Meet the unknown political dynasty of India

Hailing the Statue of Unity as a 'befitting tribute' to the Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's family members on Wednesday said it would help the younger generation know more about his life.

It should have been done much earlier by the previous governments, they expressed. "Vallabhbhai never got the respect he deserved for bringing the princely states together and forging a unified India. The statue is a befitting tribute to his contribution to the nation," said Dhirubhai Patel, son of Sardar's nephew Purshottam Patel.

Dhirubhai, 91, was a special invitee to the ceremony where Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled Sardar Patel's 182-metre statue, the world's tallest, in Narmada district on the occasion of the leader's 143rd birth anniversary on Wednesday.

Dhirubhai is the only living descendant to have spent some time with Sardar, the first Deputy PM and Commander in Chief of independent India. Wiping a tear trickling down his face, he said, "I spent only a week with him at the Haripura Congress in 1938. My father spent a lot of time with him and even left his medical education incomplete because Sardar had obeyed the call to boycott foreign goods. He refused to speak to us about his time with the Sardar."

No name-dropping

Besides Dhirubhai, who lives in Vadodara with his family, the event was attended by 35 other members of Vallabhbhai Patel's extended family. Seated in the front rows at the event, several of them were visibly uncomfortable as they were not used to being in the news despite being descendants of such a famous leader, "It is because we don't advertise that we belong to Sardar's family. We do not use his name to further our cause,"said a family member, refusing to share his name.

However, having come into the limelight now due to the honour shown to their famous ancestor, they are very clear that the respect being showered on Patel is long deserved and should have been accorded to him just as early as it was showered on the first Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru, as both of them are considered equals in stature and their work in the interest of the newborn nation in 1947.

Better late than never

80-year-old Bhupendra Patel, another senior member of the family, said the statue would remind the younger generation about contributions made by Sardar.

"They will draw inspiration from Sardar Patel," said Bhupendra, who lives in Vallabh Vidyanagar in Anand district. He refused to comment when asked whether the previous governments did little for Sardar as being claimed by leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Dhirubhai's son-in-law Shailesh Patel, a Mumbai-based businessman, was more forthcoming. "This (statue) was long overdue. They should have done it much earlier. The statue will spread the message of the strength of unity and of the role played by Sardar to unite the nation," he said.

Speaking of the tribal opposition, Dhirubhai's son Atul, a businessman from Vadodara, said, "The tribals are being misguided by political opponents of the government. Our family is completely apolitical and we do not espouse any party's cause. However, the gradual obliteration of Sardar's contribution is disrespectful. Also, the tribals are the ones who will benefit from the tourist industry boom here."

The government expects 1,500 people per day to visit the statue that was built in 42 months by 3,700 workers at a cost of Rs 2,332 crore.