Major organizations: Indian National Congress Notable prizes: Bharat Ratna (1991, posthumous) Major monuments: Sardar Patel National Memorial Religion: Hindu Influences Mahatma Gandhi Vallabhbhai Patel ( Gujarati : વલ્લભભાઈ પટેલ, pronounced  [ʋəlːəbʱːai pʌʈel]   ( listen ) ) (31 October 1875 15 December 1950) was a political and social leader of India