Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

“Many were prepared to follow me, but I could not make up my mind as to who should be my deputy commander. Then I thought of Vallabhbhai"

- Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

1. When the British finally left, they left behind India, Pakistan, and over 562 princely states in the territory colonized by them over nearly 200 years.
2. All princely states were given the option of either joining India, Pakistan, or remaining independent.
3. While most states including Bikaner and Baroda were quick to join the Union of India.
4. Others like Kashmir and Manipur were indecisive for months.
5. While Junagadh (now in Gujarat) acceded to Pakistan. Travancore (now in Kerala) declared independence, and the Hyderabad State, located in the heart of India (now in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra) wanted to follow suit.
6. It was Sardar Patel who convinced 559 of 562 princely states to join the Union of India. He did so with pure persuasion and statesmanship – a stupendous task achieved without any bloodshed, with no parallel in recorded history.
7. Only three states; Jammu & Kashmir, Junagadh, and Hyderabad did not willingly merge into the Union of India.

" There were many who used to think that a diverse country like India can never remain united. It will fall apart. But, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel showed how it is done. We should learn how to grow from strength to strength, how to always stay united. Sardar Patel used Kautilya's wisdom and Shivaji Maharaj's bravery to achieve the great feat of uniting India after partition. He did something that was unparalleled. From Kutch to Kohima, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, Sardar Patel united the country. It is because of him that we can travel to all the great sites and meet the great people of all the states within India without a visa. "

– Narendra Damodardas Modi at the inauguration of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Statue.

" Present-day India owes an immeasurable debt of gratitude to the vision, tact, diplomacy, and pragmatic approach of the Sardar. In preventing balkanization of the country and merger of more than 560 princely states with the Union of India. What makes this stupendous integration most remarkable is that it was achieved without any bloodshed. ”

– M. Venkaiah Naidu at the inauguration of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Statue.

1. The Bardoli Satyagraha in Gujarat is considered a major episode of civil disobedience and revolt in the Indian Independence Movement.
2. After suffering from years of floods and famines, the farmers of the region were facing grave financial difficulties. They petitioned and appealed to the Governor of Bombay Presidency to reduce their taxes but were asked instead to pay 30% more.
3. Being left with nearly nothing to feed themselves and their families after-tax, the farmers now appealed to Vallabhbhai Patel to lead them to revolt. Patel first reminded them that refusing to pay taxes may lead to their lands and property being confiscated and them being sent to jail.
4. Prepared for the worst, the farmers of Bardoli Taduka stood united and were ready to fight the Government’s injustice in a completely non-violent manner, as lead by Patel. As the villagers stopped paying their taxes, the British Raj declared that they will crush the revolt.
5. Sending in collectors to terrorize and forcibly seize property from the villagers, the Government soon began to auction lands and houses. But not a single man from Gujarat or anywhere from across India came to buy the lands.
6. One village did break the unity and paid taxes, so they were ostracized. If someone did buy the confiscated lands, they could no longer find the labor to work those lands.
7. When Indian members of the Government in Bombay and across India started resigning office and expressed open support for the farmers – the Raj had no choice but to agree to the terms of the farmers.

1. Convinced that the British would leave India as they had Singapore and Burma, Sardar Patel urged the campaign to start without any delay.
2. Knowing the British were in no hurry to leave India, he favoured an all-out rebellion that would galvanise the people of India. He argued that such a rebellion would force the British to concede that they can no longer continue colonial rule in India, and thus speed the transfer of power to Indians.
3. Owing to his views and actions, Sardar Patel was arrested nearly 10 times between 1930 and 1945. Each time after release, many times in poor health, he gave highly charged emotional speeches to large crowds across India - asking his countrymen to refuse to pay taxes and to participate in civil disobedience, mass protests, and a shutdown of all civil services.

“ 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? You refer in your radio broadcasts and newspapers to the government established in Burma by Japan as a puppet government? What sort of government do you have in Delhi now?
When France fell before the Nazi onslaught, in the midst of total war, Mr. Churchill offered union with England to the French. That was indeed a stroke of inspired statesmanship. But when it comes to India? Oh no! Constitutional changes in the midst of a war? Absolutely unthinkable. "

- Sardar Patel

In Junagadh located in Gujarat, Patel first showed force, sending the army to occupy three principalities of Junagadh, demanding that the Nawab accedes to India. Hyderabad, which was the largest of all princely states, also included parts of present-day Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra at the time.