There’s a world of difference between appropriating Sardar Patel’s name and genuinely honoring him. Time and again, the current government—under the singular command of Prime Minister Narendra Modi—has shown great zeal for the former, while conveniently sidestepping the latter.
For over two decades, Modi and the BJP have actively appropriated Sardar’s image. From the oft-repeated “injustice to Sardar” narrative to the towering Statue of Unity—the tallest statue in the world, ironically manufactured in China and assembled in India at an approximate cost of Rs 3,000 crore—the focus has been on spectacle, not substance. Given Sardar’s austere lifestyle, the statue feels less like a tribute and more like the Statue of Irony.
Modi’s tendency to overwrite even Sardar’s name when it suits his image-building was evident in 2021, when the Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera was renamed the Narendra Modi Stadium. Predictably, loyalists flooded social media with justifications: claiming the stadium was originally called Motera Stadium, or that Sardar’s name still applied to the broader sports complex. But old tweets from BCCI President Jay Shah suggest otherwise. Today, signboards across Ahmedabad mention only “Narendra Modi Stadium”—no trace of Sardar Patel, no mention of a sports complex.
Also read: Sardar Patel endured 2,300 days in jail with wit and will. ‘I can live on air for 3 months’
Tribute to Sardar or self-promotion?
This rebranding fits a broader pattern. As Modi’s stature grew, LK Advani—his mentor and the earlier “Chhote Sardar”—was completely sidelined. Advani had long styled himself as “Loh Purush” (Iron Man) and ‘Chhote Sardar”. His designation as Deputy Prime Minister, like Sardar’s, wasn’t the main reason for the title—it was more about self-image than historical alignment. Advani’s absence from the Statue of Unity’s inauguration was telling.
The BJP’s fascination with Sardar Patel goes back decades. Even before Modi became Chief Minister of Gujarat, the BJP-led state government under CM Suresh Mehta worked with then Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda to rename Ahmedabad’s airport as Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in December 1996. This symbolic gesture stood in stark contrast to the neglected condition of Sardar’s actual memorials in Ahmedabad.
In November 2002, post-Godhra violence, a website called narendramodi.org featured a digital transformation of Modi’s face into Sardar Patel’s in four stages. According to The Indian Express (16 November 2002), the site wasn’t official but was hosted by a friend of Modi. Modi reportedly had access to the site’s email, and the design firm behind it received government contracts. The transformation was promoted under the tagline “Know Your Sardar” and went live on 31 October to mark Sardar’s birth anniversary. It was a symbolic gesture—one that blurred the line between tribute and self-promotion. This was Modi’s way of paying tribute to the Sardar.
The Statue of Unity was inaugurated on 31 October 2018. Since then, extensive efforts—both formal and informal—have gone into promoting it, not as a memorial to Sardar Patel, but as a tourist hotspot. Attractions like the Jungle Safari (stocked with animals brought in from outside), the Valley of Flowers, and laser shows dominate the visitor experience.
Despite the statue’s association with Sardar Patel, few visitors engage with his legacy. Conversations rarely touch on his life or contributions. While there is a museum on site, it often goes unnoticed—an example of history hiding in plain sight. Instead, people talk about the zoo, the botanical garden, e-rickshaws, long queues, and the laser show. The central government organises national-level events at the site, and special trains from various states have been introduced. But the overall impression is that the place celebrates Modi more than Sardar.
Also read: Neither retaliation nor revenge—Sardar Patel’s appeal for peace after Partition violence
The grand celebration
Fast forward to 31 October 2024: the Ministry of Culture announced a two-year celebration to mark Sardar Patel’s 150th birth anniversary, with the launch event held at the Statue of Unity. The proposed highlights included a commemorative coin and postal stamp, a special book titled Vallabh, and a documentary on Patel’s role in integrating over 560 princely states. The Ministry also promised lectures, exhibitions, youth programmes, digital projects, and a virtual museum. A dedicated portal—www.sardar150.gov.in—was meant to provide public access to events and resources.
However, many of these promises remain unfulfilled. The book Vallabh is yet to come out, and the official website returns a “404 Page Not Found” error. The commemorative coin is now scheduled for release on 31 October 2025. So far, the only visible implementation seems to be the installation of an AI-generated avatar of Sardar Patel at the Prime Minister’s Museum. Visitors can ask questions and receive answers in Patel’s voice. AI generates both the answer and the voice. This raises both historical and ethical concerns.
The grand celebration of Sardar Patel’s 150th birth anniversary at the Statue of Unity is set to feature a Republic Day-style parade with 10 tableaux, the Indian Air Force’s Surya Kiran aerobatic team will perform a fly-past, and a Guard of Honour for Modi from the Central Security Forces and Gujarat Police, among other ceremonial highlights. Following the anniversary, a 15-day cultural festival will take place, showcasing food and craft stalls from across India, along with live performances and exhibitions that celebrate the country’s rich heritage. All this planning has nothing to do with the Sardar.
Sardar Patel’s true legacy is defined by simplicity, administrative brilliance, humility, deep respect for MK Gandhi, and principled collaboration with Jawaharlal Nehru, keeping aside the differences. This offers little utility to Modi’s narrative, which thrives on symbolic appropriation and personal projection.
Urvish Kothari is a columnist and writer based in Ahmedabad. He tweets @urvish2020. Views are personal.
(Edited by Ratan Priya)
You appears to be modi hater. The sardar patel will live for ever whenever indian freedom struggle is mentioned. Any public event by whom so ever is conducted will only reinforce the image of Sardar Patel and by comparison lower the image of selfish and nepotism oriented Nehru. That seems to be disturbing you.
Just say you don’t like Modi and you hate it. 😂 Don’t worry you will have to cry more so hold your tears 😭👍( and why you guys don’t publish my comments ? 😀 😭 I expect that from presstitute 🥰