3 Review(s)

The book Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel: Chanakya of Modern India highlights the indispensably wise, critical, mature, decisive, responsible, and steering leadership role played by Sardar Patel. The book covers the pre-independence and the post-independence scenario taking Sardar Patel at the central role and takes stock of the crucial period between 1945 and 1950 and the critical decisions taken at that time on which the future of India was to be built. It also covers the important events of the independence movement. It describes the leading leadership role played by Sardar Patel in terms of critical and risky decision-making, and devising winning strategies and tactics during 1945-50. This book provides interesting details on the integration of 548 Princely States, which constitutes the 40% geographical area of India, into it. It discusses all the critical details on both Hyderabad and Kashmir, and tries to substantiate that Kashmir would not have been a perennial problem as it has become today, and Kashmiri Pandits would not have seen the terrible days that they have, had Nehru allowed Sardar to handle J & K too. The language as well as the presentation of the book is good. The book has been divided into three parts. The first part has six chapters containing—Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel: Soldier to Supremo, Partition of India: Deceased Limb Amputated, U Turn of Gandhiji, Sardar Patel Never Repented for Partition, Anti-Muslim: Myth and Reality, Muslim Mindset: Before and After Independence. The second part has four chapters containing—Gandhiji’s Last Fast, Rs. 55 Crores, Causes of Gandhiji’s Assassination, Neither Pro-Muslim Nor Anti-Hindu. And the final part of the book has four chapters containing—Consolidation of India, Junagadh Nawab Fled to Pakistan with Cash Balances and Securities, Hyderabad: Ulcer in the Belly of India, Police Action: The State Fell Like a Ripe Fruit. At the end of the book an Annexure has been given which contains the Factual and Forthright Press Statement of Sardar Patel on Rs. 55 Crores. Justice Chandrashekhar Dharmadhikari of Mumbai High Court has expressed a great pleasure in writing a Foreword to this informative and analytical book based on the life and thoughts of Sardar Patel. The book will be useful for all those who are interested in Sardar Patel and his philosophy of united India. It will be also useful for the students of history and political science.