VITHALBHAI PATEL BIRTH CENTENARY 1973 A SOUVENIR VITHALBHAI PATEL BIRTH CENTENARY 1973 A SOUVENIR I-- LOK SABHA SECRETARIAT NEW DELHI L 1974 BY LOK SABHA SECRETARIAT PUBLISHED UNDER RULE 382 OF THE RULES OF PROCEDURE AND CONDUCT OF BUSINESS IN LOK SABHA (FIFTH EDITION) AND PRINTED BY THE MANAGER, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA PRESS, FARIDABAD, HARYANA. CO!'lTENTS PAGE PREFACE (v) MESSAGES FROM THE President (ix) Vice-President (xi) Prime Minister (xiii) Chairman, Tamil Nadu Legislative Council (xv) Speaker, Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly (xvii) ARTICLES A Great Patriot [Text of the Speech of Shri G. S. Pathak, the Vice-President of India on the occasion of the release of Vithalbhai Patel Conunemorative Stamp on 27-9-73J • Contribution of Shri Vithalbhai Patel to the offic-c of the Speaker by Dr. G. S. Dhillon, Speaker, Lok Sabha . 4 ? Father of Indian Parliament by Shri M. Ananthasayanam Ayyangar. former Speaker of Lok Sabha 20 View~ of a Contemp(lrary by Shri Kasturbhai Lalbhai, Member of Central Legislative Assembly 31 PAGI! The Architect of Parliamentary Practices-Vithalbhai Patel by Dr. Virendra Swarup, Chairman, Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Parishad 35 A Fearless Speaker by Shri A. G. Kher, Former Speaker, Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha 47 Vithalbhai Patel-An Outstanding Parliamentarian by Shri Gulsher Ahmed, Speaker, Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Sabha . 50 Shri Vithalbhai Patel and his contributions to Parliamentary Life in India by Shrimati K. S. Nagarathnamma, Speaker, Karnataka Legislative Assembly 54 Shri Vithalbhai Patel-The first elected Jndian Speaker , by Shri Narayan S. Fugro, Speaker, Goa, Daman & Diu Legislative Assembly 62 /-0 Vithalbhai J. Patel-His Contributions to the Parliamentary Life by Shri H. Thansanga, Speaker, Mizoram Legislative Assembly . 65 Vithalbhai, the "Janak" of Indian Politics II by Dr. Ram Gobind Singh, Deputy Chairman, Bihar Vidhan Parishad 70 Shri Vithalbhai Patel-A Stoic and True Democrat by Shri C. U. Chodankar, Deputy Speaker, Goa, Daman and Diu Legislative Assembly 73 (ii) PAGE I, Vithalbhai Patel-A distinguished Parliamentarian by Late Shri Dahyabhai Patel . 77 V. J, Patel-As President \'1' by Shri D. N. Mithal, Former Secretary, Uttar Prallesh Vidhan Sabha . 87 Vithalbhai Patel-An Illustrious Son of our Motherland 15 by Shri B. N. Banerjee. Secretary-General, Rajya Sabha 90 , ( President Patel's contribution to the independence of the Legislature I", by Shri S. L Shakdher, Secretary-General, Lok Sabha 9S Development of Parliamentary Conventions under President Patel by L. R. & T. Service, Lok Sabha Secretariat lOS Vithalbhai Jhaverbhai Patel-A Biographical Sketch by L. R. & T. Service, Lok Sabba Secretariat 123 ApPENDICES ApPENDIX I-Important decisions and observations of President Vithalbha, Patel on Pariiamentary Practice & Procedure 133 ApPENDIX I1-Pr()C:!cdings of the Birth C::ntenary Celebrations of Late Shri Vithalbhai Patel held on 18-12-1973 in the Central Hall of Parliament, New Delhi 147 (iii) PREFACE This Souvenir is brought out on the occasion of the Birth Cente1Ul1Y of late Shri Vithalbhai Patel, who was the President of the Central Legislative Assembly from 1925 to 1930. We are grateful to the President, Vice-President, Prime Minister and Presiding Officers of State Legislatures who have so kindly sent their messages on this occasion. We also express our gratitude to Shri M. Ananthasayanam Ayyangar, former Speaker of Lok Sabha, Shri KasturMai Lalbhai-a contemporary of President Patel and the Presiding Officers and Secretaries of State Legislatures, who have contri- buted articles on President Patel for this Souvenir. S. L. SHAKDHER. Secret~(7eneral, Lok Sabha. NEW DELHI; February 11, 1974 (v) MESSAGES MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT RASHTRAPATI NILAYAM, BOLAllUM, (ANDHRA PRADESH) September 17, 1973. It gives me great pleasure to offer my tribute to the memory of Vithalbhai Patel on the occasion of his birth centenary. This eminent . son of India was a great parliamentarian whose services in the cause of the country's freedom will ever be remembered. As President of the Central Legislative Assembly during pre-independence days, he left an indelible imprint of his forceful personality not only on the pr~ ceedings of the legislature but on the freedom movement itseH. He insisted that the impartiality and independence of the Chair were beyond question, and that was the only way to safeguard the rights and privileges of members to the fullest measure. I hope Vithalbhai Patel's life and example of hard work and sel1less service will prove inspiring to the present and successive generations of legislators and parliamentarians. (v. V. GIRl) MESSAGE FROM THE VICE-PRESIDENT VICE-PRESIDENT INDIA NEW DELIU 14th October 1973 I am glad to learn that the Lok Sabha Secretariat will bring out a commemoration volume on the occasion of the Birth Centenary of the late Shri Vithalbhai Patel. Shri Vithalbhai Patel was an eminent patriot who rendered