Tribute to Sardar Patel

Author(s): Friends of Sardar Patel Awrd Association UCLA
Publisher: USA Friends of Sardar Patel Awrd Association UCLA

Page 16

Sardar and Bardoli
INCIDENT 1:
Whenever Vallabhbhai Patel visited Bardoli, thousands of people, mostly farmers, came from many villages in the district to hear him. Normally, food for out-of-town people was arranged by the Bardoli Ashram or other associated institutions in Bardoli.
During one such visit, Vallabhbhai observed that the people had brought their own food. After talking with the villagers, he learned that the Bardoli Ashram, as well as other institutions, were prohib
age.
ited by law to feed more than 50 people at any one time because of a food shortThis law was made at the time when B.G. Kher was Chief Minister and Morarji Desai was Home Minister of the then province of Bombay.
Vallabhbhai was very annoyed when he learned of this law and immediately called Mr. Kher and Mr. Desai and informed them that he planned to personally supervise the cooking and feeding of all the people who were assembled. He further informed them that the shortage was not the fault of the farmers, but was due to poor administration and distribution practices by the state. This law was impractical and inappropriate and must be repealed. The people in the administration should understand the situation before enacting such type of law. Shortly after that, the law was repealed.
INCIDENT 2:
During the Bardoli satyagraha, Vithalbhai L. Patel, my cousin, joined the movement and was one of the volunteers who performed many different duties. As part of Gandhiji's social reform movement, one of their tasks was the cutting of Khajuri date palm trees. The juice of these trees was used in the production of alcohol (toddy).
During the tree-cutting exercise, a tree fell on Vithalbhai and killed him. Sardar Patel heard of this tragic incident and attended Vithalbhai's cremation along with Rajendra Babu, Maulana Azad and Morarji Desai. After the cremation, Sardar consoled Vithalbhai's mother by telling her that her son had achieved "virgati"
By Dahyabhai Vanmali Patel
- he had become a true martyr and would be remembered for a long time.
Sardar Vallabhbhai was a kind, warm and compassionate human being who made it a point to get to know most of the volunteers - which was a rare quality in the life of a busy leader.
INCIDENT 3:
During the Bardoli satyagraha, a meeting was called by Sardar Vallabhbhai at a small village in Bhuvasham, about 5-6 miles from Bardoli. As it was common in those days, hundreds of people came to attend the meeting
DAHYABHAI V. PATEL
Just before the meeting, it began to rain and the crowd began to disperse. Vallabhbhai got up on the stage and began his speech. He asked the people to remain where they were. He used the discomfort caused by rain to make a point. He asked the crowd how they were going to gain independence if even a little rain was a problem to them. He told them that they had a long way to go and they would encounter many real difficulties that must be overcome.
He then led a prayer for a few minutes asking nature to cooperate with them in this great cause. As it happened, the rain did stop. The people were really touched by this event.
Vallabhbhai had a remarkable ability to touch and motivate the people to overcome the difficulties that got in their way.
[Dahyabhai Vanmali Patel, a Freedom Fighter (Swatantrya Senani) was born in 1918 in a village near Bardoli, the site of Sardar's satyagraha. He met Gandhiji, Sardar Patel, and other prominent leaders of the Na tionalist Movement. Arrested for Vani Swatantrya Movement in 1940-41, the youngest person jailed for 6 months in Sabarmati and Yeravada jails; spent 16 months in jail again for participation in the Quit India Movement in 1942; served as a volunteer in the Bardoli Ashram working closely with Sardar Patel; participated with Maniben, his wife for over 60 years, in numerous rural and social welfare projects; Dahyabhai and Maniben live currently in Northridge, California.]
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