Prabhashankar Pattani facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir
Prabhashankar Dalpatram Pattani
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Sir Prabhashankar Pattani in 1923, Made by Bassano. Taken from National Portrait Gallery, London
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| Born | 15 April 1862 |
| Died | 16 February 1938 (aged 75) Bhavnagar, Bhavnagar State, Western India States Agency, British Raj
(now Bhavnagar, Gujarat, India) |
| Alma mater | Kathiawar High School, Rajkot |
| Known for | Prime minister of Bhavnagar State |
| Spouse(s) | Kunki, Rama |
Sir Prabhashankar Dalpatram Pattani (born April 15, 1862 – died February 16, 1938) was a very important leader in Bhavnagar State, India. He served as the prime minister (also called Diwan) of Bhavnagar. He was born in 1862 in a place called Morbi in Gujarat. People knew him for being honest, smart in dealing with others, and having a good heart. He was also a close friend of Mahatma Gandhi.
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Early Life and School
Pattani finished his early studies in Gujarat. Then, he went to Rajkot to continue his education. He was a very bright student and came first in the entire Kathiawar Peninsula. He married the daughter of a doctor named Zandu Bhatt.
One day, someone in his wife's family made a comment about his family's money. They said he wasn't rich enough to use the Bhatt family name. Because of this, Pattani decided to change his last name from Bhatt to Pattani.
Leading Bhavnagar State
Pattani started studying medicine in Mumbai to become a doctor. But he soon got sick and had to stop his studies. He returned to Gujarat and took a few small jobs.
Later, he got a job as a tutor at Rajkumar College, Rajkot. At this college, the young prince of Bhavnagar, Bhavsinhji II, was also studying. Pattani became his special tutor. They became very good friends. Pattani helped the prince with money when he needed it. He also helped the prince learn to control his anger.
When Bhavsinhji became the King of Bhavnagar, he wanted Pattani to be his Prime Minister. But Pattani didn't want to take the job from the person who was already Prime Minister. So, he first joined as the King's Secretary. In 1903, he finally became Prime Minister. He worked in different important roles in Bhavnagar State until he passed away in 1938.
Pattani believed that education was very important. He helped students from Bhavnagar and other states get scholarships. This allowed them to study at the famous Massachusetts Institute of Technology in America.
Friendship with Mahatma Gandhi
Pattani and Mahatma Gandhi knew each other from their school days in Rajkot. When Gandhi was in South Africa, Pattani kept track of what he was doing. Their friendship grew stronger when Gandhi came back to India in 1915. Pattani respected Gandhi a lot, even when they didn't agree on everything.
Gandhi's Non-Violence Movement
In 1923, during a movement called Satyagraha, there were some violent events. Pattani met with Gandhi and told him that these violent acts would make people doubt the idea of non-violence. He said the world might see the movement as proud or arrogant. After this talk, Gandhi decided to stop the movement.
Pattani also played a big part in convincing Gandhi to go to the 2nd Round Table Conference in England. He told Gandhi, "I know this meeting might not fully succeed. But if you go, you can tell the people in England the truth about India. Right now, they only hear one side of the story. When English citizens know the real situation and our fair demand for freedom, they will ask their government to help us." Pattani also went to the conference with other Indian leaders.
Guiding Prince Krishnakumarsinhji
Before King Bhavsinhji II died, he asked Pattani to look after his young son, Prince Krishna Kumarsinhji Bhavsinhji. He wanted Pattani to teach the prince good values, just like he had taught him. Pattani did this until Prince Krishnakumarsinhji became King in 1931.
Pattani's Character
Pattani was a very kind and giving person. He often gave most of his money to people who needed help. Once, someone asked him, "You are a good friend of Gandhi. He tells people to work instead of begging. But you just give money. Aren't you creating more beggars?"
Pattani replied, "Mahatma Gandhi has given everything he has for society. He is the greatest giver. He doesn't earn money. But I do earn. If I can help someone, I should. I also tell them to work. But if someone comes to me with a sad heart and an empty stomach, I cannot tell them to find work if I cannot help them right away."
Pattani also loved animals very much, especially cows. He liked to care for them and feed them. During World War I, Pattani was part of England's Indian minister council. One Sunday, King George V of England was at a church prayer. Pattani and other ministers were there too. The prayer was: "Oh God! Destroy our enemies and make us win the war."
A person named Edwin Samuel Montagu asked Pattani if he liked this prayer. Pattani said, "I might be praying the same thing. The God we all pray to – you, me, Germans, and others – is a father to all of us." Montagu then asked what Pattani's prayer would be. Pattani replied, "Oh God! Give us the wisdom to stay together and help each other." Someone said, "That's a good prayer, but during wartime, we can't pray like that." Pattani answered, "I'm sorry, but during wartime, this is the prayer we should have inside us. That is the only true prayer."
Awards and Honours
Because of his excellent work as the Prime Minister of Bhavnagar, Pattani received special awards from the British Empire. In 1910, he was made a Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire (CIE). In 1915, he was given an even higher honour: Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (KCIE). This is why he was called "Sir."
His Passing
Pattani stepped down from his position in the State Council in December 1937. He passed away in 1938 due to a cardiac arrest, which means his heart stopped working.
