Sardar Patel

A NATION is not united by erecting huge statues but through exemplary, unselfish deeds, and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was an embodiment of this (“Patel statue and pillage of history”, December 21).

Curiously, no leader from other parties or Chief Ministers from other States were invited to participate in the inauguration of the “Statue of Unity”. Many would say that Sardar Patel was the best Prime Minister we never had.

There is a needless debate on which party can claim his legacy. Leaders of the calibre of Sardar Patel, Subhas Chandra Bose, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Sarojini Naidu or C. Rajagopalachari rendered yeoman service to the country and are beyond party labels. The consolidation of India will remain Sardar Patel’s greatest contribution. M.A. Jinnah played the communal card to gain personal power. He realised his folly before he died.

Whatever their faults, Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Patel dragged India back from that precipice. As true statesmen, they rose above their personal differences in the interests of the nation. H.N. RAMAKRISHNA

BENGALURU WITHOUT any doubt, it is important to pay tributes to Sardar Patel (“Sardar as pawn”, November 23). But was it necessary to spend a whopping amount of money on a statue when there are so many burning issues that need to be sorted out? India’s pride does not reside in a statue but in its “unity in diversity” and its cultural values. Sadly, under the current government, communal tensions are on the rise. The Narendra Modi government cannot fool people with a statue.

VIDHYA B. RAGUNATH THANJAVUR, TAMIL NADU