Who is known as Iron Man of India ?

The separatist movement lead by Muslim League leader Mohammed Ali Jinnah led to a series of violent Hindu-Muslim riots across the country just before the independence.

In Sardar Patel’s opinion, the open communal conflicts incited by the riots had the potential to establish a weak Government at the centre post-independence which will be disastrous for consolidating a democratic nation.

Patel went on to work on a solution with V.P. Menon, a civil servant during December 1946 and accepted his suggestion of creating a separate dominion based on religious inclination of states.

He represented India in the Partition Council.

Vallabhbhai Patel set up his household in Godhra and was called to the bar. The couple had a daughter, Maniben, in 1904 and a son, Dahyabhai, in 1906.

Soon, Patel earned a reputation as a fierce and skilled lawyer. Patel also cared for a friend suffering from the Bubonic plague when it swept across Gujarat.

When Vallabhbhai Patel himself came down with the disease, he immediately sent his family to safety. He left his home, and moved into an isolated house in Nadiad and there he recovered slowly.

Patel practised law in Godhra, Borsad, and Anand while taking on the financial burdens of his homestead in Karamsad.

Vallabhbhai Patel was the first chairman and founder of Jhaverbhai Dajibhai Patel High School in Borsad.

In 1909 Patel’s wife Jhaverba was hospitalised in Bombay. She underwent major surgery for cancer. Patel was given a note informing him of his wife’s demise as he was cross-examining a witness in court. Patel read the note, pocketed it, and continued his cross-examination and won the case. He broke the news to others only after the proceedings had ended.

Vallabhbhai Patel decided against marrying again. He raised his children with the help of his family and sent them to English-language schools in Mumbai.

At the age of 36 he journeyed to England and enrolled at the Middle Temple Inn in London. Completing a 36-month course in 30 months, Patel finished at the top of his class despite having had no previous college background.

Returning to India, Vallabhbhai Patel settled in Ahmedabad and became one of the city’s most successful barristers. Wearing European-style clothes and sporting urbane mannerisms, he became a skilled bridge player.

At the urging of his friends, Patel ran in the election for the post of sanitation commissioner of Ahmedabad in 1917 and won.

While often clashing with British officials on civic issues, he did not show any interest in politics.

A subsequent meeting with Gandhi, in October 1917 fundamentally changed Patel and led him to join the Indian independence struggle.

On Gandhi’s encouragement, Vallabhbhai Patel became the secretary of the Gujarat Sabha, a public body that would become the Gujarati arm of the Indian National Congress.

Soon Gandhi asked for a Gujarati activist to devote himself completely to the assignment and Patel volunteered, much to Gandhi’s delight. Vallabhbhai Patel began a village-by-village tour in the Kheda district, documenting grievances and asking villagers for their support for a statewide revolt by refusing to pay taxes.

Patel emphasised the potential hardships and the need for complete unity and non-violence in the face of provocation. He received an enthusiastic response from virtually every village.

When the people revolted was launched and withheld tax revenue from government. The government sent police and intimidation squads to seize property, including confiscating barn animals and whole farms. Patel organised a network of volunteers to work with individual villages, helping them hide valuables and protect themselves against raids.

The revolt evoked sympathy and admiration across India, including among pro-British Indian politicians. The government agreed to negotiate with Patel and decided to suspend the payment of taxes for a year, even scaling back the rate.

Patel emerged as a hero to Gujaratis. In 1920 congress elected him president of the newly formed Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee. He would serve as its president until 1945.

In the following years against alcoholism, untouchability, and caste discrimination, as well as for the empowerment of women.

The people of Ahmadabad elected Patel as Ahmedabad’s municipal president in 1922, 1924, and 1927. He during his terms, oversaw improvements in infrastructure. Patel increased the supply of electricity and drainage and sanitation systems were extended throughout the city.

The school system underwent major reforms. He fought for the recognition and payment of teachers employed in schools established by nationalists (independent of British control) and even took on sensitive Hindu–Muslim issues.