Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel: Iron Man

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel: Iron Man

The iron man of India, Sardar Vallabhai Patel was born on October 31st, 1875. He is a historical figure of great inspiration, one of the founding fathers of Republic of India and a prominent leader of Indian National Congress. He was a person of independent nature. He is addressed as ‘Sardar’, which means Chief in Hindi.

Childhood

Sardar Vallabhai Patel was born on October 31, 1875. As a child he used to live in the village of Karamsad, Bombay Presidency. He was the fourth child of his parents and had five siblings. As a child, Patel helped his father in the fields and twice a month kept a day-long fast, abstaining from food and water that he believed helped him to develop physical toughness.

Education

Sardar Vallabhai Patel attended schools in Nadiad, Petlad and Borsad, living self-sufficiently with other boys. He reputedly cultivated a stoic character. Sardar Vallabhai Patel passed his matriculation at the late age of twenty two. He was regarded as unambitious man destined for a common type of job. But he was rather shrewd. He planned to save money and go to England to study law and become a barrister and became the same. His planning paid off as he became successful in it. He started his practice as a lawyer in Ahmedabad and soon could empathize with the people.

Career

He joined Swadeshi movement which was at its peak at that time. He led the Congress independently and in the best possible way and the best part was that everybody paid heed to the same. Vallabhbhai Patel took the charge of Champaran and Kheda Satyagrah in Gujarat, where he went village-to-village and urged them not to pay taxes. He was arrested for the Salt Satyagrah, along with Mahatma Gandhi. He had great wisdom and vision for India. His political foresight was fruitful for the country. He tackled many reigns of Kings without any support and thus, he was called Iron Man of India. He went on a full-fledged support to carry ahead Quit India Movement.

At the end

Sardar Vallabhai Patel was under big shock when Gandhiji was murdered because of the reason that he was highly attached to Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhiji’s death left him broken. And on December 15, 1950 he himself left the country forever. The reason for his death was cardiac arrest.