Speeches and functionalist analysis of Sardar Patel

On the one hand in the eighteenth century the French Revolution led to violence. Political
instability arose and on the other hand Europe's industrial revolution and urbanization
brought about subversive social changes. As a result, the question of maintaining the social
order came to the fore. Different social thinkers became concerned for the formation of an
integrated society. Contemplation on the factors that unite the society and the factors that
bring about change in the society increased.

The process of integration prevailing in the society is essential for the survival of
any society. Integration into reciprocal units is essential for the functioning of the system,
i.e. the survival and nurture of society is possible only through the fulfillment of functional
requirements. The components or elements of the anatomy come together to form a unit.
The arrangement or organization of the components of the anatomy forms a whole.
Different elements can be equated only through their relationship with each other, with the
whole. Just as the organs of the human body are different parts of its whole. The human
body can function properly only if all these parts are mutually integrated. In the same way,
society is a constructive system. This has different units. Only if these units play a cohesive
and interactive role will the social structure be properly functioning.

Talcott Parsons, the functionalist, discusses the needs of society that its functional
requirements should be fulfilled for the upliftment and development of the society.
Functional requirements are met by universal institutions of society. These universal
institutions include family, marriage, political, financial and religious institutions.
Vacancies arise from society due to death or other reasons. These vacancies should be
filled. This is a functional need of the society. This functional requirement is fulfilled by
the marriage institution and the family institution. When a man and a woman get married, a
marriage is established and then their children form a family. Thus when some members
leave the family and society, family organization get new members in place. Society can
only exist if
the addition of new members is inevitable to replace the old members who have left for the
upliftment of the society. Thus the functional requirement is fulfilled.

Education is needed here to provide the right citizens to the society. That’s why
Talcott Parsons introduces the concept of subsystem. The education institute, the marriage
institute and the family institute prepares the new comer by giving proper education and in
this way the country and the society get the right citizens. Thus every organization is
reciprocal and change in any one unit affects the totality. No single organization can be
singled out or exists independently.

The British sociologist Herbert Spencer explains functionalism by focusing on the

differences between biological and social systems. Herbert Spencer states that the
transformation that takes place in any one part of both either independence and or society
also affects the other part which ultimately affects the whole. They are interconnected.
Changes in the political system affect family, education and religion. Society changes, just
like any other animal. Which he calls as evolution. This evolution can range from simple
anatomical to complex anatomical.

August Comte and Herbert Spencer introduced the notion of the physical system of
society as bodily. This is a system or structure made up of parasitic parts. While Wilfred
Pareto sees the concept of social order.

Talcott Parsons represents four main sub systems of social structure. The biological
system is a system of individuality. The functional needs of the society can be properly met
through the system. The development of any country or nation is on the fulfillment of this
need.
 The fulfillment of functional requirements for the smooth and dynamic upbringing
of the society is done by the family, marriage, religion, political and economic institutions.
A change in an economic, religious or political or any other universal institution brings
about a change in the totality.

Sardar Patelis a diplomat. He is a skilled administrator and a political man. Due to

the efforts of Sardar Patel, the country divided into kingdoms, a country under British rule
came into existence as an independent nation after the bloodless revolutionary integration.
It became independent from the British rule. This is a change in a political organization.
But political change also changes the social, economic, religious, family and marital
system of the whole country. Thus a functional effect is reached. Political change led to the
creation of a democratic nation. The political system changed.

Sardar Patel has not only played a role of change in the political arena. His efforts
ushered in a transformation of universal institutions. Sardar Vallabhbahi Patel opposed the
practice of child marriage prevailing in the society before independence. Due to child
marriage, there were many problems such as child widow hood, infant mortality rate,
maternal mortality rate, drop out of education, low rate of female education, etc. All these
problems were due to child marriage and that is why Sardar Vallabhbahi Patel opposed
child marriage. Sardar Patel gave several speeches to prevent child marriage. On June
1927, he addressed the farmers of Dholka taluka about child marriage. He constantly
mentioned child marriage in all his speeches. As a result, Sardar Vallabhbahi Patel made a
concerted effort to eradicate the social evil of child marriage.

"Child marriage" was a subject related to the institution of marriage, family and
caste. The evil of child marriage changed these three institutions. In the end, as a result of
the effort, 18 years were fixed for marriage for young women and
21 years for young men. Thus, according to functionalism, the change in a unit affects the
totality by bringing about a change in the reciprocal units. Here in all the systems of
society, there is a structural change in the organization.

Another structural change is the change in the caste system of India. Sardar Patel
attacked the traditional high and low caste system of caste system and caste based society.
Untouchability is a social problem created due to caste and caste system. Due to the
untouchability born on the basis of caste system, a part of the entire society was constantly
exploited and oppressed. He was treated inhumanely. High level quotient based inequality
became viable in social development. A section of society was marginalized.

Sardar Patel termed untouchability as a stigma of Hindu society and an obstacle to

social development. Sardar Patel made several efforts for its abolition. He gave his speech
in the Baria Parishad in the year 1918 while being among the SCs. This effort made him a
symbol of harmony and thought. Sardar Vallabhbahi Patel presented his views by putting
untouchability first in the meeting which was held keeping in view the political objective.
It is because of his efforts that special provisions have been included in the Constitution
and today the Untouchability Act 2005 is a wake-up call for the abolition of untouchability
by Sardar Patel.

