Sardar Vallabhai Patel: India’s 'Iron Man' commemorated

Recently OBV wrote about an extraordinary young African Caribbean woman, Gabrielle Turnquest, the youngest person in the world to pass the Bar. The legal achievements and contributions of another outstanding individual were marked which OBV was privileged to be invited to.

Last month, the Indo British Cultural Exchange and the British Sikh Association in partnership with the Sardar Patel Memorial Society UK, National Congress of Gujarati Organisations UK and Society of Asian Lawyers held a historic event to mark the centenary of Bharat Ratna Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s call to the Bar-at-Law. The Unveiling Ceremony was held at Middle Temple  which included His Excellency Ranjan Mathai, High Commissioner of India to the United Kingdom, Attorney General Rt. Hon. Dominic Grieve QC, MP; Shailesh Vara MP, Minister in the Justice Ministry of the United Kingdom; Baroness Verma of Leicester, Minister at the Department of Energy and Climate Change and Judge Sir Mota Singh QC amongst others.

Dr. Rami Ranger MBE, FRSA, Chairman of the British Sikh Association shared a message from Prime Minister Cameron which read,

“ I would like to welcome the unveiling of this commemorative plaque honouring the anniversary of Bharat Ratna Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s call to the Bar. His contribution to modern India as a barrister and statesman are very widely respected."

Upon passing his Bar exams at Middle Temple, Patel then returned to India and went on to get involved in the country's independence movement.

Rt. Hon. Dominic Grieve QC MP who unveiled the commemorative plaque said, 

"Sardar Patel's is a remarkable story and this plaque will remind students hereafter of the immense contribution he made to Indian national life and ultimately to human kind. "

Dr. Ranger went on to describe Sardar, who became India’s first Home Minister, as a remarkable visionary leader who touched the life of every Indian and beyond. At the time of independence, India was a fragmented country and it was the unenviable task of Sardar Patel to make the case for a united democratic India where all would be equal, with one person, one vote in order to make their destiny. He was the architect of modern and united India as we see it today.

Indian High Commissioner Ranjan Mathai spoke of Sardar's title of the ‘Iron Man’ and the unique role he played in the creation of India, but he also recognised the crucial role he had designing India's partnership with Britain within the Commonwealth.

The contributions of Sardar Patel were rightly celebrated and acknowledged at this historic event and a Sardar Patel Scholarship will be launched to enable students from India and the UK to study at Middle Temple and continue his legacy.

Francine Fernandes