Historical Figures

17. Even the death of the wife could not redeem the resolve to become a barrister

Of the seventeen years of married life, Jhaberba lived with Vallabhbhai for only six years. At the time of Jhaberba's death, Vallabhbhai was only thirty-three years old, but Vallabhbhai decided not to remarry. The family had not yet recovered from the shock that within a year, Vithalbhai's wife also suddenly passed away.

The problem of raising children arose. Even on this Vallabhbhai did not give up his resolve to go to London to study barrister. He left Maniben and Dahyabhai with Miss Wilson, a teacher at Queen Mary's School in Bombay, and began preparing himself for London.

In the year 1910, Vallabhbhai's Anuj Kashibhai passed the law. The Sardar called him to Borsad and handed over his house and all the work of his advocacy to him so that Kashibhai would not have to struggle much in the initial days. In the same year Vallabhbhai left for London.

Before moving to London, he got himself the first suit of his life and practiced eating with a knife. It was necessary to learn the style of living in the country they were visiting. Eventually all his preparations were completed and one day he left for London by ship. He got sea-sickness disease due to the sea breeze and moisture on the way. She was able to recover only after a lot of treatment. During this time there was no one to look after him, but Patel firmly conquered his illness.