INDIA’S STATUE OF UNITY, THE TALLEST IN THE WORLD, EVOKES STRONG AND DIVISIVE EMOTIONS FROM OUR READERS
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was a statesman, scholar with extraordinary strong administrative skills, and one of the most prominent founding fathers of the Republic of India. He was widely expected to lead the country as the first prime minister after independence but Mahatma Gandhi voted for Jawaharlal Nehru. Hence, Patel was appointed as deputy prime minister. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has rightly said, “India will forever be indebted to Sardar Patel for his tireless efforts to unite the nation.”
The recently unveiled 182-metre Statue of Unity in Gujarat is a fitting tribute to the Iron Man of India. It is a recognition of his contribution to the Indian nation. Patel died just two years after India got independence, and he could not influence India’s future policies. However, he will be always remembered for unifying princely states and integrating them in one Indian nation.
According to contemporary historians, Patel was a man of strong conviction and moral character, who played key role in achieving cohesion and trust amongst the different castes and communities that were highly divided on socioeconomic lines in pre-independence India. In all probability India’s geography and its history would have been different without one man Patel’s extraordinary contribution. He had earned the title of ‘sardar’, which means leader, and is alos known as the Iron Man. Despite his failing health and age, he never lost sight of the larger purpose of creating united India. Unfortunately, India never recognised his contribution. He was awarded Bharat Ratna posthumously in 1991 — 41 years of death. The Statute of Unity is a befitting tribute. — Ramesh G Jethwani, India.
*The article But wasn’t Nehru the true ‘unifier’? (KT, Nov. 2) is well written. The author wrote it beautifully, in simple but elegant and polished prose. It is indeed true that Sardar Patel was a great leader who welded the various large and small princely states to create a unified India. He was a practical and astute leader. Pandit Nehru was a visionary and focused on the future of India. The two of them, Nehru the far-seeing leader and Patel the down-to-earth leader, were both responsible for defining a path for the future of India. Both of them were fantastic leaders and were two sides of the same coin. They complemented and supported each other very well.
However, though Pandit Nehru was a great unifier, Mahatma Gandhi was the greatest unifier of India. His heart broke at the time of partition of the country. He wanted the Hindus and Muslims to live together. In fact, Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated by Hindu extremists who were unhappy with his policy of appeasing the Muslims. Gandhi gave his life for his dream of a united India. So, the greatest unifier of India was Mahatma Gandhi. — Rajendra Aneja, India *It is a known fact that both Indian leaders Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Jawaharlal Nehru were very different in temperament and character. But whatever differences they had, they never disrespected and subverted each other with factional intrigue. They preferred to conciliate rather than divide.
Both Nehru and Patel were exemplary leaders and an epitome of humanism and realism. While Nehru was visionary, mild-mannered, Patel was dashing and pragmatic. And in those years, what united these two stalwarts was their deep love for India, an abiding commitment to its unity. And they worked relentlessly for it. Both these leaders had a thriving career but they abandoned it when there was a calling from Mahatma Gandhi. Both Patel and Nehru have left an indelible mark in Indian politics. The leaders of today need to follow their legacy. —Jayashree Kulkarni, Abu Dhabi