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.
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'.
6. Sardar Patel supported Mahatama Gandhi's Non-Cooperation Movement and switched to wearing only khadi clothes.
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:
PM Modi Pays Tributes To Sardar Patel On His Death Anniversary PM Narendra Modi, Other Ministers Pay Tribute To Sardar Patel On His 66th Death Anniversary PM Modi Pays Tributes To Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel On His Death Anniversary INDIA's "Hit With Footwear" Protest In Mumbai Over Shivaji Statue Collapse Celebrated "Russian Spy" Whale Hvaldimir Found Dead In Norway: Report "It's Mom, I Love You": Mother Of Israeli-American Found Dead In Gaza Video: Vadodara Animal Rescuers Tripling On Scooter - With A Crocodile Ukrainian Drones Target Oil Refinery, Power Plants In Moscow, Says Russia Bollywood Romance Is Dead. Long Live Action! Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.