Sardar Patel's birthday on October 31 is celebrated as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas.
Vallabhbhai Jhaverbhai Patel, popularly known as Sardar Patel, played a key role in Indian freedom movement and persuaded the princely states to accede to newly independent India. For this role and commitment towards national integration, Sardar Patel earned the sobriquet 'Iron Man of India'. He was a lawyer by profession who grew up to become the first Deputy Prime Minister of India. He was also the founding father of the Republic of India. In 2014, the government declared his birthday, October 31, as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day). On Sardar Patel Death anniversary today, here are 10 facts about about the man who unified India:
1. Sardar Patel was born on October 31, 1875, in Gujarat. He studied law in the Middle Temple Inn in London, practiced it in India and became one of the most successful lawyers in the country.
2. He was married to Jhaverba and the couple had two children, daughter Maniben and son Dahyabhai. His wife, however, died of cancer when their children were just 5 and 3 and Sardar Patel raised them with his family's support.
3. He joined the Indian Independence struggle after he met Mahatama Gandhi in 1917. He encouraged Indians nationwide to sign a petition demanding Swaraj (self-rule) from Britain.
4. He organised relief efforts in the wake of plague and famine in Gujarat's Kheda and after personal contemplation left his ambition as a lawyer and devoted himself completely to the freedom struggle. He was the force behind the 'Gujarat Satyagraha'.
5. In 1920, Sardar Patel became the President of Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee and he worked extensively in the following years against alcoholism, untouchability, caste discriminationand empowerment of women in the state.
6. Sardar Patel supported Mahatama Gandhi's Non-Cooperation Movement and switched to wearing only khadi clothes.
7. He rose to the leadership of the Indian National Congress and organised the party for elections in 1934 and 1937 even as he continued to promote the Quit India Movement.
8. After India gained independence from the British, Sardar Patel was one of the first Congress leaders to accept the partition of India as a solution to the rising Muslim separatist movement led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah. He represented India on the Partition Council.
9. Sardar Patel was given the herculean task of the political integration of India and is responsible for unifying 562 princely states in the country. This earned him the title of 'Iron Man of India'.
10. Sardar Patel died on December 15, 1950, at Birla House in Bombay after suffering a massive heart attack. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna posthumously.
On Sardar Patel death anniversary, leaders paid homage to the patriot: Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted:
Congress President Rahul Gandhi paid tributes on Sardar Patel Jayanti:Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore paid homage on Sardar Patel death anniversary. He tweeted: Gujarat Congress president Bharatsinh Solanki also paid his respects on Sardar Patel Jayanti: