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How Did Sardar Patel Earn 'Iron Man of India' Moniker?

© PhotoIndia pays tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his 148th birthday.
India pays tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his 148th birthday. - Sputnik India, 1920, 31.10.2023
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With India celebrating 148th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel this year, Sputnik India explains why Patel is known as the Iron Man of India.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday paid tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his 148th birthday.

“On the Jayanti of Sardar Patel, we remember his indomitable spirit, visionary statesmanship and the extraordinary dedication with which he shaped the destiny of our nation. His commitment to national integration continues to guide us. We are forever indebted to his service,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Meanwhile, Indian President Draupadi Murmu, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Union home minister Amit Shah, along with other dignitaries, paid floral tributes to the statue of Sardar Patel in New Delhi.
The day is also celebrated as National Unity Day, the prime minister will also pay tribute to the Iron Man of India at Ekta Nagar in Gujarat's Narmada district.
On Patal's birth anniversary, we bring the role of Sardar Vallabh in free India and why he was called the Iron Man of India.

What's Sardar Patel Famous For?

Born in the Indian state of Gujarat on 31 October 1875, Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel was a barrister by profession and later joined the Indian National Congress (INC).
He quickly rose to fame thanks to his leadership qualities. He launched numerous Satyagraha movements, which are non-violent civil disobedience movements, in response to the British raising taxes during a famine in Bardoli, a town in Gujarat, in 1928. In 1930, he was imprisoned and later freed in 1931. He continued to lead Satyagraha movements even when Mahatma Gandhi was imprisoned. It was during this time that Gandhi bestowed upon him the title of Sardar.
Sardar Patel was elected as the President of the Indian National Congress in its Karachi session in 1931.
During the year 1942, when the Quit India Movement was initiated to challenge British rule, he wholeheartedly embraced the cause and embarked on a journey across the nation, rallying immense support for this historic movement led by Mahatma Gandhi. He was again arrested in 1942 and remained imprisoned until 1945 in the Ahmednagar fort.

Why is Sardar Patel Known As Iron Man Of India?

Bharat Ratna Sardar Vallabhbhai Jhaverbhai Patel got the name "Iron Man of India" for his prominent role in integrating the country after its Independence. He was appointed as the first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of free India, and gained fame for successfully integrating 562 princely states without any bloodshed. His remarkable diplomacy allowed him to earn the title "Iron Man of India."
In her book titled A Plain Blunt Man, the Essential Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, writer Urvashi Kothari portrays Patel as a calm, focused, and strategic individual known for making bold and tough decisions. According to Kothari, Patel promised unwavering support to the King of Jammu and Kashmir, Hari Singh, when Pakistan attempted to invade the region in September 1947.
Additionally, Patel spoke out against untouchability, caste discrimination, and advocated for women's empowerment. During the writing of India's constitution, he emphasized the need for equal treatment of every citizen.
Tragically, Sardar Patel passed away from a heart attack in Bombay on 15 December 1950. In recognition of his immense contributions, he was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, in 1991.

Modi Govt Recreating Image of Patel

Ironically, both Patel and Narendra Modi hails from Gujarat state. The government of Narendra Modi believes that he did not receive sufficient recognition for his pivotal role in the country's independence and unification.
After coming to power in 2014, Modi announced that Patel's birth anniversary would be observed as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day).
In 2018, the Indian Prime Minister inaugurated the Statue of Unity, the world's tallest statue standing at 597 feet, depicting Patel. Located in Gujarat and facing the Narmada Dam, it is a remarkable monument.
Visitors stands near the feet of the Statue of Unity at Kevadiya Colony in Narmada district of Gujarat State, India, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. - Sputnik India, 1920, 14.04.2023
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