He also served as the president of the Indian National Congress. His commitment to national integration earned him the nickname ‘Iron Man of India.’
Throughout his life, Patel demonstrated exceptional courage and perseverance. He organised multiple rallies, was imprisoned several times, and continued to fight for India’s independence. He died on December 15, 1950, due to a heart attack in Bombay. However, his legacy continues to inspire Indians to this day.
On his 74th death anniversary, let’s look at some interesting facts about Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel:
Born in Gujarat, Patel’s official birthdate is unknown, but he randomly chose October 31, 1875, as his birthdate while taking his matriculation exam.
At the age of 16, Patel got married to Jhaverba Patel.
Patel also contracted the bubonic plague during the Gujarat pandemic.
By 22, he passed his matriculation, relatively late compared to his peers at the time.
Patel spent many years away from his family and studied books, which he borrowed from friends.
His journey took him to England, where he studied law at Middle Temple in London’s Inns of Court. He completed his 36-month course in just 30 months, graduating first in his class.
His personal life was marked by tragedy when his wife, Jhaverba, died in 1909 due to cancer. Patel was cross-examining a witness in court when he received the news but he continued with his work.
His transformation into a key figure in India’s independence movement began when he met Mahatma Gandhi in 1917. He joined the Indian independence movement, despite initially having no interest in politics.
In his political career, Patel fought against social injustices such as untouchability, alcohol consumption and caste discrimination, and also promoted women’s empowerment.
Inaugurated on October 31, 2018, the world’s tallest statue, the ‘Statue of Unity,’ is dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
