Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel: The Iron Man of India

In 1947 India had about 565 princely states. Each ruler could pick India, Pakistan, or stand alone. One man had to turn that mess into a country: Vallabhbhai Patel.

People call him the Iron Man of India. His work was patient talk, firm pressure, and, in three hard cases, the army.

1How did a village lawyer rise?

Vallabhbhai Patel was born in Nadiad, in Gujarat. His birth date was never officially recorded. He wrote 31 October on his matriculation papers, and that date stuck.

He belonged to the Patidar farming community. He passed his matriculation late, at around 22. Elders thought he would take a plain job. He had other plans. He read law from borrowed books and became a successful lawyer.

He wanted to study in England. A ticket arrived in the name “V. J. Patel”, at the house of his elder brother Vithalbhai. Vithalbhai had the same initials. Patel let his brother go in his place. Years later, at 36, he sailed to London himself. He finished a 36-month course in 30 months and topped his class.

Back in Ahmedabad he became a leading barrister. Then he met Gandhi in 1917. His life turned toward public service.

• Born in Nadiad; date taken as 31 October 1875.
• Gave way to his brother Vithalbhai for the England trip.
• Finished the law course at the Middle Temple in 30 months.
• Met Gandhi in 1917.

2What did he win in Kheda and Bardoli?

In 1918 the Kheda farmers asked for tax relief after crop failure. Gandhi backed the cause but wanted a Gujarati to devote himself fully. Patel volunteered. He gave up his career and went village by village.

He also organised volunteers to help villagers hide their valuables from raids. Police seized property and thousands were arrested. The government finally agreed to talk. Kheda made Patel a hero in Gujarat.

Ten years later came Bardoli, in 1928. Famine and a steep tax rise had hit the farmers. Patel led a complete no-tax campaign. He set up camps and an information network. In August he won a deal that cancelled the tax rise and returned seized land.

It was during this struggle that the women of Bardoli began to call him Sardar. The word stuck for life.

• Kheda, 1918: tax revolt after crop failure.
• Bardoli, 1928: complete no-tax campaign.
• Settlement: tax rise repealed, land returned.
• Title Sardar from the women of Bardoli.
• Read about the Kheda Satyagraha and Mohanlal Pandya.

3What was his role in Congress?

Patel was a master organiser. He was president of the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee from 1920 to 1945. He was elected Congress president for its 1931 session at Karachi.

Under his chairmanship, the Congress passed the Fundamental Rights and Economic Policy resolution. It backed civil liberties and a secular nation.

From 1934 he raised funds and picked candidates for elections. In August 1942 he gave a rousing speech at Gowalia Tank in Bombay, supporting the Quit India movement. He was jailed with Gandhi at Yeravda in 1932. In 1942 he was arrested with the Congress Working Committee and held in Ahmednagar Fort until 1945.

• Gujarat Congress chief, 1920 to 1945.
• Karachi session president, 1931.
• Resolution on Fundamental Rights and economic policy.
• Yeravda jail with Gandhi, 1932; Ahmednagar Fort, 1942 to 1945.

4How did he bring the states in?

After 1947 Patel became Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister. Britain had left about 565 princely states free to choose. He chose a capable aide, V. P. Menon, as the chief secretary of the States Ministry.

Almost all rulers joined willingly. Only three did not: Junagadh, Hyderabad, and Jammu and Kashmir. Popular accounts say 562 of 565 joined peacefully. The exact count varies by source.

Junagadh’s Nawab chose Pakistan, yet most people there were Hindu. Patel demanded the accession be cancelled. After protests and a civil government, Indian forces marched in. A later vote showed 99.5 percent for India.

Hyderabad was the largest state. Its ruler, the Nizam, wanted independence or Pakistan. His Razakar militia pressed him to hold out. After talks failed, India sent troops in September 1948. The Nizam then signed the accession.

Kashmir followed a different path. Its accession came through a signed instrument. Patel, Nehru and Mountbatten each played a part.

• Aide: V. P. Menon.
• Only three resisted: Junagadh, Hyderabad, Kashmir.
• Junagadh: vote showed 99.5 percent for India.
• Hyderabad: the Razakars and troops in September 1948.
• Read about the princely states, Junagadh and V. P. Menon.

5What did he build and leave behind?

Patel helped shape the Constitution as a senior leader in the Constituent Assembly. He is called the patron saint of India’s civil servants. He helped create the All India Services, which he called the Steel Frame.

He also guided Gujarat farmers to form a milk cooperative. It became the Kaira District Co-operative Milk Producers’ Union. That body later grew into the Amul brand.

After Gandhi’s assassination on 30 January 1948, Patel banned the RSS on 4 February 1948. Its leaders were arrested.

He died on 15 December 1950 in Bombay. The Bharat Ratna came after his death, in 1991. The Statue of Unity, 182 metres tall, was dedicated on his birthday in 2018. India marks 31 October as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas.

• Created the All India Services, the Steel Frame.
• Amul grew from the Kaira milk union.
• RSS banned 4 February 1948.
• Bharat Ratna in 1991; Statue of Unity in 2018, 182 metres.

6What are the exam traps?

Patel’s story is full of near-twins. Watch the details.

• He did not bring in every state peacefully; three needed special handling.
• The title Sardar came from Bardoli, not Kheda.
• Gandhi led Champaran; Patel’s fields were Kheda and Bardoli.
• Patel was Home Minister, with the States Ministry under him.
• Do not confuse him with his brother Vithalbhai Patel, a legislative leader.