Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

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.

India's Bismarck, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

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 The book reproduces rare and unpublished correspondence from distinguished persons including Lord Mountbatten and K. P. S. Menon, among others.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.

The Sardar of India