Untouchability is a matter related to the basic caste system of Indian society. Here
Sardar Patelestablishes social equality by opposing the high caste system and
untouchability of the caste system. The result is a change in social structure. Functional
change brings about a change in the whole structure.

Sardar Patel protested against the practice of burying grand children in the post
humous rites. He started this protest on his own. Sardar Vallabhbahi Patel did not attend
the funeral of his father Zaverba and he started protesting against
the social evils on his own. They became a symbol of conduct. In addition to this, women's
education, women's reserve, equality in gender relations, gender relations, etc. were put in
the forefront of social reform. Due to which a change took place in the marriage system
and family system of the society. At the same time, there was a change in the infrastructure
of educational institutions. Gender equality, women's political role, women's educational
development, etc., which are prevailing at present, are the result of Sardar Patel's selfless
efforts. An egalitarian social structure was a basic requirement. This has come true due to
the efforts of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. An egalitarian society is formed when the
functional needs of the society are fulfilled.

Alcoholism affects the family and marriage system of the society. Alcoholism
harms society and ultimately the nation as a whole. Alcoholism hindered the development
of family members, marital relations, children, education, employment, etc. That is why
Sardar Patel made great efforts to eradicate the evil of Alcoholism. Sardar Patel traveled to
many villages during the Kheda Satyagraha in 1918, Borsad Satyagraha in 1879 and
Bardoli Satyagraha in 1879. During this trip, he kept the pollution of alcohol at the center
in his speeches. From his presidency of the Congress in Karachi in 181, he presented his
views on the Alcoholism. At the 8th Raniparanj Parishad at Magarkui village in Vyara
Mukame on 13th February 19th, in a meeting in Mumbai on 1st August 19th, people were
called for the problem of alcohol and its prevention.

Legal provisions were made as a result of this effort. Alcohol was banned in
Gujarat and various laws and its effective implementation succeeded in eradicating
Alcoholism to a large extent. Gujarat Prohibition Act 2005 came into force.
 Problems prevailing in the family sector such as marital quarrels, divorce, divorce,
child rearing problems, crime rate etc. have also been brought under control due to
prevention of alcohol contamination. A healthy society has been created. Poverty
alleviation also remained functional.

It can be seen here that Sardar Vallabhbahi Patel was fighting in two forms. The
struggle for self-government against the British was their outward struggle. While
socialism prevailed in Indian society, his struggle against social problems was internal.
Sardar Patel clearly believed that if social problems were not solved and Swaraj was
achieved, then there was no point in achieving Swarajya. So they wanted to solve social
problems before achieving self-government.

Sardar Patel's speeches on social issues have awakened social consciousness. It is

because of his creative work that the social structure has changed.

For the creation of an egalitarian society, it is very important to have equality in

various fields like abolition of social norms, equality between men and women, abolition of
untouchability, education of women. In addition, the elimination of alcohol contamination
and curiosity is very important. This is a social functional need for establishing equality,
social unity, and social integration in the society.

An egalitarian society can be formed only if the inequalities or social evils

prevailing in the sub-structure of the universal institutions of society
are eliminated.

The whole research has a functionalist perspective as well as a structural

perspective. From a functionalist point of view, society is a kind of system. One is whole.
This is made up of inter connected parts. A change in one of its units brings about a change
in the whole. Sardar Patel tried to change the traditional value system of the society.
Untouchability is a matter of caste, while child marriage is a matter of marriage. The
unequal status of women is a matter that touches the society. Sardar Vallabhbahi Patel tried
to change the traditional affairs of the society and his efforts reduced the rate of
untouchability. Child marriage ended. The value of equality between men and women
came. Thus the change in a unit has affected the society. The result was a social change.
This matter becomes very important for the smooth running of the society, the nation as a
whole. Thus the whole research has a functionalist perspective.

Glandular perspective has been used in this research. M.N., the pioneer of glandular
perspective. The Srinivasa glandular system is known as the Indian educational system or
perspective. The six points or opinions that are formed about the Indian society on the basis
of ancient texts are called glandular points or glandular perspectives. A number of
documents based on Sardar Patel have been used in the present research. Reliable details
have been obtained from many libraries, archives visits, documents of the time of
independence. Standard studies based on Sardar Patel have been relied upon so this study
has a glandular perspective.

Sardar Patel's work has influenced not only the political arena but all the
institutions of the society. He has played a role in all the fields of family, marriage,
religion, caste, education and his social relations. Society has under gone changes due to
his speeches on abolition of social evils, prevention of untouchability, ideas of hygiene,
child marriage, equality in gender relations, female education, labor, khadi, contamination
due to alcohol, hygiene etc. Child
marriage is prohibited by the Child Marriage Prohibition Act. Untouchability was
prevented by the Untouchability Act. Alcohol consumption could be controlled by
prohibitory acts. Thus a functional unity has been established in every field which has
helped the integration through a sense of national unity.

From the entire discussion above, it can be said that Sardar Patel was not only a
political leader but also a social reformer. It is because of his efforts that a united India is
visible today. Only through his efforts, the democratic system breathed new life into the
system. As a functionalist thinker, his thoughts are becoming uniquely unique and highly
effective. Sardar Patel's ideas of socialism have created a new India.