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Vallabhbhai Patel ( 1875 – 15 December 1950 ) was a major political and social leader of India and its Struggle For Independence , and is credited with achieving the Political Integration Of Independent India . In India and across the world, he is known as '''Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel''', where ''Sardar'' stands for ''Chief'' in many Languages Of India . Raised in the countryside of Gujarat , Vallabhbhai Patel was a self-educated and successful Gujarati lawyer, when he was inspired by the work and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi . Patel organized the peasants of Kheda , Borsad, and Bardoli in Gujarat in Non-violent Civil Disobedience against the oppressive policies imposed by the British Raj — becoming one of the most influential leaders in Gujarat. He rose to the leadership of the Indian National Congress and at the forefront of rebellions and political events — organizing the party for elections in 1934 and 1937, and leading Indians into the Quit India Movement . He was imprisoned by the British government on numerous occasions, especially from 1932 to 1934, and from 1942 to 1945. As the first Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Of India , Patel organized relief efforts for refugees in Punjab and Delhi , and led efforts to restore peace in the turmoiled region. Patel took charge of the task to forge a united India from a plethora of Princely States , colonial provinces and possessions. Employing an ''iron fist in a velvet glove'', Patel led frank diplomacy backed with the option (and the use) of military action to weld a united nation. His leadership obtained the swift unification of all 565 princely states into India, and Patel would lead initiatives to spread Democracy and re-organize the states to create a modern Federal Republic . His admirers call him the Iron Man of India, and he is also remembered as the "patron saint" of India's civil servants for his defence of them against political attack. Patel was also one of the earliest proponents of property rights and free enterprise in India. EARLY LIFE Vallabhbhai Jhaverbhai Patel was born at his maternal uncle's house in , in the Kheda district. Somabhai, Narsibhai and Vithalbhai Patel (also a future political leader) were his elder brothers. He had a younger brother, Kashibhai, and a sister, Dahiba. Patel helped his father in the fields, and bimonthly kept a day-long when it swept the state. After Patel himself came down with the disease, he immediately sent away his family to safety, left his home, and moved into an isolated house in Nadiad (by other accounts, Patel spent this time in a dilapidated temple); there, he recovered slowly.R. Gandhi, ''Patel: A Life'', pp. 16 Patel took on the financial burdens of his homestead in Karamsad even while saving for England and supporting a young family. He made way for his brother Vithalbhai Patel to travel to England in place of him, on his own saved money and opportunity. The episode occurred as the tickets and pass Patel had applied for arrived in the name of "V. J. Patel," and arrived at Vithalbhai's home, who bore the same initials. Patel did not hesitate to make way for his elder brother's ambition before his own, and funded his trip as well.R. Gandhi, ''Patel: A Life'', pp. 21 In 1909, Patel's wife Jhaverba was hospitalized in (then Bombay). At the age of 36, he journeyed to England and enrolled at the Middle Temple Inn in London . Finishing a 36-month course in 30 months, Patel topped his class despite having no previous college background. Patel settled in the city of Ahmedabad , and became one of the city's most successful barristers. Wearing European-style clothes and urbane mannerisms, he also became a skilled bridge player at the Gujarat Club. His close friends would include his neighbours Dr. Balwantray and Nandubehn Kanuga, who would remain dear to him, and a young lawyer, Ganesh Vasudev Mavlankar . He had also made a pact with his brother Vithalbhai to support his entry into politics in Bombay, while Patel himself would remain in Ahmedabad and provide for the family.R. Gandhi, ''Patel: A Life'', pp. 33 According to some of Patel's friends, he nurtured ambitions to expand his practise and accumulate great wealth, and to provide his children with modern education. FIGHTING FOR INDEPENDENCE See Also: Indian Independence Movement Mahatma Gandhi At the urging of his friends, Patel contested and won elections to become the sanitation commissioner of Ahmedabad in 1917. While