Sardar Patel's relative calls PM Modi a 'visionary' on National Unity Day
Synopsis
On National Unity Day, a personal account from Sardar Patel's own family carries quiet political weight: Bhupendra Manubhai Patel, a relative of the Iron Man of India, calls PM Modi a 'visionary' in the same mould — and credits a BJP Prime Minister with honouring a Congress icon more sincerely than most.
Key Takeaways
Bhupendra Manubhai Patel , a relative of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel , recalled a personal meeting with PM Narendra Modi during the latter's visit to Gujarat .
He called Modi a 'visionary like Sardar Patel' , crediting him with honouring a leader from a rival political tradition.
An anecdote from Sardar Patel's time in New Delhi highlighted Patel's refusal to use government vehicles for personal purposes.
India observes 31 October as National Unity Day to mark Sardar Patel's birth anniversary.
The account was shared on social media platform X by the handle Modi Story .
On National Unity Day, 31 October 2026, Bhupendra Manubhai Patel, a relative of India's first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, recalled a personal meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Gujarat, expressing gratitude that the Prime Minister had remembered his family and arranged a meeting with them during an official visit to the state.
The Meeting That Surprised the Family
Bhupendra Manubhai Patel recounted his surprise at being remembered by the Prime Minister. 'We never thought even in our dreams that PM Narendra Modi would remember us. But we invited everyone and took care of a few people,' he said, describing the warmth with which the encounter unfolded.
The account was shared on social media platform X by the handle Modi Story, drawing attention on the occasion of Sardar Patel's birth anniversary. Bhupendra Manubhai Patel praised Prime Minister Modi for honouring Sardar Patel's legacy despite the latter having belonged to a rival political tradition — the Indian National Congress (INC) — rather than the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Comparing Two Visionaries
'No one would have respected Sardar Patel as much as Narendra Bhai has. Sardar Patel was not even from his party; he was from the opposite party. Still, Narendra Bhai must have been impressed after seeing the work of Sardar Patel. PM Modi is also a visionary like Sardar Patel,' Bhupendra Manubhai Patel said.
The comparison between the two figures — one a Congress stalwart who unified post-Independence India, the other a BJP leader who built the world's tallest statue in Patel's honour — reflects the cross-party reverence that Sardar Patel commands in Indian public life. Notably, the Statue of Unity in Gujarat, inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi, stands as the most visible symbol of that tribute.
An Anecdote About Public Integrity
Bhupendra Manubhai Patel also shared a story from Sardar Patel's time in New Delhi, involving a lifelong friend who had participated in the Bardoli Satyagraha. When the friend visited the capital, Sardar Patel personally hosted him and escorted him around the city for two days. But when it came time for the friend to depart, Patel insisted on hiring a private taxi rather than using his official vehicle.
When his daughter Maniben questioned the decision, Patel's response was unambiguous: 'The car belonged to the government and not a single rupee of public money would ever be spent on personal matters.'
The anecdote underscores a principle of public accountability that Sardar Patel was known to apply without exception — a standard, according to Bhupendra Manubhai Patel, that Prime Minister Modi continues to uphold.
National Unity Day: Why October 31 Matters
India observes 31 October every year as National Unity Day (Rashtriya Ekta Diwas) to mark the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. His role in persuading and, where necessary, compelling over 500 princely states to accede to the Indian Union following the 1947 Independence earned him the enduring title of the 'Iron Man of India.'
The tribute shared by Bhupendra Manubhai Patel on this occasion adds a personal dimension to the public commemoration, offering a family-level perspective on how Patel's legacy is perceived — and how Prime Minister Modi's engagement with that legacy is received by those closest to it.
Point of View
Culminating in the Statue of Unity, has been both praised for elevating a genuinely underrecognised leader and criticised by Congress as selective memory. A family endorsement on National Unity Day gives that narrative fresh oxygen. What is missing from coverage is any scrutiny of whether the institutional legacy Patel stood for — administrative integrity, non-partisan governance — is actually reflected in present policy, or whether the tribute remains largely symbolic.
NationPress
31 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Bhupendra Manubhai Patel and what did he say about PM Modi?
Bhupendra Manubhai Patel is a relative of India's first Deputy Prime Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. On National Unity Day, 31 October, he recalled a personal meeting with PM Narendra Modi in Gujarat and called Modi a 'visionary like Sardar Patel', praising him for honouring the Iron Man of India's legacy across party lines.
What is National Unity Day and why is it observed on 31 October?
National Unity Day (Rashtriya Ekta Diwas) is observed every year on 31 October to mark the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Patel is credited with integrating over 500 princely states into the Indian Union after Independence in 1947, earning him the title 'Iron Man of India'.
What anecdote about Sardar Patel's integrity did his relative recall?
Bhupendra Manubhai Patel recalled that when a friend of Sardar Patel — a veteran of the Bardoli Satyagraha — was leaving New Delhi after a visit, Patel insisted on hiring a private taxi rather than using his official government car. When his daughter Maniben questioned the decision, Patel said the car belonged to the government and no public money would be spent on personal matters.
Why did Bhupendra Manubhai Patel highlight that Sardar Patel was not from the BJP?
He made the point to emphasise that PM Modi's respect for Sardar Patel transcends party loyalty. Sardar Patel belonged to the Indian National Congress, not the BJP, yet Bhupendra Manubhai Patel said Modi had honoured Patel's contributions more genuinely than many who shared Patel's political affiliation.
What is the Statue of Unity and what is its connection to this story?
The Statue of Unity, inaugurated by PM Modi in Gujarat, is the world's tallest statue and is dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Bhupendra Manubhai Patel's account references it as evidence that Modi honours Patel's legacy not just in words but through tangible national monuments.
