05

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel always remained bound to constitutional and democratic values. History has borne witness to his commitment to these principles. Similarly, Vallabhbhai Patel was a born Satyagrahi –a seeker of Truth. It was in his nature to launch Satyagraha –the pursuit for Truth, to ensure justice to be served. In his childhood, youth and even in the declining phase of his life, we see his struggling nature. Even so, he was a true follower of Gandhian principles. Gandhiji was his ideal.

There was an incident when after the freedom of the country from British Imperialism, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was struggling day and night with the process of merger of the princely states into the Union of India. The matter was a complicated issue related to eighteen princely states. The people of those states were Kannada-speaking while their rulers were Marathas. The Marathas wanted their states to join Dakshini Rajya Sangh (the Union of Southern Indian States), and it appeared that their wish would be fulfilled. But, the people of those states were opposed to any such step. Further, the matter had become serious, because three prominent leaders of the Indian National Congress, Bhogaraju  Pattabhi Sitaramayya (lifetime: 1880–1959 AD), Ranganath Ramachandra Diwakar (lifetime: 1894-990 AD) and Shankarrao Dev (lifetime: 1895-1974 AD), were under the influence of the Maratha rulers, leaving the people of those states in a perilous situation.

The hero of the process of the unification of India was Sardar Patel. He had the ultimate say, and everyone would accept his final decision. Late Siddavanahalli Nijalingappa (lifetime: 1902-2000AD), one of the members of the Congress Working Committee was aware of this fact, and, therefore, he approached Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and asked him to honour the wish of the people.

In those days, Vallabhbhai was putting all his efforts in building the unity of the country; he was committed to this cause. But, he was also committed to ensure that no ruler of a princely state should do injustice to the people of his state during the process of merger. Vallabhbhai, therefore, analyzed the geographical status of those eighteen princely states. He also examined public opinion in the matter and deeply thought about the possibilities that could arise in an impractical situation and undue advantage that reactionaries could take from the situation during the process of merger of princely states into the Union of India.

According to the standards set by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel while he was establishing the unity of India, it was his goal to see that the country should not have smaller provinces. He was in favour of the least provinces. He also wanted to make sure that no one should be allowed to take undue advantage in the name of regionalism, regional language or separatism.

He deeply analyzed the matter related to above-mentioned eighteen princely states and asked the following question to Siddavanahalli Nijalingappa:

“Are you ready to go for a Satyagraha to secure justice for the people of these states?”

“Yes Sardar Saheb, I am in a position to do so for justice”, Nijalingappa replied.

“Alright then”, Vallabhbhai replied, “you go ahead with this work.”

Thus, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel himself inspired Nijalingappa to launch a Satyagraha for justice. It was a special thing. Through the pathway of Satyagraha, which is the pursuit of truth, the people of those eighteen princely states could be saved from injustice. Such was the practice of Sardar Patel to secure people’s freedom. He was a great man, a recognized public leader, well-wisher of the masses and always concerned with the common man’s problem.

A Marathi friend of this author, who was known to be an intellectual politician of the country once said, “Sardar Patel merged the princely states into the Union of India by applying Kautilya’s strategy of peace, cost, punishment and dividing policy. He adopted every method, whether anyone liked it or not. He neither compromised nor thought of any other thing at the cost of the unity of the country.”

I shared the above event related to the eighteen princely states with him and said, “The Sardar was a saviour of the unity of the country. But he never ignored the wishes of the people.” All through his life he remained a Satyagrahi and a true Satyagrahi never thinks ill of anyone.

One, who is himself in the pursuit of truth, he can never be untrue to others’ rights. Such was the power of this ambassador of national unity.