Tribute to Sardar Patel, the ‘iron man’ who unified a fragmented India

In Sardar Patel: Unifier of Modern India, historian R.N.P. Singh presents a riveting account of how Sardar Patel helped cement the territorial integrity of independent India by getting 500-plus princely states to accede to the Indian Union, writes J.S. Rajput.

 

 

Generations ahead would find it hard to believe that at the time of Independence, India was not only partitioned but also thrown into a strategic manipulation that could “inevitably” lead to its dismemberment into numerous principalities and nationalities. The Memorandum on States’ Treaties and Paramountcy, issued on 22 May 1946, led to the interpretation that after the departure of the British, princely states could negotiate with India or Pakistan on “equal terms” on their future relationship. Several of the princes, led by the Nawab of Bhopal, began preparations for their own strategic liberties. The Nawab of Bhopal wished to become the successor Governor General of Pakistan after Jinnah. Junagadh declared its accession to Pakistan. Hyderabad found natural kinship with Pakistan. So much more! There were also other princes who could feel the pulse of their people, could read the trends of the times, and knew that accession to Indian Union was the best possible alternative available to them. It included the Maharajas of Baroda, Bikaner, Patiala and others. This group did not ignore the sacrifices people had made as Indians during the freedom struggle. They would settle for nothing less than popular elected governments in a truly democratic setup. It was indeed a stupendous task to bring together 560 states in the Indian Union, and rein in the ambitious and deviant Nawabs and Nijams. That such an unprecedented accession to Indian union could be achieved poses the obvious query, “Who could do it, and how the miracle was achieved?” Yes, India needed an Iron man of steely determination, and unprecedented courage and unmatched commitment to the motherland. The Sardar of Bardoli, the leader of the farmers of Kheda in Gujarat, fitted perfectly in the mould. India was fortunate to have entrusted the task of uniting India to Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel.

To visualise the persona of the Sardar during his last five years, a single instance would suffice. On 26 October 1947 Pakistan attacked Kashmir Valley. Claimed as Kabaili invasion, it was the handiwork of the Pak Army, it got full assistance of the Muslim soldiers of the Maharajah Hari Singh who deserted their posts to join the enemy forces after killing their Commanding Officer, Lt. Col. Narain Singh. While the state was being overrun by invaders from Pakistan and internal saboteurs, Nehru dithered on sending the Indian Army account of inadequacies of formalities, the description of the top-level meeting held on 26 October 1947 says it all: “Lord Mountbatten exhibited studied diffidence. Pandit Ji (Nehru) presented a picture of acute anxiety and concern. Sardar listened, did not utter a word. He was picture of calm equipoise. His silence was a strange contrast to a picture of defeatism and helplessness that otherwise pervaded in the meeting. Suddenly Sardar moved in his seat and immediately after his gruff and resolute voice attracted everybody: ‘Look here Generals, Kashmir must be defended at all costs and come what may, resources or no resources… This must, must and must be done. Do whatever you like but do it.’” Even after the Kashmir issue is, hopefully, resolved in the future, the query would survive: what if Sardar Patel had handled the Kashmir’s accession also?

Integrating all the princely states was a unique unprecedented historical challenge before a newly independent India, reeling under the debilitating impact of Partition, sweeping poverty, and communal dissensions. Only an exceptionally astute person could take the gauntlet and plunge himself in the task of creating a united India out of the chaos inherited. The rustic looking farmer from Kheda changed the direction of history and rest is the saga for generations ahead to marvel at his unparalleled achievements. It is no secret that during the first couple of decades after Independence, the contributions

of Sardar Patel were somehow not given the pride of place in the narratives on freedom struggle though the generation that had participated in the Independence movement adored and admired him intensely. Well-known author and historian by choice, R.N.P. Singh has recently conducted a research study, with exemplary dexterity coupled with the professional integrity of an experienced researcher,  on Sardar’s singular achievement in cementing the territorial integrity of India, bringing to Union 560 States within 18 months. His latest book, Sardar Patel: Unifier of Modern India, unearths several revealing instances, anecdotes and facts that are not only interesting but also of immense value for the students of statecraft. He has incisively analysed the happenings of the years of India’s transition from dominion status to a republic.The chapters on Bhopal, Junagadh and Hyderabad make for a riveting read. The complexity of the entire situation comes out very clearly in each case analysed by him, be it the declaration accession to Pakistan by Junagadh, or uncontrolled ambitions of Nawab of Bhopal, or the ballooning aspirations of the Nizam of Hyderabad. In addition, there were the persistent machinations indulged in by Jinnah. These could be visualised from what V.P. Menon wrote: “Jinnah signed a blank sheet of paper and gave it to Maharaja Hanwant Singh of Jodhpur along with his fountain pen, saying you can fill in your conditions.” It also indicates how tough the task before Sardar Patel was. In case of Hyderabad, he knew Mountbatten was talking of “settlement”, and nothing was coming out of it. He firmly declared: “The terms and talks which Lord Mountbatten had have gone with him. Now the settlement with Nizam will have to be on lines of other settlements with the States. No help from outside, on which he seems to rest pathetic hopes, would avail him.” The Hyderabad issue went to the Security Council; razakars were indulging in arson, looting and communal killings; Pakistan was not sitting quiet; but Sardar Patel remained unruffled and eventually won universal praise and admiration in this case as well. He had his issues with the Prime Minister. When Patel wanted firm and definite action, he was concerned because of vacillations on the part of Nehru. His steely remove helped him get his way eventually, in spite of numerous impediments. Patel’s letter to Nehru on China, reproduced by R.N.P. Singh, appears so precise as to comprehend the mischievous and nefarious designs that this neighbour of India has nourished all along. Savour the marvel of a visionary: “Communists are as good or bad imperialists as any other.” It is not easy to pay tribute to the Sardar of Bardoli. Lord Mountbatten’s words make one attempt: “Nothing so added to the prestige of the present government than the brilliant policy you have followed with the States.”

R.N.P. Singh has made a great professional contribution in analysing how Patel could succeed in uniting India that was left at the brink of fragmentation. His seminal research fulfils a wide gap in an objective narrative of that tumultuous period.