User talk:Dr.SudhirNPujari

'''Rajni Patel

Barrister Rajni Patel, who dominated the social, political and cultural life of Bombay was commemorated with a life size statue in the same city on January 9th, 2001.

One of the lesser known but fascinating vignettes of his life was that he was barred from appearing for the ICS examination in London on account of his pronounced political views and his participation in the nation's freedom struggle. As he was about to take the examination several British officers denied him enrty to the examination hall. But even as he was nursing his disappointment he met Jawaharlal Nehru who urged him to pursue the study of Law saying some educational qualification would be of great help in his political career.

That was how Patel, born on January 9, 1915 at Sarsa in Kheda district and who popularly came to be known as "Rajnibhai", qualified as a barrister from the Middle Temple.

Another important facet of his life is his brush with Chinese Communism. He might well have gone on to be a collegue of the then revolutionary leader Mao Tse Tung but for fate. While he was on his way to Yennan, the headquarters of the Chinese Communist Part, he was arrested by the British and sent back to Bombay.

Patel's political clout and the tremendous influence he wielded were demonstrated in the public response he evoked in his efforts to alleviate human sufferings in various parts of the country. As General Secretary of the Citizen's Flood and Famine Relief Committee(1972) and Citizen's Relief Committee for Jamshedpur(1977), he organized massive relief operations for the Maharashtra drought victims and for flood victims of Bihar, Orissa, Tamil Nadu and Kerela as well as for victims of communal fury in Jamshedpur. His last great effort was the relief operations he undertook for the flood victims in Morvi, Vidharba and parts of Gujarat in 1979.

A number of cultural, educational and social organizations also benefited from his munificence. He helped raise funds for several such organizations and institutions. Three distinct newspaper organizations were able to tide over periods of crisis through his help and support. He helped raise funds for the National Herald in 1976, Lokmaya Tilak's KESARI during it's centenary year celebrations in 1980, and the Patriot in 1981.

His major contribution to the city was a national memorial he planned for his long time hero Jawaharlal Nehru. Originally planned as a modest Rs. 10 lakhs project, the Nehru Centre slowly grew into a magnificient monument to any single individual in the world, with an estimated outlay of Rs. 10 crores. It grew and took shape as Rajni Patel discussed the project with his friends, intellectuals, scholars, politicians, industrialists, town planners, architects and museumologists.

Patel's demise in 1982 saw an end to an era of personalised politics, spontaneous generosity and a wide vision. He was given a hero's funeral by grateful citizens of the city, and his friends and admirers from all over the country.