Jairam Ramesh reflects on Sardar Patel’s legacy amid 150th birth anniversary celebrations

As the nation commemorates the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took to Platform X to reflect on the enduring legacy of India’s “Iron Man” and to remind citizens of the deep historical bonds shared by Patel with other towering leaders of the freedom struggle.

Ramesh recalled a landmark moment from February 13, 1949, when the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru unveiled a statue of Sardar Patel in Godhra, where Patel had begun his legal career. Quoting Nehru’s heartfelt tribute, Ramesh highlighted the profound camaraderie between the two leaders, spanning over three decades: “Very few people have a history of such long and remarkable service-work as Sardar Patel. Even today, he remains vital for the country and is shouldering a great responsibility… I recall my thirty years of friendship and close collaboration with him in national activities… Sardar Patel has emerged as an influential and guiding figure on the Indian scene, to whom countless people look for guidance.”

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He also pointed to another significant tribute, when President Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan unveiled Patel’s statue near Parliament House on September 19, 1963. Nehru himself chose the inscription, “Architect of India’s unity,” capturing Patel’s monumental role in shaping the nation’s unity.

Ramesh further cited the emotional homage paid by the then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, during the closing ceremony of Patel’s birth centenary year in 1975, noting that her words continue to resonate today.

However, Ramesh lamented the distortion of history in recent times. “After 2014, history has been openly distorted, twisted, and perverted, particularly by G2 and their ecosystem,” he said. “To use these great personalities—selfless nation-builders—for ideological gain must surely grieve them. An ideology that contributed neither to the freedom struggle nor the making of the Constitution, and which, in Sardar Patel’s own words, created an atmosphere that made the horrific tragedy of January 30, 1948, possible.”

Ramesh’s reflections come as a poignant reminder to honour Patel’s legacy with fidelity and truth, celebrating his contributions to India’s unity and nation-building in a manner that respects historical facts and the spirit of the freedom movement.