As prime minister of Britain, Winston Churchill had ordered the preparation of an imperial strategy with the intention of Balkanizing 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 Balkanized 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, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel foiled Churchill's strategy. This book examines Patel's extraordinary contribution, 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.
This biography of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel is a comprehensive and vivid narration of his unique contribution to Mahatma Gandhi's struggle for India's freedom (1920-47). Without Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's support, Mahatma Gandhi admitted, his satyagrahas wouldn't have had the same success. It was he who built the party machine through imposition of strict discipline and by giving it a mass base, and as party boss supervised and directed the functioning of the Congress ministries post-1937 provincial elections.The history of the Gandhian era cannot be complete and properly understood unless Patel is read and appreciated for what he did and achieved for India. This book is an attempt to fill that gap.
This book outlines Patel's crucial role in the integration of princely states into India, in saving the Kashmir valley from Pakistani raiders, and his perceptive and farsighted approach with respect to China, Tibet and Nepal. The book reproduces rare and unpublished correspondence from distinguished persons including Lord Mountbatten and K. P. S. Menon, among others. India's Bismarck explores the courageous and pivotal role of Sardar Patel in the creation of One India.
There is perhaps no political figure in modern history who did more to secure and protect the Indian nation than Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. But, ironically, seventy years after Patel brought together piece by piece the map of India by fusing the princely states with British India to create a new democratic, independent nation, little is understood or appreciated about Patel's enormous contribution to the making of India. Caricatured in political debate, all the nuances of Patel's difficult life and the daring choices he made are often lost, or worse, used as mere polemic. If Mahatma Gandhi was the spiritual core of India's freedom struggle and Jawaharlal Nehru its romantic idealism, it was Sardar Patel who brought in the vital pragmatism which held together the national movement and the first ideas of independent India. A naturally stoic man, Patel, unlike Gandhi or Nehru, wrote no personal history. He famously argued that its was better to create history than write it. This is why even his deepest misgivings and quarrels have been easily buried. But every warning that Patel left for India - from the dangers of allowing groups to create private militias to his thoughtful criticism on India's approach to Kashmir, Pakistan and China - are all dangerously relevant today. It is impossible to read about Patel, who died in 1950, and not feel that had he lived on, India might have been a different country. It is also impossible to ignore Patel and understand not only what the idea of India is but also what it could have been, and might be in the future. The Man Who Saved India is a sweeping, magisterial retelling of Sardar Patel's story. With fiercely detailed and pugnacious anecdotes, multiple award-winning, best-selling writer Hindol Sengupta brings alive Patel's determined life of struggle and his furious commitment to keep India safe. This book brings alive all the arguments, quarrels and clashes between some of the most determined people in Indian history and their battle to carve out an independent nation. Through ravages of a failing body broken by decades of abuse in and outside prison, Patel stands out in this book as the man who, even on his death bed, worked to save India. Hindol Sengupta's The Man Who Saved India is destined to define Patel's legacy for future generations.
Embark on a captivating journey through the life and times of India's Iron Man with Sushil Kapoor's insightful work, The Life and Times of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Join Kapoor as he unravels the fascinating account of a key architect of modern India, offering a comprehensive perspective on the indomitable spirit of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. As Kapoor's narrative unfolds, witness the dynamic events and challenges that shaped Patel's remarkable journey. Each chapter paints a vivid portrait of a leader whose vision and determination played a pivotal role in the unification of India. But here's the intriguing question that adds depth to Kapoor's exploration: What if Sardar Patel's life is not just a historical narrative but a source of inspiration for leadership and nation-building? Could his principles and actions provide valuable lessons for contemporary challenges? Are you ready to immerse yourself in the remarkable journey of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, a visionary leader who shaped the destiny of a nation? Explore the pages of The Life and Times of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, where Sushil Kapoor invites you to witness history in the making. This work is not just a biography; it's an homage to a statesman whose legacy continues to resonate in the fabric of modern India. This is more than a book; it's an invitation to discover the enduring spirit of leadership. Seize the opportunity to own The Life and Times of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel now, and let the pages transport you to an era where one man's vision shaped the destiny of a nation.Discover the Remarkable Legacy of The Life and Times of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel by Sushil KapoorAre you ready to delve into the life and times of one of India's greatest leaders, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel? The Life and Times of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel by Sushil Kapoor is an intellectually enriching and emotionally resonant biography that offers readers a deep insight into the incredible journey of this visionary statesman. Prepare to be inspired by the remarkable story of Sardar Patel as he played a pivotal role in India's struggle for independence and the unification of the nation. This biography serves as a guide to the political acumen, determination, and unwavering commitment that defined Sardar Patel's legacy. Don't miss out on the opportunity to discover the remarkable legacy of The Life and Times of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. This biography is intellectually enriching and emotionally resonant, inviting you to connect with the life and times of a visionary statesman, reflect on the challenges of nation-building, and appreciate the enduring significance of Sardar Patel's contributions. We should remove the dirt of slavery that pervades around us . If the stink of slavery persists even after gaining freedom; the fragrance of freedom would not pervade. -Sardar Patel The Life and Times of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel by Sushil Kapoor: Delve into the extraordinary life of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, one of India's founding fathers and a key figure in the country's struggle for independence. Sushil Kapoor paints a vivid picture of Patel's journey, from his early years to his pivotal role in the unification of India. This biography offers a comprehensive look at Patel's contributions to the nation and his enduring legacy. Sushil Kapoor is an accomplished author known for his detailed biographies. In The Life and Times of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, he presents a compelling narrative of Patel's life and his pivotal role in shaping modern India. This book is a tribute to a statesman whose contributions continue to resonate in the nation's history.
With his initial plans for an independent India in tatters, the desperate viceroy, Lord Mountbatten, turned to his seniormost Indian civil servant, Vappala Pangunni Menon—or VP—giving him a single night to devise an alternative, coherent and workable plan for independence. Menon met his stringent deadline, presenting the Menon Plan, which would change the map of the world forever. Menon was unarguably the architect of the modern Indian state. Yet startlingly little is known about this bureaucrat, patriot and visionary. In this definitive biography, Menon’s great-granddaughter, Narayani Basu, rectifies this travesty. She takes us through the highs and lows of his career, from his determination to give women the right to vote; to his strategy, at once ruthless and subtle, to get the princely states to accede to India; to his decision to join forces with the Swatantra Party; to his final relegation to relative obscurity. Equally, the book candidly explores the man behind the public figure— his unconventional personal life and his private conflicts, which made him channel his energy into public service. Drawing from documents—scattered, unread and unresearched until now—and with unprecedented access to Menon’s papers and his taped off-the-record and explosively frank interviews—this remarkable biography of VP Menon not only covers the life and times of a man unjustly consigned to the footnotes of history but also changes our perception of how India, as we know it, came into being.
The ‘Iron Man of India’, Sardar Patel played a leading role in the Indian freedom struggle. One of the leaders of Indian National Congress and founding fathers of Republic of India, He was a strong-willed man. He fought for the rights of the farmers and proclaimed by them as their leader or ‘Sardar’. a barrister by profession, he was much influenced by Mahatma Gandhi and joined the freedom struggle. After independence, he successfully United various princely states of India to form a United India. His life is one of brilliance, fearlessness, resoluteness and, above all, strength of character. This iron-man had a soft and compassionate heart. His life inspires all to inculcate the qualities which make a man great.