often clashing with British officials on civic issues, he did not show any interest in politics. Upon hearing of Mohandas Gandhi , he joked to Mavlankar that Gandhi would "ask you if you know how to sift pebbles from wheat. And that is supposed to bring independence."R. Patel, ''Hind Ke Sardar'', pp. 33 But Patel was deeply impressed when Gandhi defied the British in Champaran for the sake of the area's oppressed farmers. Against the grain of Indian politicians of the time, Gandhi wore Indian-style clothes and emphasized the use of one's mother tongue or any Indian language as opposed to English — the lingua franca of India's intellectuals. Patel was particularly attracted to Gandhi's inclination to action — apart from a resolution condemning the arrest of political leader Annie Besant , Gandhi proposed that volunteers march peacefully demanding to meet her. Patel gave a speech in Borsad in September 1917, encouraging the people to sign Gandhi's nationwide petition demanding '' Swaraj '' — independence — from the British. Meeting Gandhi a month later at the Gujarat Political Conference in Godhra , Patel became the secretary of the Gujarat Sabha — a public body which would become the Gujarat arm of the Indian National Congress — at Gandhi's encouragement. Patel now energetically fought against '' Veth '' — the forced servitude of Indians for Europeans — and organized relief efforts in wake of the plague in Ahmedabad and the famine in Kheda.R. Gandhi, ''Patel: A Life'', pp. 43 The Kheda division of Gujarat was reeling under a severe drought and the peasants asked for relief from the high rate of taxes. Gandhi had approved of a struggle there, but could not lead it himself due to his activities in Champaran. When Gandhi asked for a Gujarati activist who could devote himself completely to the assignment, Patel volunteered — though his decision was made on the spot, his desire and commitment came after intensive personal contemplation,R. Patel, ''Hind Ke Sardar'', pp. 39 and much to Gandhi's personal delight.Parikh, ''Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel'' (1), pp. 55 Satyagraha across Gujarat See Also: Champaran and Kheda Satyagraha Bardoli Satyagraha Along with Narhari Parikh , Mohanlal Pandya and Abbas Tyabji , Vallabhbhai Patel began a village-to-village tour in the Kheda district, detailing grievances and asking villagers for their support for a state-wide revolt by not paying taxes. Patel emphasized complete unity and non-violence despite any provocation, and received enthusiastic responses from virtually every village.R. Gandhi, ''Patel: A Life'', pp. 65 When revenue was refused, the government sent police and intimidation squads to seize property, including confiscating barn animals and whole farms. Thousands of activists and farmers were arrested. Many families throughout Gujarat attempted to help the resistors by supplying them with food, clothing and other necessities. The revolt evoked great sympathy around India, but was not fought explicitly for independence. The revolt ended in 1919, when the government suspended payment of revenue, even scaling back the rate. Patel emerged as an icon and hero to Gujaratis, admired across India.R. Gandhi, ''Patel: A Life'', pp.66-68 Patel supported Gandhi's . Advising and directing nationalist activities all over Gujarat, Patel also supported Gandhi's suspension of resistance in wake of the Chauri Chaura incident. He worked extensively in the following years in Gujarat against alcoholism, Untouchability and caste discrimination, as well as for the empowerment of women. In the Congress, he was a resolute supporter of Gandhi against his Swarajist critics. Patel was elected Ahmedabad's municipal president in 1922, 1924 and 1927 - during his terms, Ahmedabad was extended a major supply of electricity and underwent major education reforms. Drainage and sanitation systems were extended over all the city. He fought for the recognition and payment of teachers employed in "national schools," and even took on sensitive Hindu - Muslim issues with the overall objective of looking after the wider population of the city.R. Gandhi, ''Patel: A Life'', pp. 134 Patel personally led efforts in the aftermath of the intense torrential rainfall in 1927, which had caused major floods in the city and in the Kheda district, disrupting all communications and causing great destruction of life and property. Patel established refuge centres across the district, raised volunteers, arranged for supply of food, medicines and clothing, as well as emergency funds from the