Word: patel
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Dates: during 1930-1939
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Last July 10,000 Hindus marched through the streets of Ahmedabad pulling a chariot on which stood six youths lustily cudgeling a grotesque image labeled DEMON LIQUOR. At the city's boundary 62-year-old Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, one of Mahatma M. K. Gandhi's trusted lieutenants and legislative coordinator for the Indian National Congress Party, stepped forward to set fire to Demon Liquor. Thus did the prohibition crusade, which Sardar Patel called the "first and right step toward Swaraj (Indian independence)," come to Ahmedabad, "Manchester of India...
Since that time the Congress has edged up on prohibition in many ways, hopes to make British India bone dry to Indians some day. Prompted by Saint Gandhi and guided by Coordinator Patel, Congress provincial governments have outlawed the distillation, sale and consumption of liquor in numerous small experimental areas. In other places bars and liquor shops have been closed on pay days, thus making it more likely that the Hindu workman will get home with his salary before spending it on coconut toddy, a sort of ancient moonshine which is his favorite cheap drink...
...Moslem Northwest Frontier Province there is all but total prohibition. The Mohammedan religion bars alcohol, and its followers who want to lighten their immediate burdens take narcotics. In none of these places, however, are Europeans prevented from making, selling or buying liquor for their own consumption. For all Mr. Patel cares, the British can drink themselves to death with their chotapegs (half portions of Scotch whisky...
...that the President decided to run for another term, thus openly challenging the Gandhi leadership for the first time. First Gandhi nominee was bearded Persian Scholar Moulana Abul Kalam Azad, a Mohammedan. He promptly withdrew after being hooted out of a meeting. Nominee No. 2 was Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Gandhi's right-hand man. He also withdrew. Final choice was Dr. Patthabhi Sitaramayya of Madras, who received Saint Gandhi's and the Congress high command's endorsement, election seemed a sure thing...
...India went signs: BOYCOTT ZANZIBAR CLOVES. Patriotic Indians complied, but the effect was only to stimulate the business of French plantation owners in Madagascar. And shiploads of Zanzibar cloves got round the boycott by making a detour call at Madagascar on the way to India. So last January, Vallabhbhai Patel decided that till the Sultan of Zanzibar came to his senses, patriotic Indians should eat no cloves at all. For four months National Congress pickets walked mournfully up & down in front of Indian warehouses...