Questions about Vallabhbhai Patel
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who was Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and what was his role in Indian independence?
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was an Indian independence activist, lawyer, and statesman who served as the first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of India from 1947 to 1950. He was a senior leader of the Indian National Congress who organised peasant resistance movements in Gujarat, was a key figure in the Quit India movement, and oversaw the political integration of more than 565 princely states into the Indian union.
Why is Vallabhbhai Patel called the Iron Man of India?
Patel earned the title Iron Man of India for his commitment to national integration in the newly independent country. He persuaded or pressured more than 565 princely states to accede to India, using a combination of diplomacy, patriotic appeals, and, where necessary, military force, to prevent the fragmentation of the nation.
What was Patel's famous speech at Gowalia Tank in 1942?
On the 7th of August 1942, Patel addressed more than 100,000 people at Gowalia Tank in Bombay in support of the Quit India movement. He told the crowd that the campaign was "going to be the opportunity of a lifetime" and called on Indians to refuse taxes and join civil disobedience. Historians credit the speech with electrifying nationalists who had until then been sceptical of the proposed rebellion.
How did Vallabhbhai Patel integrate the princely states into India?
Patel, working with his chief secretary V. P. Menon, set a deadline of the 15th of August 1947 for princes to sign instruments of accession. He invited monarchs to social meetings at his home in Delhi, invoked their patriotism, and proposed favourable terms including privy purses for their descendants. All but three states joined willingly; Junagadh was brought in after a 99.5% plebiscite vote, and Hyderabad acceded after a military operation launched on the 13th of September 1947.
What is the Statue of Unity and why was it built for Patel?
The Statue of Unity is a monument dedicated to Vallabhbhai Patel located in Gujarat, facing the Narmada Dam. Standing 182 metres tall, it is the world's tallest statue, exceeding the Spring Temple Buddha by 54 metres. Built at a cost of 29.8 billion rupees, it was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the 31st of October 2018, the 143rd anniversary of Patel's birth.
What is Rashtriya Ekta Diwas and how is it connected to Vallabhbhai Patel?
Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, or National Unity Day, is observed annually on the 31st of October, Patel's birthday. It was introduced by the Government of India and inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014. The day honours Patel's role in integrating over 550 independent princely states into India between 1947 and 1949.