AMBALAL Dahyabhai Patel, or AD Patel (as he was commonly known by) was a politician, founder and leader of the National Federation Party.
Between the late 1930s and early 1960s, Mr Patel was quite vocal on the political scene with a vision towards an independent Fiji.
He is credited for advocating a republic Fiji, a vision that was not realised in his lifetime.
His legacy continues today with a school named after him. On October 3, 1969, The Fiji Times reported about his sad demise. Mr Patel, 64, died at his home at Nadi about 10.30 on Wednesday night, October 1, 1969.
“He was discharged the previous week from Lautoka Hospital, where he spent three weeks resting after having become ill with heart strain during the cane contract arbitration proceedings,” described The Fiji Times.
“After Mr Patel complained of a chest pain on Wednesday evening, a doctor was called to his house. He was given an injection. Later, he collapsed and did not respond to another injection.”
Mr Patel was born on March 13, 1905 in Mahij, India.
His father was Mr Dahyabhai Ghelabhai Patel, a farmer. He came to Fiji in 1928 and began a lawyer’s practice in Ba.
He made his debut on the Fiji political scene in 1937 when he unsuccessfully fought an election against Mr Chettu Singh, a law clerk.
Mr Patel was a member of the Legislative Council from 1944 to 1950 and of the Executive Council from 1948 to 1950.
He was out of the council again until 1963.
When membership system of government was introduced in 1964, Mr Patel became the member for Social Services.
At the time of his death he was the leader of the National Federation Party Opposition in the Legislative Council.
Mr Patel was a vice-president of the Fiji Law Society and the Ramakrishna Mission and a president of the Indian Association. Shopkeepers in various towns closed their businesses for the day after learning of Mr Patel’s death.
The chief minister at the time, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, paid tribute to the leader saying while they had deep political differences, he had respect for Mr Patel.
“He was an eloquent and forceful speaker skilled in parliamentary procedures and he set a standard of dignity and courtesy worthy of the highest parliamentary traditions,” said the late Ratu Mara.
The ruling Alliance Party said in a tribute that Mr Patel played an important part in the development of political parties in Fiji.
