Govt commissions grand theatrical tribute on Sardar Patel’s life to mark 150th birth anniversary

To commemorate Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s 150th birth anniversary next week, the government has commissioned a high-profile theatrical production on the Iron Man of India’s life, set to premiere in Gujarat’s Kevadia on October 30-31. Produced by the National School of Drama (NSD), the 90-minute play will later be staged in other cities, including New Delhi and Ahmedabad.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend the inaugural performance, alongside Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and other key leaders from both the Centre and Gujarat, Patel’s home state. The production forms a key highlight of the two-year-long 150th birth anniversary celebrations, which will conclude on October 31, 2026.

The Ministry of Culture recently formed a high-level committee, chaired by PM Modi, to oversee the commemorations. The committee boasts over 100 members, including Union ministers, state governors, chief ministers, former presidents Pratibha Patil and Ramnath Kovind, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda.

Officials involved in the project describe the play as a magnum opus, involving 200 cast and crew members, with sophisticated lighting effects and augmented reality technologies. The narrative spans Patel’s formative years, featuring three actors portraying the leader at different stages of his life — from a 14-year-old schoolboy challenging the commercialization of education, to his return to Ahmedabad as a London-trained barrister.

“Various aspects of his life hold relevance today, and this is what the young generation needs to see to understand the man,” said a source. The play also underscores Patel’s firm stance against nepotism, as he advised his children not to leverage his name for political gain—a principle increasingly resonant in contemporary debates about merit and opportunity.

The production highlights key milestones in Patel’s journey: his 1916 awakening to the call for Swaraj after Bal Gangadhar Tilak’s speech, his unwavering support for Mahatma Gandhi, and the critical 1946 moment when he stepped aside for Jawaharlal Nehru to lead the Congress, eventually serving as India’s first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister. The play concludes with Patel’s final days and the profound impact of Gandhi’s assassination in 1948.

Rehearsals are currently underway, with organizers promising a production that brings Patel’s vision, values, and enduring legacy to life for audiences across India.