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Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s legal acumen turned liquor into water for client

The Times of India Parth Shastri,TNN | Oct 31, 2014

AHMEDABAD: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's legendary gift of gab which convinced the rulers of various princely states to accede to India was also equally fruitful in the courts of law where he would secure the release of his client by putting even judges on the back foot.

In one case, Sardar, using his unmatched brilliance and acumen, proved that the liquor inside the two bottles seized from his bootlegger client had 'turned into' water.

Ravji Patel, a freedom fighter and contemporary of Sardar and Mahatma Gandhi, documents the wit of the Iron Man as a lawyer in his book, 'Hind na Sardar', published by Navjivan Press. The author doesn't mince words while stating that Sardar in his early career wanted name and fame and thus fought cases defending accused in criminal cases.

An incident that took place at the Borsad court is especially interesting. Sardar Patel was approached by a bootlegger arrested by the excise department. When the case came up for hearing in the court, Sardar insisted that the seized bottles of liquor be examined by doctors. At the time of the second hearing, to everyone's surprise, the medical report stated that the bottles contained only plain water.

The inspector who arrested the bootlegger was befuddled. After the accused was released, the cop approached Sardar for explanation. The lawyer confided in him that the magistrate was habituated to consuming liquor and was known to often target seized bottles, later replacing the liquor with water. He was thus sure of this turn of events," the book reads.

Ten essential facts

The Times of India, October 31, 2015

People shower flowers on a statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his birth anniversary at Lal Darwaja in Ahmedabad. (File photo from 2013 by Bhadresh Gajjar for TOI); Graphic courtesy: The Times of India, October 31, 2015

The Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, passed Class 10 at the age of 22. Today, at this age most youngsters proceed to colleges for higher studies and some even opt for employment. Patel travelled to attend schools in Nadiad, Petlad and Borsad.

Sardar Patel addressing meeting at Town Hall in Ahmedabad after unveiling the Marble bust of Ballubhai Thakore in 1948; Graphic courtesy:

2. On January 5, 1917 Sardar was elected councillor of the Ahmedabad municipality for the first time. He had contested from Dariyapur seat then, and had won by just one vote. In 1924, Sardar was elected president of Ahmedabad municipality.

3. India had just two public health laboratories - in Pune and in Karachi in 1921. Sardar felt the need for more such laboratories that could track diseases and keep a check on quality of drinking water supply and food supplies. The third laboratory was set up within Dudheshwar waterworks compound at Shahibaugh.

Sardar being garlanded after he laid the foundation stone of Seth Lallubhai Gordhandas Hospital in Ahmedabad; Graphic courtesy: The Times of India, October 31, 2015

4. When corruption charges were pressed against Sardar Patel and 18 other councillors in Ahmedabad municipality, he sought Jinnah's help. In April 28, 1922, a case of 'misrepresentation of funds' worth Rs 1.68 lakh was registered in Ahmedabad District Court (ADC). Sardar successfully defended the case in ADC. But he was dragged to the Bombay High Court in 1923. Jinnah led a panel of lawyers and fought for Sardar Patel, winning the case.

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel inspecting a guard of honour by the police at Ahmedabad Airport in 1948; Graphic courtesy: The Times of India, October 31, 2015

5. The assembly of the first Gujarati typewriter was commissioned by Sardar in 1924. For this, the Ahmedabad municipality had approached Remington company and paid it Rs 4,000 for putting together the first typewriter in the Gujarati language.

6. Sardar happened to be the first to pitch for removing "sexual disqualification" in the district municipal Act.

By this Act, women were barred from contesting elections as per Section 15(1)(C). A resolution was passed in this regard in the Ahmedabad municipality general board on February 13, 1913. Sardar had argued that keeping women out of the elected body was equivalent to eliminating the representation of half of the urban population. In 1926, Section 15(1)(c) was abolished. 7. After seeking help from nagarsheths Vadilal Sarabhai and Chunilal Chinoy for construction of VS Hospital, Sardar wrote to the provincial government for a grant of Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh in April 1927. Patel had earlier suggested that the city civil hospital should be under municipal control. But this suggestion was rejected. It was then that Vadilal Sarabhai and Chunilal Chinoy contributed for constructing a new hospital and a 21 acre plot was earmarked for it.

Mysuru BJP unit organized 'Run for Unity' in the city. (TOI Mysore photo); Graphic courtesy: The Times of India, October 31, 2015

8. Sardar Patel was against anybody - including his close kin - using his name for profit.

Sardar was so strict about this that he had once told his son, Dahyabhai, to stay away from Delhi if possible, so long as he (Sardar) was in the national capital. "Don't misuse my name. Don't use my name for any favours in Delhi. Till I am in Delhi, stay away from it as far as you can," Sardar had written to his son.

9. In April 1947, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, then a Home member of the interim government, started his tour in Gujarat asking people to maintain calm and communal harmony. There had been a series of skirmishes.

In one meeting in Ahmedabad, Patel expressed his anxiety, "A snake grows a new skin to take place of the worn out one it sheds." Sardar further added, "We may become politically sovereign, but internally we lack the attributes of a free people, such as equality, cohesion and national character." He asked, "Has India organized a new state and society to replace the old order which she wants to discard?"

10. Sardar Patel was completely against building statues and memorials. If he were alive today, he would have opposed the state government's project under which a Rs3,000 crore sculpture of the Iron Man himself is coming up at Kevadiya near the Narmada dam. The 'Statue of Unity' will be the world's tallest structure of this kind when completed.