Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Born: October 31, 1875 Died: December 15,
1950
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was born
on 31 October, 1875, in a farmer's family in Naiad,
Gujarat.
His father, Zaverbhai, had served
in the army of Jhansi ki Rani, and his mother, Ladbai, was a deeply religious
woman. Vallabhbhai's initial schooling was in Gujarati.
After his schooling, he went to England for higher studies. In 1913 after studying law there he returned back to India as a
barrister.
Vallabhbhai was married to
Zaverbai in 1891. The couple had two children-a daughter Maniben, born in April
of 1904, and a son Dayabhai, born in November of 1905. Zaverbai died in January
of 1909.
Vallabhbhai was deeply influenced
by Gandhiji. The title of 'Sardar' was given to him by Gandhiji. In 1918, he entered politics. IN 1931, he became the President three years
as he was the leader of the Quit India Movement.
In 1947, India became independent
and Vallabhbhai became the Home
Minister of Independent India. 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 who
cared about the future of their people. He persuaded the princes of 565 states
of the impossibility of independence from the Indian republic, especially in
the presence of growing opposition from their subjects. With great wisdom and
political foresight, he consolidated the small kingdoms. The public was with
him. 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
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