Introduction
There is a tendency to compare Nehru- the architect of India with Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel, the First Deputy Prime Minister and Home minister of independent India. There is a section of political class who portray Sardar Patel as a Hindu nationalist and boast that India today would be much different if he were the first P.M. They conveniently forget that Sardar Patel successfully completed the task of unifying India in his position as Deputy Prime minister and Home minister. He would do the same task even as first Prime minister. Secondly, Sardar Patel did not live long enough. Even if he were the First P.M., Nehru would take over as the P.M. after demise of Sardar Patel in 1950. Pt Nehru and Sardar Patel were an ideal team and both worked jointly to make a strong nation.
Early life of Sardar Patel
The real date of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel is not known. However he mentioned 31st October in his matriculation certificate. Accordingly, 31st October 1875 is his date of birth as recorded. He was keen to enter the legal profession from his very childhood. As prevalent in those days, he was married at an early age. He was very brave. In those days, barbers would lance boils. When barber trembled to lance his boil, he did this himself. He was very cooperative and helpful to all and had a spirit to sacrifice. He had worked hard to accumulate money to finance his law degree in Britain. But he sent his elder brother Vithalbhai instead. His brother had just said whether it would be right that elder brother may lag behind the younger. His journey Ticket was in name of 'V. Patel'. As both brothers had same initials, the elder one went abroad instead of the younger. Vallabh Bhai Patel again worked hard to accumulate money and later journeyed to Britain and returned as Barrister.
Another instance of his compassion for human beings and inclination for sacrifice is worth mention. One of his friends was affected by plague. Sardar Patel gave all care to his friend. Consequently, he also was affected by the disease. Then he went to an isolated place and asked his brother to look after household.
Sardar Patel was highly professional as an advocate. Even death of his wife could not disturb him in his job. He was pleading his clients's case in court. Somebody gave him a letter. He just glanced the paper and put this in his pocket. He continued to plead. He won the case. In fact, he had received news of death of his wife who was suffering from cancer.
Was Patel more nationalist than other Congress leaders
There is a wide spread view that Sardar Patel was more nationalist and Hindutva minded. The ideological differences between Nehru and Patel are often exaggerated. However, Sardar Patel was to begin with not a dhoti clad Hindu nationalist as many would like us to believe. He was not so much politically inclined as well though he was interested in civic reforms. He preferred to speak in English and put on European type dress. He had urbane manners. He was skilled in playing bridge. In 1917, he was sanitation commissioner at Ahmedabad. As he was aloof from politics, he even ridiculed Mahatma Gandhi's love of spinning wheels. He once made a joke while talking to Malvankar: Now he talks of Charkha as a route to independence. Possibly one day, he will say that we may attain independence by sifting pebbles from wheat."
Entry in politics through peasant revolt
Although not interested in politics in his early ears, he involved with peoples' day to day issues. He would engage with authorities for redressing peoples' problems. He was attracted toward Gandhi and became a staunch Gandhian when Mahatma Gandhi supported the Kisan movement. Sardar Patel struggled for peasants' demand to waive tax in view of drought condition. He got full support from Mahatma Gandhi in this Sardar Patel's route to politics was through peasant movement. It is the peasant's revolt that brought Sardar Patel to the fore in politics. British government fully accepted demand of the peasants and suspended the paymebnt of revenue for the year , even scaling back the rate. After successfully leading the peasants' uprising in which Patel got support by Mahatma Gandhi, he whole heartedly particpated in Swadeshi movenment, untouchabiity abolition, boycott of foreign clothes, women empowerment, banning alcohol and so on. He became more Gandhian than Gandhi. He supported Mahatma gandhi even when he supended movement as a result of violence at Chauri Chaura.
There were many who would like to suspend the freedom struggle in view of world war. But Sardar patel was totally opposed to suspend the quit India movement. Hed even expressed his intention to resign from congress if the freedom struggle was suspended on the pretext of world war. He is credited with forming second line of leadership in Congress. He was suspicious of British intentions and so would not favor uspending the freedom struggle. His speech at Gowalio tank in Bombay (now Mumbai) is worth mention:
"The Governor of Burma boasts in London that they left Burma only after reducing everything to dust. so you promise the same thing to India?.... Oh No! Constitutional changes in the midst of war? absolutely unthinkable... The object this time is to free India before the Japanese can come and be ready to fight them if they come. They will round up the leaders, round up all. Then it will be the duty of every Indian to put forth his utmost effort- within non voilence. No source is is to be left untapped- no weapon untried. This is going to be the opportunity of a life time."
