Vallabhbhai Patel: A Sardar of Farmers, A Matchless Social Reformer and the Maker of United India

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was instrumental in unifying the princely states to form the Union of India.

- Kamlesh Kumari

For his fearless approach and stern appearance, Sardar Patel was regarded as the Iron man of India.

Along with this, Vallabhbhai Patel was one of the great social and political leaders of India. He played a crucial role during the freedom struggle of India, and he was instrumental in the integration of over 500 princely states into the Indian Union. Despite the choice of the people, on the request of Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel stepped down from the candidacy of the Congress President who had to lead the country as the First Prime Minister in 1946.

Life

Vallabhbhai Patel was born on October 31, 1875 in Karamsad village of Gujarat to Jhaverbhai and Ladba. His father Jhaverbhai Patel had served in the army of the Queen of Jhansi while his mother was a Very spiritual woman.

Starting his primary education in a Gujarati medium school Vallabhbhai Patel joined another English medium school and finally in the year 1897, he passed his high school examination and started preparing for law examination. He passed it and started practicing in Godhra. In 1910 Vallabhbhai Patel went to England to study law. He completed his law studies in 1913 and came back to India and started his law practice in Ahmedabad. For his excellencies in law, Vallabhbhai was offered many lucrative posts by the British Government, but he rejected all. He was a staunch opponent of the British Government and its laws and, therefore, he decided not to work for the British.

He later settled at Ahmedabad. After a meeting with Mahatma Gandhi at the Gujarat Club Vallabhbhai Patel got influenced by his words, further inspired by Gandhi's work and his and became a staunch follower of the Mahatma.

National Liberation Movement