The great freedom fighter of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was rich in versatility and multi-faceted personality. He is considered a great freedom fighter and the builder of modern India.He was a famous barrister, but he left his profession for the independence of the country. He participated in the boycott of foreign clothes by Gandhiji and burnt his precious foreign clothes.After independence, he became the first Home Minister of the country. He merged 562 princely states into India with great skill and understanding, which is an example in itself. He is called the 'Iron Man of India' for his brave deeds.
Vallabhbhai Patel got recognition as Sardar for his important role in Bardoli Satyagraha. Click here for Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Biography.Sardar Patel's first and biggest contribution to the freedom movement was in the Kheda struggle in 1918. The Kheda division (division) of Gujarat was in the grip of severe drought in those days. The farmers demanded huge tax exemption from the British government. When this was not accepted, Sardar Patel, Gandhiji and others led the peasants and asked them not to pay taxes. In the end the government bowed down and tax relief was given that year.
The Bardoli Satyagraha was a major peasant movement in Gujarat in the year 1928 during the Indian freedom struggle, led by Vallabhbhai Patel. At that time the provincial government had increased the rent of the peasants up to thirty percent. Patel strongly opposed this increase in rent. The government took drastic steps to crush this Satyagraha movement, but was finally forced to accept the demands of the farmers. A judicial officer, Bloomfield, and a revenue officer, Maxwell, after examining the entire cases, dismissed the 22 per cent hike in rent and reduced it to 6.03 per cent.