Sardar Patel was first to accept partition of India
It is claimed that Gandhi and Nehru are responsible for partition of India and that Sardar Patel, as a true nationalist never wanted partition of 'Mother India'. But this perception is far from truth. In fact, Sardar first was the first leader who accepted the partition and creation of new Muslim majority state namely Pakistan to be carved out of united India. Sardar Patel took pains to convince Gandhi and Nehru that partition of India and creation of Pakistan were unavoidable. At a meeting of all India Congress Committee, Sardar Patel said:
"I fully appreciate the fears of our brothers from the Muslim majority states. But I am afraid of one thing that all our toil and hard work of these many years might go waste or prove unfruitful. whether we like it or not, de facto Pakistan already exists in the Punjab and Bengal. Under the circumstances, I would prefer a de jure Pakistan, which may make the League more responsible. Freedom is coming. We have 75 to 80 percent of India, which we can make with our own genius. The League can develop the rest of the country."
Sardar Patel well understood that if the partition of India was not accepted, it would be difficult to abolish princely states. Partition was better alternative. This ensured that the newly formed govt. in Pakistan would bring some sanity in Punjab and Bengal and it would become feasible to bring order and unification in rest of India.
In fact, Patel was more pragmatic than Nehru, Subhas Chandra Bose, Lohia and others. Like Epic hero Arjuna, he believed in concentration on aim. He had dispute with Nehru and others not so much on ideological grounds but on the need to concentrate on the main issue. The main issue was independence and it was futile to discuss socialism, industrial policy etc, being diversion from main issue. This does not mean that he had difference on the need for socialism and a sound industrial policy.
True secular- Neither Pro Hindutva nor minority appeaser
Sardar patel was a true secular administrator. He did not believe in Hindutva aggressiveness. Nor he subscribed to minority appeasement. We indeed need such politicians. Unfortunately, he died too soon. He represented India on the Partition Council. He oversaw the division of public assets and along with Pt Nehru selected the Indian council of ministers. He was disgusted with wide spread violence in Punjab abd Bengal. His address to massive gathering of refugees is worth recall:
"Here in the same city, the blood of Hindus and Muslims mingled in the bloodbath of Jalianwal bagh. I am grieved to think that things have come to such a pass that no Muslim can go about in Amritsar and no Hindu or Sikh can even think of living in Lahore. To fight against the refugees is no fight at all. No laws of humanity or war among honourable men permit the murder of people who have sought shelter and protection. Let there be truce for three months in which both sides can exchange their refugees. This sort of truce is permitted even by laws of war."
Differences with Nehru
It cannot be denied that Sardar Patel had many differences with Pt Nehru. But these were like those in a family. Any two persons cannot have exactly identical views. It is truly said that only the dead have no differences. Sardar patel and Pt Nehru held different portfolios. Sardar patel was responsible for home deparment, organizattion of civil services and settlement of refugees. Pt Nehru was incharge of external affairs. Possibly, the internationalist view of Nehru sometimes clashed with internal circumstances and needs. On Kashmir, Sardar Patel had grudge that Nehru did not consult Ministry of Home affairs. Similarlly, in matter of refugee settlement, Nehru suggested that the houses vacated by Muslims migrating to Pakistan be allotted to other Muslims. But Sardar Patel refused this suggestion saying that this was unacceptable in a secular country. There were also differences on Tibet, Hyderabad integration and and U.N. intervention in Kashmir. However, they jointly played a very good role.
Nehru also grudged that Patel never consulted him or the cabinet on matters like integration of state and home department. Patel got disgusted and even expressed his disinclination to serve further. But Mahatma gandhi persuaded him to continue. Gandhi felt that free India needed both- Patel and Nehru. Sardar Patel was the last leader to talk in person to Mahatma Gandhi. Mahatma Gandhi was assasinated soon after Sardar Patel left. Sardar Patel and Nehru embraced each other and made a joint address to the nation.
Unlike others, Sardar patel was truly secular. He had no bias for or against any community. That is why the bureaucratic class represented by I.A.S and Police loved his leadership. Sardar patel died of heart attack on fifteenth December 1950 at Birla House in Bombay. Besides national leaders like Nehru, Rajagopalachari, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, more than 1500 officers of civil and police attended his funeral.
Sardar Patel's legacy
Many claim that Sardar Patel was a devout Hindutva supporter. The radical Hindutva lobby is bidding to claim his legacy. The secular forces claim his legacy as he was a Congress leader. In fact, Patel was a true Gandhian and a real secular. He would definitely not follow policy of appeasement of minorities. But he would also not support the radical Hindutva. Thus no particular section of politicians can claim his legacy. Sardar Patel belonged to the entire nation and he integrated the entire nation by merging the princely states using all methods- persuasion as well as police action. We should remeber that Indian national Congress in pre-independence era was a vehicle of freedom streuggle and so had a wider base. All shades of political opinion found place in Pre-independence Congress. Many of them left Congress and formed new political parties. It makes hardly any sense to claim sole legacy of a leader just because he belonged to Congress in pre independence era. Then even socialists were part of congress.
Today we are one nation owing to great efforts and foresight of Sardar Patel. His legacy belongs to all Indians who cherish his ideals of unity, national integration and patriotism. There should not be any partisan attitude. There is a move to install statue of unity to comemmorate Sardar Patel. This is welcome. However, we neeed to cultivate his ideals of true secularism and patriotism. He will live in these ideals more than in a statue.
Images are from wikipedia.