government and public.R. Gandhi, ''Patel: A Life'', pp. 138-141 Patel led the satyagraha in Nagpur in 1923 against a law banning the raising of the Indian flag, organizing thousands of volunteers from all over the country in processions hoisting the flag. Patel also negotiated a settlement that obtained the release of all prisoners and allowed nationalists to hoist the flag in public. Later that year, Patel and his allies uncovered evidence that the police were in league with dacoits in the Borsad taluka even as the government prepared to levy a major tax for fighting dacoity in the area. More than 6,000 villagers assembled to hear Patel speak and supported the proposed agitation. Patel organized hundreds of Congressmen, sent instructions and received information from across the district. Every village in the '' Taluka '' resisted payment of the tax, and through cohesion, also prevented the seizure of property and lands. After a protracted struggle, the government withdrew the tax. Through the struggle, Patel could also achieve cohesion and build trust amongst the different castes and communities which were divided on socio-economic lines.R. Gandhi, ''Patel: A Life'', pp. 119-125 In April 1928, Bardoli suffered from a serious predicament of a famine and steep tax hike. In this case, the revenue hike was steeper, and the famine covered a large portion of Gujarat. After cross-examining and talking to village representatives, emphasizing the potential hardship and need for non-violence and cohesion, Patel initiated the struggle — complete denial of taxes.R. Gandhi, ''Patel: A Life'', pp. 149-51 Patel organized volunteers, camps and an information network across Bardoli, and worked to establish trust amongst different castes and communities. The revenue refusal was stronger than in Kheda, and many sympathy satyagrahas were undertaken across Gujarat. Despite arrests, seizures of property and lands, the struggle intensified. Matters reached a head in August, when through sympathetic intermediaries, Patel negotiated a settlement repealing the tax hike, reinstated village officials who had resigned in protest, returned property and lands. It was during the struggle and after the victory in Bardoli that caused intense excitment across India, that Patel was increasingly addressed by his colleagues and followers as Sardar.R. Gandhi, ''Patel: A Life'', pp. 168 Leading the Congress , Jivatram Kripalani and other Congressmen at Wardha.]] As Gandhi embarked on the , and refused a British offer for a brief release to attend the cremation of his brother Vithalbhai, who had died. He was finally released in July 1934. Patel became the leader of the Congress's all-India election campaign in 1934 — he would collect funds, select candidates, determine the Congress stance on issues and opponents.R. Gandhi, ''Patel: A Life'', pp. 248 Not contesting a seat for himself, Patel nevertheless guided Congressmen elected in the provinces and at the national level. In 1935, Patel underwent a piles operation, but also guided efforts against plague in Bardoli and again when a drought struck Gujarat in 1939. Patel would guide the Congress ministries that had won power across India in order to maintain unity and disallow the British any opportunity to divide the Congress.R. Gandhi, ''Patel: A Life'', pp. 266 But he would also clash with Nehru, opposing declarations of the adoption of Socialism at the 1936 Congress session, and with Subhash Chandra Bose over the latter's rejection of Gandhi's leadership. Quit India See Also: Quit India Movement When World War II broke out, Patel supported Nehru's decision to withdraw the Congress from central and provincial legislatures, contrary to Gandhi's advice, but India would be divided in its response to the war. Patel would support an initiative by senior leader Chakravarthi Rajagopalachari to offer Congress's full support to Britain if it promised Indian independence at the end of the war and install a democratic government in Delhi right away. Gandhi had refused to support this owing to his moral opposition to war, and Subhash Bose was in militant opposition to the British. And when the British rejected Rajagopalachari's initiative, Patel was relieved and happy to return and embrace Gandhi's leadership again.Parikh, ''Patel'' (2), pp. 434-36 He participated in Gandhi's call for individual disobedience, and was arrested in 1940 and imprisoned for nine months. He also opposed the proposals of the Cripps' Mission in 1942. Patel had lost more than twenty pounds during his period in jail, and had been