Wednesday

18


October , 2017
Sardar Patel’s thoughts and their timelessness
14:02 pm

Dr. Ravindra Kumar


Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was the maker of the political-geographical unity of India that it never had in its entire history. For this mammoth achievement, he is truly called the Maker of United India. In his persona Sardar Patel possessed so many characteristics of which commitment to discipline, firm determination, management and taking quick and appropriate decision were the foremost. These characteristics made him a unique leader, organizer and administrator. In his exceptional way of working Sardar Patel was matchless and he still is unparalleled. If it was not so, the task of merger of more than 550 scattered princely states into the Indian Union in a short period of just a few weeks soon after its independence from the English in 1947 would have been impossible. In other words, the work of India’s unity was not so easy. It was also not easy to handle the situation, which emerged due to the partition of the country–India and Pakistan, particularly pertaining to exchange of population [lakhs in number], communal upsurge and crackdown in administration. Anti-social and anti-national elements were active both, internally and externally to disintegrate the nation, and protecting India from them was a mammoth task. But, it was the firm determination of the Great Sardar for which he used to say himself that “we are not going to let the grass grow under our feet” and it was the charisma of his multifaceted personality that India could survive through the toughest phase in its socio-political history. India could be united and rebuilding the nation could be started and, thus, a new chapter in golden letters could be added in its glorious history. Undoubtedly, the role and contribution of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in the process of integration and rebuilding of India immediately after freedom and in the first three-four years of its independence remained outstanding and unprecedented. For this gigantic job, Sardar Patel will be remembered by Indians for hundreds and thousands of years. He will always remain alive in the pages of Indian history and his compatriots will definitely be proud of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

Along with this, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel deserves appreciation and respect of the international commu-nity, people around the world, besides India, for the legacy he left through his ideas and works for one and all on this planet. What legacy has he left for his successive generations is a question that could naturally emerge in one’s mind.

In answer, first of all, his practical approach to the implementation of the Ahimsa-centred Gandhian way to establish justice is worth a mention. It was Sardar Patel who accorded the best and the most practical dimension to the Gandhian method through a dozen Satyagrahas, from the Non-Cooperation (1920) to the Quit India Movement (1942). In this regard the Sardar’s organizational ability, planning and strategy remained unique; it is still matchless and exemplary for the whole world, for those in particular who wish to carry out activities through the Gandhian way or method.

Secondly, value-based views and works of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel are no less important. Especially, his stress on value-based politics and society, and work accomplished by him accordingly are subjects of analysis. Sardar Patel in his entire public life remained committed to values at all levels and in all walks of life. Particularly, in political sphere he never seemed lacking behind morality and ethics. Rather, the manner in which he came forward to protect autonomy of democratic values, for their honour/respect and maturity that is extraordinary and ideal. He was of the firm opinion that “democracy and democratic institutions can function efficiently only where the unit to which these are applied can subsist in a fairly autonomous existence.” These views of Sardar Patel are exemplary and significant for people of nations of the world where democracies are in function.

Further, it is the legacy of the Sardar he left for all those who are concerned with democratic values and wish for a mature and real democracy.

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel wished for a prosperous and unified world. He particularly wished for a strong and prosperous India to defend the whole of humanity. He was of the opinion that Hindustan, taking it as its foremost responsibility should contribute towards the development of the whole world. It was in this very context that he played an important role for India’s association with international organizations like the Commonwealth and the United Nations Organi-zation and desired them to work according to the spirit they possessed.

It is an irony that people are not very familiar with the ideas and work of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Why? I do not want to go into detail. However, I urge all –Indians and people around the world to analyze the Sardar’s thoughts and
brood over their timelessness. If it is done, I am sure they will find them worth consideration in the current perspective, exemplary and significant.

 

The writer is a Former Vice Chancellor of CCS University, Meerut; he is
also the Editor-in-Chief of Global
Peace International Journal.

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