In pics: How 'Iron Man' Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel integrated 565 princely states to make present day India
Remembering key chapters in saga of accession and struggles of Sardar Patel that made India what it is today
In what can be called as a tall tribute to a tall leader, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated ‘Statue of Unity’ in honour of India’s ‘Iron Man’ Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in Gujarat on Wednesday .
In his emotional speech, the Prime Minister said that had it not been for Sardar Patel, we would have needed visa to visit places in our own country. He said that there won’t be India that we see today.
The 182-metre structure of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel is touted as the world's tallest. It is twice the height of the Statue of Liberty in the US and is built on Sadhu Bet, an islet near the Sardar Sarovar Dam.
The statue was unveiled on the occasion of the fourth Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day), which is observed every year on the birthday of freedom fighter and India's first home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
BJP President Amit Shah, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, Deputy CM Nitin Patel, Madhya Pradesh Governor and former Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel were present at the inauguration of the statue.
But how many of you know what exactly happened in the months leading to India’s Independence that changed the destiny of the country. Here’s what you must know about how 565 princely states were brought together for India as we know today:
All photos sourced from National Virtual Library of India’s Sardar Patel Portal