suspected of suffering from colon cancer, which was found to be incorrect. While Nehru, Rajagopalachari and in Mumbai on August 7th: "The Governor of Burma boasts in London that they left Burma only after reducing everything to dust. So you promise the same thing to India?... You refer in your radio broadcasts and newspapers to the government established in Burma by Japan as a puppet government? What sort of government do you have in Delhi now?...When France fell before the Nazi onslaught, in the midst of total war, Mr. Churchill offered union with England to the French. That was indeed a stroke of inspired statesmanship. But when it comes to India? Oh no! Constitutional changes in the midst of a war? Absolutely unthinkable...The object this time is to free India before the Japanese can come and be ready to fight them if they come. They will round up the leaders, round up all. Then it will be the duty of every Indian to put forth his utmost effort - within non-violence. No source is to be left untapped; no weapon untried. This is going to be the opportunity of a lifetime."Parikh, ''Patel'' (2), pp. 477-79 The crowd was electrified and the response was "loud and long," and Patel immediately proceeded to meetings with Congressmen from different parts of the nation and organizing work.R. Gandhi, ''Patel: A Life'', pp. 316 Patel was arrested on August 9th, and would be imprisoned with the entire Congress Working Committee from 1942 to 1945 at the fort in Ahmednagar . Here he would spin cloth, play bridge, read a large number of books, took long rounds of walking and practise gardening and provide emotional support to his colleagues while awaiting news and developments of the outside, which he examined and scrutinized intensely.Sitaramayya, ''Feathers and Stones'', pp. 395 Patel was deeply pained at the news of the deaths of Mahadev Desai and Kasturba Gandhi later in the year.Sitaramayya, ''Feathers and Stones'', pp. 13 But Patel wrote in a letter to his daughter that he and his colleagues were experiencing "fullest peace" for having done "their duty." Nandurkar, ''Sardarshri Ke Patra, (2), pp. 390 Even though other political parties had opposed the struggle and the British had employed ruthless means of suppression, the Quit India movement was "by far the most serious rebellion since that of 1857," as the viceroy cabled to Winston Churchill . More than one hundred thousand people were arrested, and thousands killed in police firings. Strikes, protests and other revolutionary activities broke out across India.R. Gandhi, ''Patel: A Life'', pp. 318 When Patel was released on June 15, 1945, it was with the knowledge that the British were preparing proposals to transfer power to Indian hands. INDEPENDENCE AND INTEGRATION Patel stepped down in favor of Nehru from the 1946 election for the Congress Presidency, upon the request of Gandhi — Gandhi had declared Nehru to his "successor" in 1942. Patel had the support of 11 out of 15 Congress Party provincial organizations, while Nehru had none. The election's importance is in the fact that the elected man would lead free India's first Government. Gandhi is often criticized for not backing Patel, a battle-hardened leader who had the support of the entire Congress Party. But Patel respected Gandhi's judgment, and knew that he did not have Nehru's assets: health and youth, mass popularity and a likeable image with the country's Muslims and youth. And Gandhi's wish was that Patel and Nehru head the government together, and that the distinction be only titular.R. Gandhi, ''Patel: A Life'', pp.467 After the election, Patel began directing the Congress campaign for the elections to be held to elect the Constituent Assembly Of India . In the elections, the Congress won a large majority of the elected seats, dominating the Hindu electorate. But the Muslim League led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah won a large majority of Muslim electorate seats. The League had resolved in 1940 to demand Pakistan — an independent state for Muslims — and was a fierce critic of the Congress. The Congress formed governments in all provinces save Sindh , and Punjab and Bengal , where it entered into coalitions with other parties. Cabinet mission and partition See Also: Partition of India When the British Mission proposed plans for transfer of power, there was considerable opposition to both within the Congress. The plan of 16th May, 1946, proposed a loose federation with extensive provincial autonomy, and the "grouping" of provinces based on religious-majority. The plan of 