The Man Who Saved India
Growing up, one of my favourite subjects was history. I was fascinated by the people and culture of the past, particularly that of India. I largely agree with the famous quote “History is written by the victors”, but I disagree in this specific instance of India’s Independence from the British. While Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru were mentioned and praised in my school history book, the Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s name was omitted entirely!
The 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Patel spurred me to read the book “The Man Who Saved India.”
The book is like a roller-coaster ride where at points you will gasp out of excitement, scream in injustice and gaze out in silence as you experience India’s freedom struggle.
Sardar Patel’s invaluable contributions to Bardoli Satyagraha, Kheda Satyagraha and the almost impossible task of unifying 562 princely states are well known (or maybe not) but what really stands out in this book is the author’s attempt to highlight his noble, almost saint-like qualities.
While Nehru was a dreamer, Gandhi an idealist, Patel was a pragmatist. Behind the big goals of Gandhi was the master planner Patel, who rallied the troops from the grassroots. Behind the socialist Nehru, who was impatient for India’s independence, was the practical Patel, who frequently raised money from capitalists like Jamnalal Bajaj and GD Birla. This clinical man was the critical third leg of the stool on which India’s dream rested.
Sardar was an individual who was passionate but not obsessed with freeing India from the British. Unlike others, instead of writing history, he believed in making history. The relentless man was all about relentless execution. His organisational skills were second to none. His indomitable spirit is palpable in the fact that when the Civil Disobedience Movement was called off abruptly and everyone, including the Indian National Congress lost hope, one man stood tall.
He was the Ekalavya who sacrificed his political ambitions for the nation’s as well as the Congress’ interest. This is evident in multiple instances. Despite being unanimously voted for by the majority as Congress President, Patel eschewed it, particularly in 1946 Presidency, which would have made Sardar the first Prime Minister of the country. Mahatma had a clear preference for Nehru, and to avoid any rift, Patel withdrew his name!
If this champion of Unity in Diversity had lived longer, the Jammu and Kashmir issue wouldn’t exist; if he had been around, villages would have as much prominence as cities. But after all, these are ifs. As it is said, “History is written by the victors.”
- Jainam Vora, November 2025