Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the first home minister of free India, was born in 21st October, 1857 in a Gujarati family. Because of his strong will- power and the capacity to take firm decision, he was known as the ‘IRON MAN OF INDIA’.
After his schooling, he proceeded to England for higher studies. There he studied law and returned to India as a barrister. His excellent work in every field made his famous in Gujarat. Patel was deeply influenced by Gandhiji and entered active politics in 1918.
He had great sympathy with the peasants of India. Patel is also known as the hero of bardoli satyagrah. The people of bardoli were very poor. They could not bear the 30 per cent increase in taxes. So he launched his satyagrah of their cause.
The title of ‘Sardar’ was given to him by Gandhiji. In 1931, he became the president of the congress. In 1942, he was sentenced for three years, as he was the leader of the quit India movement.
In 1947, when India got freedom Sardar Patel became the home minister. He maintained law and order during the riots that had erupted soon after the partition.
Sardar Patel’s biggest achievement was his encouragement to the kings of more than 500states to give up their sovereignty. He merged their states with the Indian union. Due to him, today Hyderabad is the part of India.
His service to the nation will always be remembered. Patel died in the year 1949. With his passing away country lost a matchless and able leader.
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