Vithalbhai Patel, elder brother of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was one of the stalwarts of the nationalist movement in the 'twenties' and 'thirties'. Jawaharlal Nehru, in his autobiography, wrote that he had been 'a great and indomitable fighter for India's freedom'.

He joined the Congress in 1915. Later he became a Swaraj Party leader and a close associate of Motilal Nehru and C.R. Das. A brilliant Parliamentarian, he was elected as President of the Central Assembly in 1925. Master of parliamentary rules and procedures he evoked praise from all quarters for editing the proceedings of the House. Yet, as Nehru has noted, "he had become a thorn in the tender side of the government on account of his independence (of them) and attempts were made to clip his wings."

Vithalbhai Patel was born on September 27, 1873 in Karamsad in Gujarat. After early education at Karamsad and Nadiad, Vithalbhai went to Bombay and qualified for district leadership. In a few years he became a well-known lawyer with considerable practice. His younger brother, Vallabhbhai followed his footsteps. After his return from England in 1908, as a barrister, Vithalbhai practised in Bombay. Two years later after he lost his wife, he devoted himself entirely to public affairs. He was President of the Bombay Corporation and later he was elected to the Bombay Legislative Council as a representative of local self-governing bodies.

Elected to the Central Assembly in New Delhi in 1915 he was very actively engaged in political affairs of the day. In 1918, he was the Chairman of the Reception Committee for the Congress session held in Bombay. The next year he was representing the Congress in a delegation sent to England to represent its views to the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Govt. of India Act. During the following year also he again went to England to plead India's case.

When Gandhiji started the non-cooperation movement Vithalbhai resigned his Assembly seat. Later in 1922, when differences arose on the issue of Council entry Vithalbhai along with C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru formed the Swaraj Party. This party won 45 seats in the 1923 elections. Two years later he became the President of the Central Assembly.

In 1930, when the Congress boycotted the legislatures, Vithalbhai resigned. The same year he was arrested along with other members of the Working Committee. Due to ill health, which dogged him from then on, he was released before the end of his term. In 1932 he was once again arrested, but due to illness, was allowed to go to Vienna for treatment. But illness did not prevent him from proceeding on a strenuous lecture tour of the United States. On his return to Vienna he met Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, who was then living there.

Vithalbhai died on October 22, 1933 in Geneva, where he had gone to plead India's case at the League of Nations.

Jawaharlal Nehru has paid a moving tribute to Vithalbhai Patel which cannot be bettered. "His passing away was a painful event and the thought of our veteran leaders leaving us in the way, one after another, in the midst of our struggle was extra-ordinarily depressing one." Many tributes were paid to Vithalbhai and most of these laid stress on his ability as a Parliamentarian and his success as President of the Assembly. Vithalbhai was something much more than that - he had been a great and indomitable fighter for India's freedom.

The P & T Department is privileged to bring out a commemorative stamp in honour of this veteran Parliamentarian and Freedom Fighter.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India