and tact that princely states were left
with no other option but to merge with
India. Basically it was his success in
integrating all the princely states after
independence, and that too without
much bloodshed that got him the
sobriquet of ‘Iron Man’.
There is one very interesting
anecdote of his childhood which
highlights his strength of character.
Once, when he was a small boy,
Vallahbhai suffered from a boil in the
armpit. There was a man in the village
who used to cure boils by bursting
them with hot iron. As young Vallabh
went to him, the man heated the iron
rod till it grew red. But he hesitated
upon noticing the boy's tender age.
"What are you waiting for? The iron will
get cold. Hurry up, brand the boil," said
the boy firmly.
The man was even more
frightened. Then the boy himself
picked up the glowing rod and burst
the boil. Those who watched him were
shocked and screamed. But there was
not even a trace of pain on the boy's
face.
Dedication:
In 1909, Patel's wife Jhaverba was
hospitalized and was to undergo a
major surgical operation for cancer.
Her health suddenly worsened and
despite the successful emergency
surgery, she died in the hospital. Patel
was cross-examining a witness in court
20 | June 2015
when he was given a note informing
him of his wife's demise. According to
those who witnessed, Patel read the
note, pocketed it and continued to
intensely cross-examine the witness
and won the case. He broke the news
to the others only after the
proceedings had ended.
Awards and commemorations:
Sardar, who passed away on 15th
December 1950 was posthumously
awarded the Bharat Ratna. He is also
remembered as the ‘Patron Saint’ of
India’s civil servants for establishing
modern all-India services. An annual
commemoration of Patel, known as
the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National
Unity Day), was introduced by the
Government of India in 2014 and is to
be held annually on his birthday, 31
October.
At the age of 36, Patel
journeyed to England
and enrolled at the
Middle Temple Inn in
London. Finishing a 36month course in 30
months, Patel topped his
class despite having no
previous college
background.