs, Information and Broadcasting and the Ministry of States.
There were 565 princely states in India at that time. Some of the Maharajas and Nawabs who ruled over these were sensible and patriotic. But most of them were drunk with wealth and power. They were dreaming of becoming independent rulers once the British quit India. They argued that the government of free India should treat them as equals. Some of them went to the extent of planning to send their representatives to the United Nations Organization. Patel invoked the patriotism of India's monarchs, asking them to join in the freedom of their nation and act as responsible rulers. He persuaded the princes of 565 states of the infeasibility of independence of the Indian republic, especially in the presence of growing opposition from their subjects. With great wisdom and political foresight, he united the small kingdoms. He tackled the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Nawab of Junagarh who initially did not want to join India. Sardar Patel's untiring efforts towards the unity of the country brought success. He united a scattered nation without much bloodshed. Due to the achievement of this massive task, Sardar Patel got the title of 'Iron Man'. Sardar Patel died of cardiac arrest on December 15, 1950. For his services to the nation Sardar Patel was conferred with Bharat Ratna in 1991.