- After a graduate law course in 1913, Patel returned to India and then established his practice at Godhra.
- After coming in contact with Mahatma Gandhi, he becomes his ardent follower.
- Soon, he became the secretary of the Gujarat wing of the Congress Party and later participated in the Kheda campaign against taxation of peasants, and soon became a prominent leader.
- Kheda campaign (1918): Patel and his associates persuaded the peasants to refuse to pay taxes until the government met their demands. Patel raised an army of volunteers who helped the villagers in this work. As a result, the government agreed to talk with Patel and suspended taxes for a year.
- In 1920, he was elected the president of the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee.
- Patel supported Gandhiji in Non-cooperation movement and worked tirelessly organising it. He also supported Gandhi when on his decision to suspend the movement in the wake of the Chauri Chaura (1922).
- Flag Satyagrah:He led a satyagraha in Nagpur in 1923 against a law banning the raising of Indian flag.
- Bardoli Satyagraha (1928): Patel persuaded farmers to refuse to pay taxes in the wake of floods and famines in the area, and a steep hike in taxes by the government. The title ‘Sardar’ was bestowed on him by his colleagues after the success of this movement.
- President of Congress in Karachi Session (1931): On his participation in the salt march, Patel was arrested (1930). After the release and following the Gandhi-Irwin Pact, he got elected the President of the INC in its Karachi session in 1931.During the Karachi Session, a resolution on ‘Fundamental Rights and Economic Policy’was passed.
- He was INC’s chief fundraiser and organiser especially in selecting candidates for the central and provincial assemblies.
- He also supported Quit India Movement and inspired people to fight with an emotional speech made on 7 August 1942.
- He represented India on the Partition Council where the division of public assets between the two new nations was overseen.
- After partition, he called the South Indian regiments of the Indian Army to restore order in the affected areas knowing well that the police force of Punjab and Delhi, who were too close to the tragedy, could not be relied upon.
