
BY A STAFF REPORTER
NORWALK, CA- The Indian- American community of Southern California & Joy of Sharing Senior Center of Sanatan Temple together with 17 other nonprofit organizations of SoCal celebrated the birthday of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, on Oct 31. The First Deputy Prime Minister of India also called the The Iron Man of India...
NORWALK, CA- The Indian- American community of Southern California & Joy of Sharing Senior Center of Sanatan Temple together with 17 other nonprofit organizations of SoCal celebrated the birthday of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, on Oct 31. The First Deputy Prime Minister of India also called the The Iron Man of India...

was born on Oct 31, 1875. The day was celebrated as India Unity Day or Bharat Ekata Diwas, at the Sanatan Dharma Temple, here.
The event began with singing of national songs by Dr Sadani and welcome addresses by B U Patel and Keshav Patel, Convener of the Indian American Community of Southern California & former Trustee of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad , India. More than 100 guests attended the event even though Oct 31 was a working day.
Addressing the gathering Keshav Patel said “It is our pleasure and duty to celebrate the birthday of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who lived a simple life and spent his whole life for the people of India. He was a great nationalist and selfless leader. For him the Nation was first. He made our India great by convincing 562 kings and uniting 562 princely states made free by British Government in 1947, a very difficult task. ‘’Aparna Hande sang an inspiring song about Sardar Patel, indicating his relevance today.
The event was graced by Rushabh Rupani, son of Chief Minister of Gujarat Vijay Rupani, who was welcomed by BU Patel.
Anil Patel, a social worker for Dang, Gujarat spoke about the Bardoli Farmer’s Satyagrah, under the leadership of Sardar Patel and its impact on India’s Independence movement and how he got the title Sardar by the women of Bardoli. Jawahar Shah and Kantibhai Kamadar narrated their experience about the merger of Junagarh with India.
Dr. Manorma Sharma spoke about post-independence work of Sardar Patel and its importance.
Charu Shiva Kumar of Excel Foundation, said “Sardar Patel believed in simplicity but high thinking and morality. He is the role model of National leadership, unity and discipline. Leaders of today need to learn from his life.”
Babubhai Gandh, of VYASA LA said” If Pt. Nehru didn’t go to the UNO and interfere in the Jammu & Kashmir problem Sardar Patel would have got the whole of Kashmir for India.”
“I was extremely pleased when I came to know that the Indian- American community has organized a program to celebrate the birthday of Sardar Patel as India Unity Day. I am pleased that I was invited and given an opportunity to meet all of you ,” said Vipin Gupta, Chief Editor of National Express, New Delhi, and the guest of honor for the event. He also praised the work of Sardar Patel and said” Sardar Patel was not only Sardar of the Independence Movement of India but he was a real hero of the movement. No other leader can do what he did. ”
He presented books and magazines to Keshav Patel and Rushbh Rupani and invited them to visit Delhi. Jagadish Purohit and Amrit Bhandari were the emcees..Dr. Gadasalli, Subhash & Geeta Bhatt, Kewal Kanda, Ramaji Patel, Kamini Khare, Anju Garg, Mayur Shah, Kaushik Patel and Kanaksinh Zala also spoke at the event. A delicious dinner followed the vote of thanks.
The event began with singing of national songs by Dr Sadani and welcome addresses by B U Patel and Keshav Patel, Convener of the Indian American Community of Southern California & former Trustee of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad , India. More than 100 guests attended the event even though Oct 31 was a working day.
Addressing the gathering Keshav Patel said “It is our pleasure and duty to celebrate the birthday of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who lived a simple life and spent his whole life for the people of India. He was a great nationalist and selfless leader. For him the Nation was first. He made our India great by convincing 562 kings and uniting 562 princely states made free by British Government in 1947, a very difficult task. ‘’Aparna Hande sang an inspiring song about Sardar Patel, indicating his relevance today.
The event was graced by Rushabh Rupani, son of Chief Minister of Gujarat Vijay Rupani, who was welcomed by BU Patel.
Anil Patel, a social worker for Dang, Gujarat spoke about the Bardoli Farmer’s Satyagrah, under the leadership of Sardar Patel and its impact on India’s Independence movement and how he got the title Sardar by the women of Bardoli. Jawahar Shah and Kantibhai Kamadar narrated their experience about the merger of Junagarh with India.
Dr. Manorma Sharma spoke about post-independence work of Sardar Patel and its importance.
Charu Shiva Kumar of Excel Foundation, said “Sardar Patel believed in simplicity but high thinking and morality. He is the role model of National leadership, unity and discipline. Leaders of today need to learn from his life.”
Babubhai Gandh, of VYASA LA said” If Pt. Nehru didn’t go to the UNO and interfere in the Jammu & Kashmir problem Sardar Patel would have got the whole of Kashmir for India.”
“I was extremely pleased when I came to know that the Indian- American community has organized a program to celebrate the birthday of Sardar Patel as India Unity Day. I am pleased that I was invited and given an opportunity to meet all of you ,” said Vipin Gupta, Chief Editor of National Express, New Delhi, and the guest of honor for the event. He also praised the work of Sardar Patel and said” Sardar Patel was not only Sardar of the Independence Movement of India but he was a real hero of the movement. No other leader can do what he did. ”
He presented books and magazines to Keshav Patel and Rushbh Rupani and invited them to visit Delhi. Jagadish Purohit and Amrit Bhandari were the emcees..Dr. Gadasalli, Subhash & Geeta Bhatt, Kewal Kanda, Ramaji Patel, Kamini Khare, Anju Garg, Mayur Shah, Kaushik Patel and Kanaksinh Zala also spoke at the event. A delicious dinner followed the vote of thanks.