The visionary with the rightful Indian thinking and great leadership skills who worked with remarkable persuasive techniques to build a strong united India deserves more than just celebrations or should I say any amount of celebrations in his name is always less. It requires lots of likeminded individuals to come together to revoke the love for ONE strong India. This is even more required as the divisive forces are working on social media with false propaganda and fake news. This is needed even more because the proxy war to break India is on, with numerous homes being destroyed with continuous shelling in the border states like Jammu and Kashmir.
In London, Sardar Patel Memorial Society, UK continued with its efforts to send a strong message to the masses to work even harder for a united India! Earlier they commemorated his 143rd Birth Anniversary ‘Rashtriya Ekta Diwas’ at the prestigious India House, Indian High Commission in London. It was well attended by all the who’s who of UK. This was followed by a grand meeting at Nehru Centre to commemorate the Sardar’s death anniversary on the 15th December.
The high profile event was attended by prominent persons including Mr A.S Rajan Minister of Co-ordination, who was also the keynote speaker, and his wife Ms Sashirekha Rajan, , Mr Brij Kumar Guhare, Deputy Director Nehru Centre, Dr NandKumar, Director Bhartiya Vidya Bhawan, Mr Ravi Sharma famous presenter from Lyca Radio All the dignitaries were invited on stage to pay their respects by showering flowers on the statue of the respectable leader, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
The Chairman of SPMS Mr C.B Patel was involved personally leading the guests for dinner before the formal start. Ms Krishna Pujara the General Secretary welcomed the distinguished guests and members of the audience. The entire event was meticulously planned by Ms Sulochna Sethi and various other members of the committee. Mr Kanti Nagda compered the entire show beautifully. He interestingly pointed out that Sardar was against statue building personally. He further said, while the crowd throngs the statue of Unity near Sardar Sarovar at Kevardiya, it is high time to pay true tribute to him. He was honoured with Bharat Ratna only in the year 1991. The hero of Kheda and Bardoli Satyagrah was the man without political ambitions.
Dr Nand kumar recalled his days when he first came to London and had the opportunity to meet Mr Ramkrishna, the former personal secretary to the Iron Man of India. He recited prayer from Vedas, dedicated to human kind.
Om Bhadram Karnnebhih Shrnnuyaama Devaah |
Bhadram Pashyema-Akssabhir-Yajatraah |
Sthirair-Anggais-Tussttuvaamsas-Tanuubhih |
Vyashema Devahitam Yad-Aayuh |
Svasti Na Indro Vrddha-Shravaah |
Svasti Nah Puussaa Vishva-Vedaah |
Svasti Nas-Taakssaryo Arisstta-Nemih |
Svasti No Vrhaspatir-Dadhaatu ||
Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih ||
Meaning:
Aum! O gods, may we hear auspicious words with the ears;
While engaged in yagnas,
May we see auspicious things with the eyes;
While praising the gods with steady limbs,
May we enjoy a life that is beneficial to the gods.
May Indra of ancient fame be auspicious to us;
May the supremely rich (or all-knowing) Pusa (god of the earth)
Be propitious to us;
May Garuda, the destroyer of evil,
Be well disposed towards us;
May Brihaspati ensure our welfare.
Aum! Peace! Peace! Peace!
Dr Nandkumar spoke about little anecdotes which were shared by Mr Ramakrishna during those days. He also shared how Bhartiya Vidya Bhawan was thus connected to Sardar Patel.
Mr Guhare spoke about Sardar as a legacy to be followed by present generation. He said that he had grown up reading poems about him and how he was inspired by him and always wondered how intense his thoughts must have been to free India to pull him back and return to India after studying law and get involved in the freedom struggle by showing the light to people to participate in the movement. He had the potential power to blissfully and soulfully break the shackles of slavery which bonded the Indians.
According to CB, Sardar Patel’s contribution to the nation with absolutely no craving for any position nor sulking for being ignored is immense. He spoke about how the statue of Unity has become a great tourist destination now. More than 25,000 people visit it every day. It is not about a statue of someone who died several years ago but it is about the values, respect, standards and sacrifice. It is to tell everyone that no one can break India. It is an investment and the President of India laid the foundation for the most modern railway station at Kevadiya today. The lives of people in nearby town are changing quick, development and infrastructure building is happening faster than ever.
He also mentioned that Sardar Patel, councillor of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation from 1917 to 1928. No wonder it is one of the best planned city in the India. British called him the best administrator. He also thanked the committee members for their hardwork and cooperation.
Mr Ravi Sharma read a poem on Sardar Patel written by Sri Harivanshrai Bachchan, the poet, and the father of legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan, which has described the Sardar of Bardoli in the following lines:
यही प्रसिद्ध लोह का पुरुष प्रबल, यही प्रसिद्ध शक्ति की शीला अटल, हिला इसे सका कभी न शत्रु दल, पटेल पर स्वदेश को गुमान है.सुबुद्धि उच्च श्रुंग पर किये जगह, ह्रदय गंभीर है समुद्र की तरह, कदम छुए हुए जमीन की तरह, पटेल देश का निगहबान है. हरेक पक्ष को पटेल तोलता, हरेक भेद को पटेल खोलता, दुराव या छिपाव से उसे गरज? कठोर नग्न सत्य बोलता , पटेल हिंद की नीडर जबान है.
(1) Here is a well-known strong man of steel.
Here is a well-known unshakable pillar of strength.
The enemies could never deter him,
Patel is the pride of our country.
(2) His intellect is as high as the mountain,
His heart solemn like the ocean,
His legs firmly rooted on the ground.
Patel is the vision of our country.
(3) He examines all the sides of a problem.
He reveals all the mysteries around.
He doesn't care to hide or to keep back.
He speaks the bitter truth as it is.
Patel is the fearless tongue of our country.
Mr Rajan, spoke about how Sardar Patel dealt with 565 princely states and kingdoms and unified India. He had very good negotiation skills, no compromise or concession with any kingdom and principal states. That is why; he is called the Iron Man of India. When Sardar Patel left for the heavenly abode 68 years back there was an article in Manchester Guardian that without Vallabhbhai , Gandhi’s ideas would have less practical influence and Nehru’s ideologies less scope. He was a man of immediate action. Before independence he mobilised people to join the freedom struggle by organising satyagrah thus earned the name of Sardar and after independence, we saw a complete transformation as a seasoned statesman and was justifiably called the Iron Man. He was a rebel and also a statesman, what a transformation!
He gave strong foundation to the civil services in India, which became the steel frame of India. He gave a common thread to unite the civil servants from down south to up north. All the Indians in Britain, who have been in the country since long must have noticed the change in the approach of British towards India, from exclusive Island nation to cosmopolitan nation. Whichever transport you use in India, you will see the diversity of people that exists. India is the only country which welcomed people from all over the world whether Tibetans, Jews, Parsis, Nepalese, Afganis, Bhutanese or Bangladesis and Burmese and the theory of tolerance and acceptance evolved. In laying all these policies, Sardar Patel had a great hand. This laid an impact on UK too which in those days warmly welcomed people from all over the world. Sardar Patel dealt with demand for special status for minorities very tactfully and gave them special protection.
The map of India couldn’t have existed without Sardar Patel. Sardar Patel saved India! As the real architect of modern India, Sardar’s vision is now so justified and evident. We need to implement his philosophy even more. We all need to work for a united progressive India more, just as his statue was made from contribution from all parts of India. We the ordinary masses of India shall forever remain grateful to him for his crucial role in accession of all the princely states and giving to the world a powerful strong nation.
At today’s times of turmoil many wish, we could get the Sardar back!
