(Vithalnhai Patel)

The Bombay Primary Education Act was the first act in India and was introduced by Vithalbhai Patel in the Legislative Assembly of Bombay. The bill was passed in the legislative assembly and came to be known as Bombay Primary Education Act 1918. 

 Vithalbhai Patel was born on 27th September 1873 in Nadiad, Gujarat, India (then British India). Vithalbhai Patel was the elder brother of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and was the co-founder of the Swaraj Party. Born to Jhaverbhai and Ladbai Patel, Vithalbhai Patel was an ardent follower of the Swaminarayan sect of Vaisnava Hinduism. Vithalbhai Patel received his education from Nadiad and Bombay and worked as a junior lawyer in the courts of Godhra and Borsad. 

Vithalbhai Patel never accepted the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi and was against his philosophy. However, he joined the Indian National Congress and simultaneously joined the Indian freedom struggle. Following the violent incident of Chauri Chaura (it is the place where agitating farmers were killed by the police and in revenge, a police station was attacked by the people where 22 policemen were burnt alive), Mahatma Gandhi suspended the non-cooperation movement. Following the abortion of the non-cooperation movement, Vithalbhai Patel left the Indian National Congress to form the Swaraj Party with Motilal Nehru and Chittaranjan Das. Later Vithalbhai Patel was elected to the Bombay Legislative Council where he played a vital role in the passing of the ‘Bombay District Municipal Act Amendment Bill’ and the ‘Town Planning Bill’ in the year 1914.

The supporters of the Government of India tried to have Vithalbhai Patel removed from the Imperial Legislative Assembly in the year 1929. However, after the launch of the civil disobedience movement in 1930 Vithalbhai Patel resigned from the assembly. He rejoined the Indian National Congress after the declaration of Purna Swaraj and was later imprisoned in 1931. Due to his falling health, Vithalbhai Patel was released from prison. Vithalbhai Patel went to Geneva, Switzerland for treatment, where he died on 22nd October 1933.