Sardar Patel

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 1

Leaders across the political spectrum on Monday paid tributes to India’s first Home minister Sardar Vallabhai Patel on his birth anniversary, calling him “a hero” whose “contributions shaped modern India”. 

• National Unity Day marks the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on October 31.

Sardar Patel

• Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was a a prominent figure in the Indian Freedom Struggle, who later became India’s first Deputy Prime Minister and first Home Minister. 
• He is known for his contribution in integrating 565 princely states into a newly independent India. 
• Sardar Patel who is popularly known as the Iron Man of India made many important contributions to Indian freedom struggle and modern India.
• In 1918, Vallabhbhai took the responsibility of leading the farmers of Gujarat. He started the Kheda satyagraha that demanded the suspension of the revenue collection from farmers as there was a drought.
• In 1920, the Congress started the non-cooperation struggle and Vallabhbhai gave up his practice. He setup the Gujarat Vidyapeeth where children could study instead of attending Government schools.
• In 1928 he successfully organized the landowners of Bardoli against British tax increases. It was after this that Vallabhbhai was given the title of Sardar (Leader).
• In 1931 he served as President of the Indian National Congress in its Karachi session which changed the nature of movement from a political struggle and added to it new socio-economic dimensions. As part of congress, he was part of the No changers faction and emphasised on the crucial role of constructive work in village regeneration and carrying the message of nationalism to the masses.
• Toured during the Kheda campaign (1918) which was a success, supported Gandhi in Non-cooperation Movement (1920), was arrested during the Dandi Salt March (1930).
• He was awarded the Bharat Ratna posthumously in 1991. His birth anniversary is observed as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day) since 2014.

Headed following Committees of the Constituent Assembly:

• Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights.
• Committee on Minorities and Tribal and Excluded Areas.
• Provincial Constitution

About Statue of Unity

• The Statue of Unity is a memorial to Sardar Vallabhai Patel.It was inaugurated on 31st October 2018 in commemoration to Sardar Patel on his 143rd birth anniversary.
• It is situated in the Kevadia town,Narmada district Gujarat. It has been built on the Sadhu Bet Island, on the Narmada River.
• It is the tallest statue in the world with a height of 182 mts.
• The Statue of Unity has been included in the 8 wonders of Shanghai Cooperation Organization(SCO).