“The Iron Man of Indian” remembered on his 142nd birth anniversary
DPI, GUYANA, Saturday, October 28, 2017
In observance of the 142nd birth anniversary of ‘Sardar’ Vallabhai Patel, freedom fighter and India’s first Deputy Prime Minister, V. Mahalingam, High Commissioner of India to Guyana on Saturday held a ceremony at the Indian Cultural Centre in Bel Air Avenue.
(left to right) V. Mahalingam, High Commissioner of India to Guyana. A.K. Gupta, Managing Director, Bank of Baroda (Guyana) Incorporated.
Gracing the event were Dr. Dhanarajan Malli Subramanian, Registrar, Texila American University, A.K. Gupta, Managing Director, Bank of Baroda (Guyana) Incorporated among others.
The birth anniversary celebration of the late freedom fighter, saw the High Commissioner and several others delivering remarks on life of “the Iron Man of India.” There was also the distribution of prizes to the attendees including students from Texila American University who correctly answered questions about Patel.
Sadar Vallabhbhai Patel was one of the founding fathers of the Republic of India. Along with Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel played a key role in the freedom struggle of the country.
Commonly called the Iron Man of India, he was a lawyer by profession and was given the title Sardar, meaning leader, by Mahatma Gandhi.
Patel was influenced by Mahātmā Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi’s principles, which encouraged him to become a barrister. In 1917, Patel was elected as the sanitation commissioner of Ahmadabad and led a successful campaign for the removal of an unpopular British municipal commissioner.
Sadar Patel volunteered as an activist for Gandhi and the rest was history, as he fought for the rights of the people and the freedom of his country from the British rule.
In 1946, Patel dropped out of the election for President of the Indian National Congress upon a request by Gandhi. Instead he endorsed Jawaharlal Nehru , observing that the election’s importance stemmed from the fact that the elected president would lead independent India’s first government.
After India achieved independence, Patel became India’s first Deputy Prime Minister later the first Home Minister on the India’s first independence anniversary.
By: Neola Damon
Some of the prizes awarded to lucky invitees who participated in the quiz.
a Photo exhibit of Sardar’ Vallabhai Patel.