Sardar vallabhbhai patel

Sardar vallabhbhai patel
Maker of post independent India

By : Wg Cdr CG Krishna (Retd)

1. Sardar Patel, as he is widely known, Vallabhbhai Jhaverbhai Patel, was born in a peasant’s family in Karamsad in Gujarat on 31 Oct 1875. Unlike many stalwarts and freedom fighters on his age, he had to struggle to get his education and subsequently to become a Vakil. It is sheer through his hard work he made a mark as a successful Vakil. He lost his wife early in his life; at the age of 32. for his two young and small children: Dayabhai and Maniben; he became their mother. He refused to marry again. He not only took care of his two young children, he also took care of his elder brothers family: family of Vithalbhai Patel. He started his Vakil profession from Godhra.

2. After earning sufficient money, he wished to go to England to become a barrister. When the time came up, his elder brother expressed his desire to go to England for legal studies. Vallabhbhai immediately came to the help of his elder brother, Vithalbhai. He not only funded his brothers studies in England but also took care of his elder brothers family during this period. Such was the sacrifice and selflessness!

3. Later, after some more years, he saved enough to make his trip to England to become a barrister. As his funds were just bare minimum, he lived a very frugal life. He used to walk 12 miles to his college from his room daily. He used to save some money and send it home for his children’s brothers requirement. He completed his law and returned to India as barrister. He set up law practice in Ahmedabad.

4. He came in contact with some leading congress leaders during 1910-1915. He was influenced by Tilak. Gandhiji’s non-cooperation movement brought him totally into political field. He successfully launched no-tax campaign in Bardoli. This satyagraha brought him into national live light. He earned the title of ‘Sardas’ from Mahatma Gandhi. His devotion to Gandhiji was total. Due to this, he obeyed Mahatma implicitly and could not contest for congress president ship twice, though he was senior and he proved his mettle as a leader of masses and mass movements. He was more wronged then he wronged.

5. Sardar Patel was a man of few words. He was a believer in action then words. His English was simple, brief and has clarity. He was a simple, unostentatious person with frugal habits. He was magnanimous and enemies also. He was a no-nonsense man and used to call a spade a spade. Due to this, he made many enemies in congress and outside. He was brutally frank in expressing his views and dissent. But once he accepted a position, he used to whole heartedly work in achieving the objective.


6. Gandhiji chose Jawaharlal Nehru as his political successor instead of Sardar Patel This cluld be due to the fact that Nehru was younger by 14 years and he was internationally known. So, when India attained independence, Nehru became Prime Minister and Sardar Patel his deputy. Such historic wrong proved very costly to India!

7. Soon after partition and refugee problem, Pakistan attacked J and K in 1948. It was Sardar Patel who took a decision to send Indian troops to arrest the on sleuth of Pakistani army and tribal. Infect it was Sardar Patel, who with the able assistance of his Secretary Shri VP Menon, convinced Maharaja Hari Singh, Maharaja of J&K, to go for accession with India. The Indian Air Force and Civil Aircrafts of India carried Indian soldiers from Palam to Shri Nagar continuously on a marathon, non-stop basis for days together. This enabled our army to attack and repulse tribals and Pakistani army from Srinagar and go after them further. Meanwhile, Pakistan raised a hue and cry and approached UNO for ceasefire, as it already occupied nearly half of J&K. Nehru, agreed to take up the issued with UNO and halted our army’s advance, much against the advice of Sardar Patel. Had Nehru not intervened and had Sardar Patel his say; in another two weeks, Pakistan army would have been driven out of whole J&K. Alas! It was not to be!! For such folly of Nehru, we have been paying the price in terms of money and men in J&K !!!

8. When Britishers left India on 14 Aug 1947, they left nearly 360 princely states; some as big as France and some as tiny as 8,000 population with a choice of joining India or Pakistan or remain Independent! This divide and rule policy left India with indepence of only 60% of its area and population free and remaining 40% people and land distributed all over like Pockmarks with Kings, Nawabs and Zamindars acting as they feel like!! If these princely states were not to be amalgamated in India. Sardar Patel realized this much earlier and decided that these princely states must become part of independent India, if India were to survive as a Nation!!

9. Sardar patel was 73 years old and his health was fragile due to frequent imprisonments during British rule. He already had an attack (heart attack). Inspite of his precarious health, he swing into action of convincing the rules of 360 odd princely states to accede to India. In this Herculean task, he was ably assisted by VP Menon, ICS, Secretary to the Deputy P.M. Both of them worked incessantly; sometimes cajoling, sometimes appealing and some times even threatening the Rajas and Nwabs to accede to India, as all of them were contiguous to India geographically, except J&K. It took one year of strenuous and hard work to yield results. Rajas of states like Mysore, Bikaner, Udaipur, Baroda etc were patriotic and they acceded to India. But there were Nawabs like Bhopal, Hyderabad and Junagadh wo did not want to accede to India. Sardar Patel managed nawab of Bhopal to accede to India. Nizam of Hyderabad toyed with the idea of joining Pakistan or remaining independent. Same was the case with nawab of Junagadh. It was Sardar Patel, who forced Nehru to send Army into Hyderabad state to annex it. He sent central police to Junagadh and made the Nawab fled to Pakistan. Thus, Sardar Patel gave his life, literally, to make India as one entity. Due to these strenuous and hectic months, his health deteriorated very badly. He became a sick man and had a second attack in 1950.

10. Maniben Patel, the daughter of Sardar Patel, did not marry and remained a spinster to serve her widowed father. She tended her father, as he was precious to the nation. During his convalescence, Sardar Patel wrote many letters to Chief Ministers and political friends. Most of these letters dealt with as to how India should get over the teething troubles and become strong! Such was his devotion to his mothers land!! During this period, he worte a lengthy letter to Nehru on China’s attitude towards Tibet and India. This letter was a prophecy as to what would happen in 1962, when China attacked India brutally. During 1940’s and 1950’s Nehru and his fellow socialists used to sing songs in praise of China and friendship of both countries. “Hindi-chinee bhai-bhai” was the slogan coined by Nehru. Sardar Patel’s last letter to Nehru warned him about the folly he was committing; to be friend China, at the cost of Tibet and Indian security. Patel wanted Nehru to take steps to strengthen our borders, our Armed forces and face China squarely!! Nehru did nothing on this letter, written by his colleague, a patriot, an old man in deathbed !!! India paid the prize in Oct 1962 heavily for such negligence by Nehru on Sardar Patel’s last letter.

11. Sardas Patel breathed his last on 15 Dec 1950. Till his last breath, he was working and thinking towards making India strong! He gave his life towards achieving this!! He was a true BHARAT RATNA of par Excellence!. Many of us do not remember him. But his services to Bharat and its people are ever shining, like the pole star.