Review: INDIA'S BISMARCK: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

INDIA'S BISMARCK: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

Veena Adige, bhavans.info, August 15, 2008

India's Bismarck captures the essence of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel i.e. his role in the unification of a divided India. Winston Churchill, the then Prime Minister of Britain had favoured India's partition into 'Pakistan, Hindustan and Princestan' in 1945.

It was the Sardar's efforts that such a thing did not happen. He unified and consolidated 560 princely states which was epoch-making. It took eighteen months but he managed to get the princes to agree to join India.

The book does justice to this eventful chapter in Indian History and the central role played by Sardar Patel. The trauma of the Partition of India, the problems of the princes and the princely states and how they were integrated in India is well brought out.

This book also gives in detail the role of Sardar Patel in the grass root freedom struggle in Gujarat.The book records in detail of the events leading to partition of undivided India. It also brings out certain facts such as the British plan to transfer the entire Punjab, Bengal and Assam to Pakistan and how it was thwarted in time.

It is India's tragedy that the Sardar was not allowed to handle the Kashmir issue. His handling of Hyderabad and Junagadh problems was an example of decisive leadership.

Kulapati K. M. Munshi was the agent general of Hyderabad and the Nizam of Hyderabad wanted him to be only a trade agent. The Nizam was planning on Hyderabad, in the stomach of India, would either go to Pakistan or be independent. It was the Sardar's efforts that saved the day.

One can almost visualise the meetings, the frenzy of impending partition, the non-violent movements, Gandhiji, Jawaharlal Nehru, Lord Mountbatten and others as the author's style of writing is so lucid.

The book scores well on account of its gripping narrative style, lucid language and details.

There are a few aberrations-like is it H. U. K. Iyengar or is it H. U. K. Iengar as mentioned in the book? Also, the period of Sardar obtaining the law degree and his transition from a westernised Indian to a freedom fighter could have been given in a little more detail.

The book includes rare and so far unpublished correspondence between the various leaders of India.

It is a must read for every one especially the students of Indian Political History.

About the author:
Balraj Krishna began his career as a journalist with the Civil & Military Gazette, Lahore. After Partition he was in Delhi with the Publicity Division of the External Affairs Ministry and British Information Services. He was a special correspondent with the Hindustan Times in Kashmir. His articles, book reviews, and photo features appeared in the Illustrated Weekly of India, the Times of India, the Economic Times, The Hindu and Frontline besides Eastern World, London. He is the author of 'Indian Freedom Struggle' and 'Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel: India's Iron Man.'