16th June, 1946, proposed the partition of India on religious lines, with over 600 Princely States free to choose between independence or accession to either dominion. The League approved both plans, while the Congress flatly rejected the 16th June proposal. Gandhi also criticized the 16th May proposal as being inherently divisive, but Patel, realizing that rejecting the proposal would mean that only the League would be invited to form a government, lobbied the Congress Working Committee hard to give its assent to the 16th May proposal. Obtaining unofficial assurances from the British envoys that the "grouping" clause would not be given practical force, Patel converted Nehru, Rajendra Prasad and Rajagopalachari to accept the plan. When the League retracted its approval of the 16th May plan, the viceroy invited the Congress to form the government. Under Nehru, who was styled the "Vice President of the Viceroy's Executive Council," Patel took charge of the departments of home affairs and information and broadcasting. He moved into a house on 1, Aurangzeb Road in Delhi — this would be his residence till his death in 1950. Vallabhbhai Patel was one of the first Congress leaders to accept partition of India as a solution to the rising Muslim separatist movement led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah . He was greatly angered by Jinnah's wrecking of attempted coalitions between his party and the Congress, and by his embrace of violence, such as the Direct Action Day , when over 5,000 people were killed in violence instigated by Jinnah. But he was also aware that Jinnah did enjoy popular support amongst Muslims, and that an open conflict between him and the nationalists could degenerate into a Hindu-Muslim civil war of disastrous proportions and consequences.R. Gandhi, ''Patel: A Life'', pp.395-97 When Nehru and the others had approved the idea, Patel who took the job of convincing a deeply saddened Gandhi of the inevitability of partition as the pragmatic solution. Political integration of India See Also: Political integration of India Patel was considered the best man for the task by the Congress Party, as well as Lord Mountbatten and senior British officials. , a senior civil servant with whom he had worked over the Partition Of India , to become his right-hand as chief secretary of the States Ministry. On May 6 , 1947 , Patel began lobbying the princes, attempting to make them receptive towards dialogue with the future Government and trying to forestall potential conflicts. Patel used social meetings and unofficial surroundings to engage most monarchs, inviting them to lunch and tea at his home in Delhi . At these meetings, Patel stated that there was no inherent conflict between the Congress and the princely order. Nonetheless, he stressed that the princes would need to accede to India in good faith by August 15 , 1947 . Patel invoked the patriotism of India's monarchs, asking them to join in the freedom of their nation and act as responsible rulers who cared about the future of their people. He persuaded the princes of 565 states of the impossibility of independence from the Indian republic, especially in the presence of growing opposition from their subjects. He also proposed favourable terms for the merger, including creation of ''privy purses'' for the descendants of the rulers. While encouraging the rulers to act with patriotism, Patel did not rule out force, setting a deadline of August 15, 1947, for them to sign the instrument of accession document. All but three of the states willingly merged into the Indian union - only Jammu And Kashmir , Junagadh , and Hyderabad did not fall into his basket. at the end of British Raj ( 1934 - 1947 ). In the Indian hinterland was divided into 565 semi-independent princely states.]] Junagadh was especially important to Patel, since it was in his home state of Gujarat . The Nawab had under pressure from Sir Shah Nawaz Bhutto acceded to Pakistan. It was however, quite far from Pakistan and 80% of its population was Hindu . Patel combined diplomacy with force, demanding that Pakistan annul the accession, and that the Nawab accede to India. He sent the Army to occupy three principalities of Junagadh to show his resolve. Following wide-spread protests and the formation a civil government, or ''Arzi Hukumat'', both Bhutto and the Nawab fled to Karachi , and under Patel's orders, Indian Army and police units marched into the state. A plebiscite later organized produced a 99.5% vote for merger with India.R. Gandhi, ''Patel: A Life'', pp. 438 In a speech