valuable service to the country in many fields. He commenced his public life as a member of the Borsad Talukha Board but rapidly moved to larger spheres such as the Bombay Legislative Council, the Imperial Legisla- tive Council and the Central Legislative Assembly. He will be long remembered in the annals of India's parliamentary life as the firsy Indian to become the President of the Central Legislative As8eiiibiY- an office which he held with special distinction. As Speaker he was responsible for creating many healthy and sound traditions and practices in Parliament. While unveiling the portrait of Shri Vithalbhai Patel in Parliament House on March 8, 1948, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru said that the Speaker is "the symbol of the nation's freedom and liberty." Shri Vithalbhai Patel as Speaker of the Central Legislative Assembly fitted this description perfectly. I congratulate the Lok Sabha Secretariat on its decision to publish a commemoration volume as a mark of tribute to Shri Vithalbhai Patel, and wish the project success. (G. S. PATIIAK) MESSAGE FROM THE PRIME MINISTER PRIME MINISTER'S HOUSE NEW DELw. October 2, 1973. Shri Vithalbhai Patel, the centenary of whose birth we celebrate this year, \Vasa fighter and a parliamentarian of great distinction. As President of the Central Legislative Assembly, Vithalbhai Patel's main concern was to wrest more power to the people. He brought lustre to the parliamentary tradition and all freedom fighters were thrilled by his rulings. On the attainment of Independence we came to have a Parliament which was the unchallenged guardian of national freedom. Its function continues to be the consolidation and enlargement of freedom in its political, economic and social aspects. Parliamentarians must indeed be grateful to Vithalbhai Patel and learn from his life and example. I~ -r --- ../1..: (INDIRA GANDID) MESSAGE /rom THDlU C. P. CHITRARASU Chairman, Tamil Nadu Legislative Council FORT ST. GEORGE MADRAS-9 October 10, 1973 It is gratifying to note that the Lok Sabha Secretariat is bringing out a Commemoration Volume to celebrate the birth centenary of late Shri Vithalbhai Patel, the first non-official elected President of the Indian (Central) Legislative Assembly. His election marked the ushering in of a new era in Indian Parliamentary history. He was a pioneer in ridding Parliament of the dominant control of the Executive. His rulings were always marked with independence of judgment and sought to maintain the supremacy of the Parliament in all matters. He gave a great impetus to the Conference of Presiding Officers of Parliament and the Legislatures which continues to have its delibera- tions annually to shape nascent Indian democracy. He strove hard to separate the Legislature Secretariat from the control of the Executive Government and after a relentless struggle, achieved this at the Centre. It was remarkable that despite his rulings which were not to the liking of the Government of the day, he had the unique fortune of being re-elected President of the Assembly for a second term. He was a true Speaker and maintained the great traditions of the Office as set up in the House of Commons. I wish all success for the publication of the Commemoration Volume. C. P. CHITRARASU MESSAGE from PULAVAR K. GoVINDAN, M.A. Speaker, Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly FORT ST. GEORG! MADRAS-9 I am happy to learn that the Lok Sabha Secretariat is bringing out a Commemoration Volume to mark the birth Centenary of late Thiru Vithalbhai Patel. We all remember the late Thiru Vithalbhai Patel as the first Indian President of the Central Legislative Assembly. He was firmly convinc- ed that the struggle for Independence must be waged inside the Legislature and outside in the country by propaganda and public pressure. He was a great intellectual and his manner of conducting the Legislative Assembly evoked praise even from the Britishers in the Treasury Benches. His strict impartiality and the great dignity with which he functioned as President of the Assembly will be a model for all of us to follow. Emulating him, let us all set up high standards of Parliamentary conventions on which depends the healthy growth of democracy of Our country. Ie. GOVINDAN ARTICLES A GREAT PATRIOT [Speech of Shri G. S. Pathak. the Vice-President of India on the occasion of the release of Vithalbhai Patel commemorative postage stamp at the Central Hall of Parliament House, on the 27th September, 1973.] It gives me great pleasure to be here today to The main points of Vithalbhai Patel's life are release the commemorative postage stamp issued well known. He was born one hundred years ago, in honour of Shri Vithalbhai Patel on the occasion in a humb!e family, at Karmasad. After schooling of his birth centenary. I am glad to have this he studied law in the Gokhale Institute at Bombay. opportunity to pay my homage to the memory of After passing the Pleaders' Examination he started a great patriot and freedom fighter, and a great legal practice and made a name as an able and parliamentarian.