Death anniversary: How did Sardar Patel’s daughter live life, who stayed with him till her last breath?
On 15 December 1950, veteran Congress leader Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who was the country’s first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, passed away. When he passed away, his daughter Maniben Patel stayed with him like a shadow till his last breath. Patel’s daughter also entered politics. She reached the Lok Sabha three times and once in the Rajya Sabha.
Highlights
⏩ Maniben, who remained with Sardar Patel till the last, became active in politics, also contested elections
⏩ She also became a minister in the state government of Gujarat and was a Member of Parliament twice.
⏩ Later angry with the Congress, he joined the Janata Party after the Emergency.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel died on 15 December 1950 in Mumbai after a long illness. Maniben Patel, who looked after the work of his daughter and personal assistant, stayed with him till his last breath. She not only devoted her whole life to her father but also lived a long life after her father’s death. Like her father, she could not reach a high position in politics, but she did play a political inning. Reached the Lok Sabha three times and was elected once in the Rajya Sabha. However, after the Emergency in the 70s, she got angry with Congress and went to the Janata Party.
Patel’s daughter Maniben Patel was intense and active. Very honest. Remained unmarried for life. When she died in Ahmedabad in the year 1988, she was just a month away from the age of 87.
What was given to Nehru after his father’s death?
Kurien Varghese, the founder of Amul, has mentioned Maniben in detail in his book, it is worth reading. In fact, when Kurien was in Anand, he often used to meet Maniben, she was active in social work. He writes in the book, “Maniben told him that when Sardar Patel passed away, he took a book and a bag.
Went to meet Jawaharlal Nehru in Delhi. He handed it over to Nehru. Father had given instructions that after his death it should be handed over to Nehru only. The bag contained Rs 35 lakh of party funds and the book was actually the party’s account book.”
Maniben used to live with her father in Delhi and also played the role of his personal secretary. (sardar patel archives)
Became a Member of Parliament and was an office bearer of many trusts
After Patel’s death, Birla asked him to stay at Birla House, but he refused. He didn’t have much money then. She went to relatives in Ahmedabad. She used to travel in third class on the bus or train. Later, with the help of Congress leader Tribhuvandas, she became a Member of Parliament. Held influential positions in Gujarat Congress. In many institutions, she remained a trustee or office bearer till the last time.
Won the election on Janata Party ticket
Maniben was elected to the first Lok Sabha from South Kaira in Gujarat. Became MP from Anand for the second Lok Sabha. Was a member of the Rajya Sabha from 1964 to 1970. Later he left Congress and joined the Swatantra Party with Morarji Desai. Then came to Congress. During the Emergency, he left Congress in protest. Then she went to Janata’s Party
Morarji Desai used to make him wait a lot
In 1977, she contested the Lok Sabha elections from Mehsana on a Janata Party ticket and was elected. He had high hopes for Morarji Desai but he behaved strangely with him for some unknown reason. Whenever she used to go to meet him, he used to make her wait a lot.
The youth spent in Gandhiji’s ashram
Maniben had devoted himself to Congress and Mahatma Gandhi since his youth. She also lived in his ashram in Ahmedabad for a long time. In later years, she started living with Patel in Delhi. She looked after her father’s daily chores and helped him as a secretary. That’s why almost all the Congress leaders knew him very well.
Later the eyes become weak
In the last years, Maniben’s eyes became very weak. She was seen walking alone on the streets of Ahmedabad. Due to weak eyes, there were also reports of him stumbling and falling once or twice.
Son Dahiya was also MP twice
Patel’s son Dahyabhai Patel died in 1973. After his studies, he started working in an insurance company in Mumbai. He had two sons – Bipin and Gautam. Bipin from their first wife and Gautam from their second wife. Actually, after the death of his first wife, Yasoda, he married for the second time. Dahyabhai also jumped into the freedom struggle. went to jail After independence, he contested the 1957 Lok Sabha elections. Elected Rajya Sabha member in 1962.
