Sardar Patel Statue of Unity: All You Need to Know
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel is an esteemed name in Indian politics. He was a driving force in the Indian Independence Movement and played a key role in the unification of India post-independence. He was the First Home Minister of India and his determined efforts towards the country earned him the name Iron Man of India. On 31st October, every year India celebrates the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhai Patel which was declared Rashtriya Ekta Divas in 2014. Read this article to know all about this great leader.
Lesser Known Facts About Statue of Unity
- The ‘Statue of Unity’ – a monument to commemorate Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was inaugurated on Wednesday, 31st October 2018 i.e the 143rd birth anniversary of the Iron Man of India.
- This statue stands 182-meter tall facing the Narmada Dam, 3.2 km away on the river island called Sadhu Bet near Vadodara in Gujarat.
- The Sardar Patel Statue, twice as tall as the Statue of Liberty, has been built at a cost of Rs. 2,989 crore.
- It is the world’s Tallest Statue and is intentionally built 182 meters tall to represent the 182 Assembly Constituencies of Gujarat.
- The statue can withstand severe wind velocity and severe earthquakes. Iron was collected from all over the country to build the statue of Sardar Patel, also known as the Iron Man of India.
- The Statue has been designed by Padma Bhushan-winning sculptor Ram V Suta.
- It has a viewing gallery which can accommodate 200 visitors at a time.
- This gallery offers a view of the Sardar Sarovar Dam, its reservoir, and the Satpura and Vindhya mountain ranges.
- Once the statue is open for Public, officials expect around 15,000 visitors each day.
- The museum has 40,000 documents, 2,000 photographs and a research centre dedicated to Sardar Patel’s life.
Watch the video below to know all about this grand statue.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel – Earning the Title Sardar
- In 1918, Sardar Patel led a massive no tax campaign that urged the farmers to deny paying taxes. This peaceful movement coerced the British authorities to give back the land they took away from the farmers.
- In 1928 again, the farmers of Bardoli faced a problem of increased tax. After constant negotiations by Sardar Vallabhai Patel, the farmers were given their land back and a deal was made.
- His determined effort to bring together the farmers of his area brought him the title of ‘Sardar‘.
- He actively supported the Non-Cooperation Movement launched by Gandhi. Patel toured the nation with him, recruited 300,000 members and helped collect over Rs. 1.5 million.
- Sardar Vallabhai Patel was one of the leaders imprisoned in 1930 for participating in the Salt Satyagraha. He was freed in 1931 following a pact between Gandhi and the Viceroy of India, Lord Irwin known as the Gandhi-Irwin Pact.
- Sardar Patel continued his unwavering support to Gandhi when several contemporary leaders criticized his decision during the Quit India movement in 1942.
Role of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Post Independence
- Independent India had Sardar Vallabhai Patel as the first Home Minister as well as the Deputy Prime Minister.
- He played a crucial role in integrating about 562 princely states under the Indian Dominion. The British authorities had given these rulers two alternatives – they could join India or Pakistan, or they could stay independent.
- Sardar Patel was successful in integrating all of them except for Jammu and Kashmir, Junagarh and Hyderabad. He eventually dealt with the situation with his sharp political acumen and secured their accession.
- Sardar Patel was a leading member of the Constituent Assembly of India and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was appointed on his recommendations.
- He was a major force in establishing Indian Administrative Service and Indian Police Service.
- Patel dealt ruthlessly with Pakistan’s efforts to invade Kashmir in September 1947. He oversaw the immediate expansion of the army and marked the improvement of other infrastructural aspects.
Awards & Achievements
- Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was awarded India’s highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna in 1991.
- While his home in Karmsad has been preserved in his memory, in 1980 Sardar Patel National Memorial was established, which houses a museum, a gallery of portraits and historical pictures and a library.
- A number of educational institutes in India have been named after him, including the nation’s premier institutes
- Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology
- Sardar Patel University
- Sardar Patel Vidyalaya
- He was instrumental in the founding the Indian Administrative Service and the Indian Police Service and is therefore known as the ‘Patron Saint’ of India’s services.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s Death
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s health started declining in 1950. He realized that he was not going to live much longer. On 2nd November 1950, his health deteriorated further and he was confined to bed. After suffering a massive heart attack, on 15 December 1950, the great soul left the world. He was posthumously conferred the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest Civilian honor, in 1991.
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