The government has commissioned a biographical play based on Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s life to celebrate the special occasion of his 150th birth anniversary.
According to reports, the play will be staged in Kevadia on October 30 and 31.
Called the ‘Iron Man of India’, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel had a significant role in India’s Independence movement.
The National School of Drama (NSD), the nursery of aspiring actors, will produce the play that’s of 90-minute duration.
It will also be staged in Ahmedabad and New Delhi.
The inaugural performance is expected to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, and several other leaders from the Centre and the state.
The production is currently in rehearsal and is designed to be a grand show with around 200 people, including the cast and crew.
Reports added that it will feature elaborate lighting effects and will also use augmented reality technology. Three actors will represent Patel, starting with his 14-year-old self, depicting the time when he stood against the school authorities for the overpricing of textbooks—an episode in which books were being sold at 5 paisa instead of the actual cost of 2 paisa.
Sources familiar with the production revealed to a media house that various incidents from Patel’s life could be related to present-day issues.
His fight against the commercialisation of education is one example that, according to officials who chose to remain unnamed, offers a valuable reflection for today’s youth.
Patel’s unwavering commitment to keeping his family out of politics is one of the play’s main themes. His children had been expressly told not to utilize his name for political or personal gain.
Officials noted that Patel’s strategy emphasizes the importance of individual merit in a time when nepotism is a topic of continuous discussion.
The story also centers on his return to Ahmedabad following his graduation from London’s legal school.
1916 was a pivotal year in his political awakening. Bal Gangadhar Tilak’s speech had a profound effect on him. Despite opposition from the British, Patel chose to erect a statue of Tilak because he was moved by his demand for Swaraj, or self-rule.
The relationship between him and Mahatma Gandhi will be further examined in the play.
The story goes that Gandhi asked Patel to withdraw his nomination for Congress president in favour of Jawaharlal Nehru in 1946.
The final act will portray the last phase of Patel’s life. It also focuses on how deeply he was affected by Gandhi’s assassination in 1948.
The Ministry of Culture has constituted a high-level committee chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to supervise the anniversary celebrations.
The panel reportedly includes former presidents Pratibha Patil and Ramnath Kovind, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda.
Also Read: Republic Day 2025: Aamir Khan Pays Tribute to Sardar Patel at Statue of Unity https://www.vibesofindia.com/republic-day-2025-aamir-khan-pays-tribute-to-sardar-patel-at-statue-of-unity/