at the Bahauddin College in Junagadh following the latter's take-over, Patel emphasized his feeling of urgency on Hyderabad, which he felt was more vital to India than Kashmir: :"If Hyderabad does not see the writing on the wall, it goes the way Junagadh has gone. Pakistan attempted to set off Kashmir against Junagadh. When we raised the question of settlement in a democratic way, they (Pakistan) at once told us that they would consider it if we applied that policy to Kashmir. Our reply was that we would agree to Kashmir if they agreed to Hyderabad."R. Gandhi, ''Patel: A Life'', pp. 438 Hyderabad was the largest of the princely states, and included parts of present-day commenced, thousands of Razakar militants had been killed, but Hyderabad was comfortably secured into the Indian Union. The main aim of Mountbatten and Nehru in avoiding a forced annexation was to prevent an outbreak of Hindu-Muslim violence. Patel insisted that if Hyderabad was allowed to continue with its antics, the prestige of the Government would fall and then neither Hindus nor Muslims would feel secure in its realm. The successful integration was praised by many Indian Muslim leaders, and there were no episodes of civil violence. Despite his anger at the Nizam, Patel retained him as the ceremonial chief of state, and held talks with him where the Nizam apologized to Patel, who graciously defused the rivalry.R. Gandhi, ''Patel: A Life'', pp. 483 LEADING INDIA '' on January 27, 1947.]] as the chairman of the drafting committee, and the inclusion of leaders from a diverse political spectrum in the process of writing the constitution. Patel's role in making India's constitution Patel was the chairman of the committees responsible for minorities, tribal and excluded areas, fundamental rights and provincial constitutions. Patel piloted a model constitution for the provinces in the Assembly, which contained limited powers for the state governor, who would defer to the President - he clarified it was not the intention to let the governor exercise power which could impede an elected government. Patel and provincial constitutions He worked closely with Muslim leaders to end separate electorates and the more potent demand for reservation of seats for minorities.K.M. Munshi, ''Pilgrimage'', pp. 207 He would also hold personal dialogues with leaders of other minorities on the question, and was responsible for the measure that allows the President to appoint and the Indian Police Service . For his defence of Indian civil servants from political attack, he is known as the "patron saint" of India's services. When a tribal invasion of the Himalayan kingdom of , insisting that Pakistan had been wrong to support the invasion and the accession to India was valid. He did not want foreign interference in a bilateral affair. Patel also opposed the release of Rs. 55 crores to the Government Of Pakistan , convinced that the money would go to finance the war against India in Kashmir. The Cabinet had approved his point, but it was all reversed when Gandhi went on a fast-unto-death to obtain the release. Gandhi was worried that economic turmoil in Pakistan would make it more aggressive, increasing Hindu-Muslim violence which had already killing 1 million people and was just calming down. Gandhi obtained the release, as well as a commitment from Hindus and Muslims of Delhi to end all communal violence. Patel, though not estranged from Gandhi, was deeply hurt at the rejection of his counsel and a Cabinet decision.R. Gandhi, ''Patel: A Life'', pp. 463 In 1949, a crisis arose when the number of Hindu refugees entering and K.C. Neogy, two Bengal i ministers resigned from the Cabinet, and Nehru became a hated figure in West Bengal. The pact was immediately in jeopardy. Patel however, publicly came out to Nehru's aid. He gave emotional speeches to members of Parliament, and the people of West Bengal, and spoke with scores of delegations of Congressmen, Hindus, Muslims and other public interest groups, persuading them to give peace a final effort. The pact was approved and within a year, most of the Hindu refugees had returned to East Pakistan.R. Gandhi, ''Patel: A Life'', pp. 499 GANDHI'S DEATH AND RELATIONS WITH NEHRU Patel was intensely loyal to Gandhi, and both he and Nehru looked to him to arbitrate disputes. However, Nehru and Patel themselves sparred over national issues. For example, Nehru asserted his own control over Kashmir policy while Patel objected to Nehru sidelining his Home Ministry's officials, including sending his own representative to ; The