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Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 14, 2026 • 3 min read

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Quick Info

Date of birth31 October 1875

Age75 (at time of death)

BirthplaceNadiad, Bombay Presidency, British India

ProfessionBarrister, Politician, Activist

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseJhaverba Patel

FamilySon - Dahyabhai Patel; Daughter - Maniben Patel

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Biography

Leader, organizer and India’s first Deputy Prime Minister, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel played a central role in the country’s struggle for independence and in

Early life and background
Vallabhbhai Jhaverbhai Patel was born on 31 October 1875 in Nadiad, in the Bombay Presidency of British India. Exact records of his birth date are uncertain, though 31 October appears on his matriculation certificate. He came from a Patidar family; his parents were Jhaverbhai Patel and Ladba. Patel completed his early schooling in Gujarat and later pursued legal studies at the Middle Temple, Inns of Court in London, where he earned a degree in law after an intensive period of study.

Patel married Jhaverba in 1891 and they raised two children: a son, Dahyabhai, and a daughter, Maniben. His wife died after an illness and surgery in Bombay. Known for a reserved and stoic temperament from an early age, Patel balanced family responsibilities and professional ambition, supporting his children’s education with the help of relatives.

Career
Vallabhbhai Patel trained and worked as a barrister, building a successful legal practice in Gujarat in towns such as Godhra, Anand, Borsad and Ahmedabad. He became one of Ahmedabad’s leading criminal lawyers and was active in civic life. In 1917 he entered municipal politics, winning election as Sanitation Commissioner of Ahmedabad and serving as secretary of the Gujarat Sabha, an organization that supported Mahatma Gandhi’s campaigns. He later served as chairman of the Ahmedabad Municipal Committee between 1924 and 1928.

Patel’s political profile grew through the 1920s and 1930s. He was elected president of the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee in 1920 and led that body until 1945. Initially sceptical of Gandhi’s methods, Patel became a dedicated supporter during the non-cooperation movement and later participated actively in campaigns such as the Salt Satyagraha, during which he was among the first to be arrested. He and Gandhi were imprisoned together in Yeravda Central Jail in the early 1930s, a period that deepened their political partnership.

At Independence in 1947, Patel became a central architect of India’s political consolidation. As the senior leader in government, he held the position of Deputy Prime Minister and was minister of Home Affairs, States and Information and Broadcasting. Tasked with integrating more than 560 princely states into the Indian Union, he led negotiations and administrative measures that brought those territories into the newly independent nation.

Public profile
Patel was often referred to by honorifics that underscored his role in nation-building, including Sardar and titles such as the Iron Man of India and Unifier of India. He was associated with the Indian National Congress throughout his political career and retained a close working relationship with Gandhi. Patel also had personal interests outside politics: he enjoyed playing bridge and followed a vegetarian diet.

Controversies and criticisms
During his public life, Patel faced charges and criticism on several fronts. While serving in municipal office in Ahmedabad, he faced a legal case alleging misrepresentation of municipal funds. Political opponents and some contemporaries criticized his stance toward Muslim constituencies and his rapid acceptance of the partition settlement; supporters of other nationalist leaders occasionally disagreed with his approaches to internal dissent.

Legacy and tributes
Patel’s contributions to India’s unity and administrative consolidation have been commemorated through numerous institutions and monuments bearing his name. These include major educational institutions, police and security academies, an international airport and infrastructure projects in Gujarat. His birthday, 31 October, is observed in India as National Unity Day (Rashtriya Ekta Diwas).

A prominent modern tribute is the Statue of Unity, a 182-metre sculpture erected near the Sardar Sarovar Dam in Gujarat and inaugurated in October 2018. The statue was created to honor his role in unifying the country.

Latest updates
Patel was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour, in 1991. His life and work continue to be commemorated across public institutions and memorials named after him.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded

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Career Highlights

  1. Led the integration of over 560 princely states into the Indian Union
  2. Served as India’s first Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs
  3. President of the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (1920–1945)
  4. Chairman of Ahmedabad Municipal Committee (1924–1928)
  5. Early municipal leader in Ahmedabad and prominent barrister
Reviewed by F4U Editorial Desk

F4U profile pages are prepared from public career information, checked for readability, and updated when reliable correction sources are shared with the editorial team.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel born?

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was born on 31 October 1875.

What is Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel known for?

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel is known for barrister, Politician, Activist.

What is Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s marital status?

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's marital status is listed as Married.

Who is Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel married to?

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel is publicly listed as married to Jhaverba Patel.