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Patriot
right from studentage,
came in contact with Gandhiji during his study in Gujarat college in
1920. He gave away degree of B.A. and worked as an editor of
“Saurashtra” newspaper for
sometime
in 1921. Also worked for sometime, with the national newspaper
“Bombay Cronical”. Established “Bhavnagar Praja Parishad” in
1923.
Joined
the executive body of the ‘Kathiavar Rajkiya Parishad’. During
that period, he was elected in
Bhavnagar Municipality and did many trendsetting works of
public welfare as a President of the Municipality. Joined
“Servants of People’s Welfare Society” established by Shri
Lala Lajpatrai and later on remained as its
President. Joined the ‘Nagpur
Zanda Satyagrah’ in 1923. Underwent the imprisonment. He was
deeply interested in girls’ education. Established ‘Mahila
Vidhyalaya’ at Bhavnagar in 1925 with the help of
companions- coworkers like late Shri Amritlal Dani. Took part
in ‘ Bardoli Satyagrah’ in 1928. Took leadership of the Satyagrah team of ‘ Dholera
Salt Satyagrah’
in 1930 and invited arrest.
He was sentenced imprisonment for two years. Also arrested from
Ranpur in 1932 and given sentence of imprisonment for six months.
Arrested while attending the convention of Ahmedabad District
Congress as President and sentenced for nine months imprisonment.
Meanwhile,
Gandhiji gave a call to the workers to undertake the service to
Harijans, so he organised and joined the Padyatra from Bhavnagar to
Porbandar. Joined individual Satyagrah in 1940. He underwent one
year imprisonment. He was arrested during “Quit India” movement
in 1942. He underwent imprisonment in Rajkot upto
August, 1945. While in prison, he
translated a well-known book ‘ Madam Quatrie’.
Right
from 1931, he remained as leader of ‘Akhil Hind Rajasthan Parishad’
and toured throughout
the country in order to awaken the people against the injustices of
native States. Edited its organ “States’ People”. Sent to
prison while participating in Rajkot Satyagrah. He was elected in
Bhavnagar Assembly in 1946 and continued to oppose the injustice
remaining in the Opposition Party.
With
the passage of time, he boycotted the assembly. He was selected in
All India Congress Executive. He held the responsibility as Chief
Minister with the establishment of responsible administration in
Bhavnagar on 15-1-48. Therefore, there was creation of Saurashtra
State and he joined as its Deputy Chief Minister. Then he was
appointed as the General Secretary of All India Congress.
He
was twice elected as MP to the LokSabha, first in 1952 and then in
1957. While he was the Chairman of Estimate Committee, he produced
as many as 100 very important reports. When he prepared an important
report on local self Government
he became famous as ‘the Father of Panchayat Raj’.
He founded “Akhil Hind Panchayat Parishad”. He held the
responsibility of the organisation
called “Indian Council For Africa” and toured the countries of
East Africa.
He
was deeply interested in archiology and sculpture. ‘Gandhi Smruti’,
‘Sardar Smruti’ buildings of Bhavnagar are the result of his
efforts. He was specially interested in
history. He was selected in the editorial committee of
“History Of Indian Freedom Struggle”. Held the Office of the
Chief Minister of Gujarat in 1963. During Indo- Pak was in 1965, he,
alongwith his wife Shrimati Sarojben, came out in a small plane to
inspect Gujarat- Pakistan border as responsible Chief Minister. A
Pakistani aircraft crushed Chief Minister’s plane in Kutch
area resulting into the martyrdom of Mehta couple. Sad
demise:19-9-1965.
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