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Sardar: Vallabhbhai Patel
SARDAR PATEL was one of Indias strongest and most dynamic leaders.This book examines the extraordinary contribution of Sardar Patel in the creation of a strong and united India. It details his unflinching support to Gandhis satyagrahas, his role in overcoming challenges to Congress unity, his farsightedness inthe formation of the Indian Administrative Service, the integration of over 560 princely states, and his visionary views on Kashmir, China, Tibet, Nepal. The book also includes rare and unpublished correspondence with select top-ranking ex-bureaucrats and army chiefs to flash new light on the role of Patel in post-independent India.
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India's Bismarck Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
As prime minister of Britain, Churchill had ordered the preparation of an imperial strategy with the intention of balkanising India and tightening Britain’s post-war hold over her. The strategy envisaged two Pakistans, one in the west and the other in the east, both large in size at India’s expense: the west to include the non-Muslim east Punjab; the east, the whole of Bengal (despite Hindus comprising almost half the population), and the predominantly Hindu Assam. Within her borders, India was to be balkanised with the creation of independent confederations of princely states. Attlee’s policy statement of 20 February 1947 was to implement the same, and Mountbatten was given the mandate to transfer power and quit India by June 1948, a date that was advanced to August 1947. However, Churchill’s imperial strategy was foiled by Patel. He stood in the way of transfer of power, unless Punjab and Bengal were divided. Fearing the loss of Congress cooperation, Mountbatten was forced to reach an agreement with Patel. Patel’s most significant gain was that Britain would not interfere in the settlement with the princes. This enabled Patel to integrate over 560 princely states in a period of about18 months and helped him to create a united India. This book examines the extraordinary contribution of Sardar Patel, from his unflinching support to Gandhi’s satyagrahas and the Indian freedom struggle, to his farsighted and courageous approach in building a strong, integrated India.