31st of October is the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, one of the chief architects of the unified form of India we live in today. He was born in 1875 in Nadiad which was then part of the Bombay Presidency today a part of Gujarat. India’s first Deputy Prime Minister & Home Minister he was a vital figure of our independence struggle as well as a key nation-builder.
While 31st October is the birth anniversary of Sardar Patel it is also the day when Indira Gandhi, India's first and only woman Prime Minister was assassinated.
Leaders cutting across party-lines paid their tributes to the Congress leader.
It is appropriate that the birth anniversary of Sardar Patel is observed as National Unity Day. It was largely due to his efforts that the various princely states were persuaded to join the union of India around the time of independence.
Patel had a thriving legal practice before he met Mahatma Gandhi. It was Gandhiji’s work and inspiring ideas that led him to give that up and join the freedom struggle.
Sardar joined Gandhiji in his freedom struggle and was one of the main forces behind organising the Gujarati farmers to agitate against the British and ask for Swaraj or self rule.
Some took the opportunity to clarify some facts to clear up some of the misinformation that is often seen to spread on social media. While many allege that the relationship between Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Patel was rocky, historical documents seem to prove that relations between the two leaders were cordial and respectful.
Sardar Patel was instrumental in getting over 500 small and big princely states integrated to form our India of today.
Not only did Sardar Patel persuade hundreds of kingdoms to join the Indian union, but he also oversaw the setting up administrative and other institutions of the country.
Though he passed away just a couple of years after India became independent (December 1950), he is fondly remembered for his contributions to our freedom and the subsequent massive undertaking of India’s nation-building.
It was his dream that the extreme poverty of so many Indian citizens would be alleviated one day – a dream that remains unfulfilled even today. If we are to truly honour the Iron Man of India, we can do this by contributing to the creation of a fair, just and equal society where all citizens are seen as and treated equally.
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