Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, inaugurated an 11-foot tall statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, today. The event was attended by Union Minister Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and other dignitaries.
In his address, Shri Amit Shah highlighted that Sardar Patel, often overlooked during his lifetime, played an indispensable role in shaping modern India. Despite his pivotal contributions, he did not receive the recognition he truly deserved. For decades, a party with a deep devotion to one family failed to even establish a memorial for Patel, Shah noted. However, he acknowledged Prime Minister Narendra Modi for paying tribute to Sardar Patel by constructing the world’s tallest statue, the Statue of Unity, in Gujarat, recognizing his monumental legacy.
Shri Shah emphasized that India owes its unity to Sardar Patel, who played a crucial role in integrating over 550 princely states into the Indian Union, ensuring the nation’s territorial integrity. He pointed out that without Patel, the map of India as we know it today would not have existed. His role in uniting the princely states of Gujarat and Rajasthan and securing their place in India was pivotal, and his efforts continue to influence the country’s unity and strength.
The newly unveiled statue, weighing 1,100 kilograms and standing 11 feet tall, is placed on an 8-foot-high pedestal. While modest in size, Shri Shah remarked that the statue’s significance would endure for generations, inspiring the youth to embrace Sardar Patel’s ideals. He also noted that Patel persuaded the Maharaja of Jodhpur to merge the princely state of Jodhpur with India and contributed significantly to the security of the nation by converting the Jodhpur Airbase into a strategic military hub.
Shri Shah also took the opportunity to reflect on the long-standing impact of Sardar Patel’s work. He mentioned that many unfinished tasks during Patel’s time, such as the abrogation of Article 370, the Uniform Civil Code, the construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, the abolition of triple talaq, and strengthening India’s defense policy, have been successfully completed under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi in the past decade. He pointed to the revocation of Article 370, the commencement of the Uniform Civil Code in Uttarakhand, and the realization of the Ram Temple as monumental achievements in fulfilling Patel’s vision.
Additionally, Shri Shah praised the actions of Prime Minister Modi, who responded decisively to terrorist attacks like Uri and Pulwama by carrying out surgical strikes and airstrikes against terrorists in Pakistan, demonstrating India’s military might. He further added that the India of today, with its booming economy, stands strong and proud, disproving the predictions of historical figures like Winston Churchill, who once claimed that India would fall apart after independence.
Shri Shah concluded by noting that Sardar Patel has been awarded the Bharat Ratna, and the 11-foot statue unveiled today is a tribute to his lasting legacy. He further emphasized that Prime Minister Modi’s decision to celebrate Patel’s 150th birth anniversary for two years is a step toward realizing a great and united India.
This 11-foot statue, installed in Jodhpur, will not only serve as a reminder of Sardar Patel’s monumental role in India’s history but also inspire future generations to embrace his principles of unity, integrity, and dedication to the nation.
