Sardar VallabhBhai Patel, the very name reflects the determination, discipline, and a true symbol of Patriotism, who was born on 31st October 1875 in Nadiad, present-day it is known as Kheda district, Gujarat, India. Patel's father's name was Jhaverbhai Patel, and his mother's Name was Ladba. He was coming from a modest family . Patel grew up with simplicity, patience, and a natural sense of responsibility. After completing his studies , he pursued law and practiced in places like Karachi and Bombay.
Around 1917 , when he came under the influence of Mahatma Gandhi , Patel stepped fully into the freedom movement . He raised his voice for the rights of peasants and workers. The Kheda Satyagraha of 1918 and later the Bardoli Satyagraha of 1928 stand as shining examples of his leadership. It was during the Bardoli struggle that people affectionately gave him the title "Sardar," meaning leader. He soon became one of Gandhi's closest associates and a strong pillar of the Indian National Congress.
Patel was not only a leader of movements but also a master organizer. Within the Congress, he was known for his discipline, firmness, and ability to make clear decisions. He played a major role in the Non-Cooperation Movement, Civil Disobedience Movement, and other struggles for freedom. Despite multiple prison sentences, his commitment to the nation never weakened.
In 1947, when India finally achieved independence, the nation's biggest challenge was not just freedom from the British, but the question of unity. With the British leaving, each of these rulers had option to join India, merge with Pakistan, or even declare themselves independent . As India's first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, this responsibility fell upon Sardar Patel. With his diplomatic skill, iron will, and balance of persuasion and pressure, he succeeded in uniting 562 princely States with the Indian Union. The state of Hyderabad, one of the largest and richest princely states , resisted joining India under its Nizam . Patel patiently tried negotiation, but when talks failed, he ordered " Operation Polo" in 1948, a swift military action that brought Hyderabad into the Indian Union within five days. His decisive actions in complex cases like Hyderabad and Junagadh safeguarded the unity of the country. For this achievement, he earned the proud title of "Iron Man of India".
Even when his health declined, Patel continued to serve the nation with dedication. On 15 December 1950, he passed away in Bombay (now Mumbai). India lost a true patriot, a man of steel, and an architect of national integration. In 1991, the Government of India honored him posthumously with the Bharat Ratna Award, the country's highest civilian award.
The life of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel teaches us that discipline, courage, and practical decision-making are the keys to achieving great goals like nation-building. He remains a symbol of duty and determination for generations. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel truly proved that one man's iron will can build an entire nation. Indians always remind him of a great leader.
The Govt of India inaugurated the Statue of Unity is the world's tallest statue, as a grand tribute to the man who united India, on 31st October 2018, on his birth anniversary, standing 182 meters, located on the banks of the Narmada River near Kevaria, in Gujarat, India .