timely action of his daughter, his secretary, and nurse saved Patel's life.R. Gandhi, ''Patel:A Life'', pp. 472-73 Criticism soon arose from the media and other politicians that Patel's Home Ministry had failed to protect Gandhi. Emotionally exhausted, Patel tendered a letter of resignation, offering to leave the Government — despite his word to Gandhi — so that he would not embarrass Nehru's administration. Patel's secretary convinced him to withhold the letter, seeing it as fodder for Patel's political enemies and political conflict in India.R. Gandhi, ''Patel: A Life'', pp. 469–70 Nehru sent Patel a letter dismissing any question of personal differences and his desire for Patel's ouster. He reminded Patel of their thirty-year partnership in the freedom struggle, and that after Gandhi's death, it was especially wrong for them to quarrel. Moved, Patel personally and publicly endorsed Nehru's leadership and refuted any suggestion of discord. Patel dispelled any notion that he would like to be India's Prime Minister.R. Gandhi, ''Patel: A Life'', pp. 469-70 He recognized both Nehru's importance and the vow he made to Gandhi. The two committed themselves to joint leadership, and non-interference in Congress party affairs. However, the two would criticize each other in matters of policy. Nehru remained an opponent of Patel's plan to forcibly integrate Hyderabad State , and against Patel's advice asked for the United Nations to arbitrate the Kashmir dispute. The former Nehru had to concede in 1948, and the latter became a source of intense criticism in the years afterward. Nehru also resisted Patel's counsel on sending assistance to Tibet after its 1950 invasion by the People's Republic Of China and ejecting the Portuguese from Goa by military force.R. Gandhi, ''Patel: A Life'', pp. 508-12 But Patel did not help Nehru when he had purposely bypassed him, only later to need his help. Nehru attempted to oppose the will of a majority of Congressmen by suggesting that Governor General , a conservative Hindu leader. Endorsing Jivatram Kripalani himself, Nehru attempted to thwart Tandon's bid, threatening to resign if he were elected. The party voted for Tandon, and Patel endorsed Tandon in Gujarat, where Kripalani received not one vote despite hailing from that state himself.R. Gandhi, ''Patel: A Life'', pp. 523-24 PASSING , in Ahmedabad .]] On 1950 , and he was flown to Bombay to recuperate.R.Gandhi, ''Patel: A Life'', pp. 530 After suffering a massive heart attack — his second — he died in Bombay on December 15th, 1950. In an unprecedented gesture, more than 1,500 officers of India's civil and police services congregated at Patel's residence in Delhi on the day after his death to mourn him - they pledged "complete loyalty and unremmitting zeal" in India's service.Panjabi, ''Indomitable Sardar'', pp. 157-58 His cremation in Sonapur, Bombay, was attended by large crowds, Nehru, Rajagopalachari, President Prasad and many Congressmen and freedom fighters.R. Gandhi, ''Patel: A Life'', pp. 533 COMMEMORATION '', starring Paresh Rawal as Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.]] Patel's official birthday, October 31st each year is ''Sardar Jayanti''. Lionized in Gujarat, his birthplace in the village of Karamsad is still preserved in his memory. The Sardar Patel University and the Sardar Patel College Of Engineering are among the nation's premier institutions. The prestigious Sardar Patel Vidyalaya was established in 1960 in New Delhi. The Sardar Patel National Memorial was established in 1980 at the Moti Shahi Mahal in Shahibaug, Ahmedabad. Patel was officially awarded the Bharat Ratna , the nation's highest civilian honor, posthumously in 1991. In Richard Attenborough 's '' Gandhi '' (1982), Saeed Jaffrey portrayed Patel. In 1993, the film '' Sardar '' was a bio-epic produced and directed by Ketan Mehta , and noted Indian actor Paresh Rawal played the lead role. It focused on Patel's leadership in the years leading up the Indian independence, especially the partition of India, India's political integration, and Patel's relationship with Nehru. Manibehn Patel lived in a flat in Bombay for the rest of her life following her father's death, and often led the work of the Sardar Patel Memorial Trust - which organizes the prestigious annual Sardar Patel Memorial Lectures - and other charitable organizations. Dahyabhai Patel was a businessman, and eventually went on to serve in the Lok Sabha , lower house of Parliament as an MP in the 1960s. NOTES REFERENCES
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