Two-day Conference On Vithalbhai Patel:
The Delhi Legislative Assembly held a two-day conference on ‘Vithalbhai Patel: His Role in Shaping India’s Constitution and Legislative Institutions’ in New Delhi recently.
- Vithalbhai Patel, born on 27 September 1873, was an Indian legislator and political leader, co-founder of the Swaraj Party, and elder brother of Sardar Patel.
- Much before Vallabhbhai Patel could enter politics, Vithalbhai got into the political world and became a prominent name in the Indian independence movement.
- Despite not being completely in sync with Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy and practices, Vithalbhai joined Congress and began his struggle for India’s independence.
- He managed to win a seat in the Bombay Legislative Council with the help of a band of supporters.
- After the incident of Chauri Chaura and the end of the Non-cooperation Movement in 1922, Vithalbhai left Congress and established his own party called Swaraj Party, along with Chittaranjan Das and Motilal Nehru.
- The basic aim of the party was to enter the councils and abolish the government run by the British.
- He became popular amongst the masses through his oratorical and witty speeches.
- Thereafter, he was elected to the Central Legislative Assembly in 1923 and later in 1925, became the Assembly’s president.
- He was the first Indian to hold the post of the President/Speaker of the Central Legislative Assembly.
- Vithalbhai Patel drew the attention of the world towards the importance and need of India’s freedom. Thus, he lit the flame of the Indian freedom struggle not only in the country but also abroad.
- He died in Geneva, Switzerland, on October 22, 1933.
