I will start this article with a very relevant and true saying” Unity is a strength, where there are hard work and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved”.Honorable PrimeMinister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, Inaugurated the statue of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel on the occasion of his 143rd birthday,31st October 2018. The world’s tallest statue is located in Gujarat, having the height of 182M, almost double of the height of the famous statue in New York, the statue of liberty. This tribute to Sardar Vallabh Bhai is a reflection of the value he has added to the country by giving his contributions to India’s freedom struggles with the Father of our Nation, Mahatma Gandhi. He is known as the “IronMan of India.”He was the first DeputyMisiter and home minister of India. His journey as freedom fighter began in 1917 when he was in a meeting with Mahatma Gandhi, taking the decision of helping “BAPU” with his famous slogan”ANGREZO BHARAT CHODO”. He began with helping the farmers to fight for their rights from the Britishers as they were collecting tax illegally from the farmers of Gujrat when they were facing droughts.
Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel is credited even today for Protecting India from getting Divided into565 parts because of the British rule. It was because of his courage and wisdom that the British failed to divide India into several parts. This was the day when he was given the name of”IRON MAN”.After India got independence in 1947, citizens of India wanted Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel to become the first Prime Minister of Independent India. But he gave PDT Jawaharlal Nehru this golden opportunity. But since then India has been independent for more that70 years now, we all as citizens of India need to ask ourselves a question, do we really understand the true meaning of the word unity? Why is it that even today, there is inequality, social injustice, corruption in India when our freedom fighters were such an inspiration.