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Vallabh
Bhai Patel the iron-man of India was born on 13th October, 1875, in a
small village Karamsadh of Bombay region. His father Jhaber Bhai Patel was a
simple farmer and mother Laad Bai was a simple lady.
From his childhood itself, Patel was a very hard-working individual. He used
to help his father in farming and studied in a school at Patelaad. He passed
his high-school examination in 1896. Throughout school he was a very wise
and intelligent student. Inspite of poor financial conditions his father
decided to send him to college but VallabhBhai refused. Around three years
he stayed at home, worked hard and prepared for the District Leader's
examinaton, hence passing with very good precentage.
Sardar Patel
hated to work for anyone especially the Britishers. He was a person of
independent nature. He started his own practice of law in a place called
Godhara. Soon the practice flourished. He saved money, made financial
arrangement for the entire family. He got married to Jhaberaba. In 1904, he
got a baby daughter Maniben, and in 1905 his son Dahya was born. He sent his
elder brother to England for higher studies in law. In 1908, Vittha Bhai
returned as barrister and started practising in Bombay. In 1909 his wife
became seriously ill and was taken to Bombay for treatment VallabhBhai had
to go for the hearing of an urgent case and his wife died. He was stunned.
He admitted his children in St. Mary's school Bombay, and he left for
England. He became a barrister and retuned to India in 1913.
He started his
practice in Ahmedabad and soon he became aware of the local life, activities
and people's problems. He became an extremely popular person and he got
elected in the Municipal Corportaion in 1917. Around 1915, he came across
Mahatma Gandhi. The Swadeshi Movement was at its peak. Gandhiji gave a
lecture at a place in Ahmedabad where Patel heard him and was very impressed
and started actively participating in the freedom movement. The British
government's atrocities were increasing. The government declared to
confiscate all the lands of farmers. He forced the British government to
amend the rules. He brought together the farmers and encouraged them and
hence got the title of 'Sardar' and thus became famous.
The British
government considered him as a threat and his lectures were considered
anti-government and he was imprisoned several times. In 1942, he took part
in the Quit India Movement under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi. He was
arrested along with other leaders and was sent to Ahmednagar jail. Inspite
of the British Rule, rulers of the small kingdoms were spending a lot of
public money, and were having a nice time. Sardar Vallabh Bhai opposed this.
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 intially did not want to join India. There were a lot of
problems connected with the reunion of the numerous states into India.
Sardar Patel's untiring efforts towards the unity of the country brought
success. Due to the achievement of this massive task, Sardar Patel got the
title of 'Iron Man'. ' He is one of the prestigious leaders of the
world who became immmortal by uniting a scattered nation without any
bloodshed.
His enthusiasm
to work for the independent nation got a big jolt when Gandhiji was
murdered. Patel was very attached to Gandhiji and considered him, his elder
brother and teacher. He was encouraged by Mahatma Gandhi in all his work.
Gandhiji's death left him broken. On 15th December, 1950 he died of a
cardiac arrest. The news of his death spread all over the world. The entire
nation plunged into deep sorrow, everyday life came to a standstill. A
grateful nation paid a tearful homage to it's beloved leader. In 1991 the
grateful nation conferred upon him the honour of Bharat Ratna.
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