Vithaldas Jhaverbhai Patel (English: Vithaldas Jhaverbhai Patel, born: 27 September, 1873; died: 22 October, 1933) was a prominent national leader of India and the elder brother of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Only after completing his barrister studies, he started working to liberate the country.
Patel was born on September 27, 1873 in Nadiad, Gujarat. In 1905, he completed his barristership and started practicing law, but soon got drawn into the Indian national movement. He led a strong mass movement in India against the Rowlatt Act. He was also elected a member of the Central Assembly, but resigned from membership as per the policy of non-cooperation of the Congress. Later he joined the Swarajya Party and was elected the first non-official President of the Central Assembly.
By casting his decisive vote, he rejected the Government’s Public Safety Bill and stopped the police from entering the Central Assembly Hall during the session. In 1930, he resigned from the post of President of the Central Assembly in protest against the house arrest of Congress leaders and only after this he himself was put under house arrest. His health broke down in prison and he went to Europe to improve his health.
In Vienna he met Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. He had full faith in Netaji and he bequeathed him two lakh rupees to spend in national works as per his wish. He died shortly thereafter in Vienna. On his death in 1933 AD, the younger brother Sardar Patel, despite believing in the principles of non-cooperation, filed a case in the British court in India and got the will of the elder brother cancelled. Vithaldas Jhaverbhai Patel was a great patriot and even the British rulers of India were afraid of him.
