July To September 2015 Quarterly Online : ISSN-2394-7632 Research Journal SCHOLARS IMPACT Print : ISSN-2394-7640 3 POLITICAL VALUES OF SARDAR VALLABH BHAI PATEL IN INDIAN POLITICS DINESH CHANDRA SHARMA SACHIN K.SINGH A. P. SINGH S. M. (P. G.) College, Chandausi, District: Sambhal. Email Id- [email protected] ABSTRACT:- This article has mainly examined the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s role in Indian Politics. Vallabh Bhai Patel was known to be social leader of India who played a major role in the country's struggle for independence and guided its integration into a united, independent nation. Patel’s role in Integrating Indian States included Saurastra (including Junagadh) Hyderabad, Travancore, Cochin, Kashmir and other small states. Sardar’s role in each of these states was vital. Sardar Patel handled effectively the integration of the princely states with his diplomatic skills and foresightedness. The problem of amalgamating 562 independent states with a democratic self-governing India was difficult and delicate. He sensed the urgent and imperative need of the integration of princely states. He followed an iron handed policy. INTRODUCTION:- Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel handled effectively the integration of the princely states with his diplomatic skills and foresightedness. The problem of amalgamating 562 independent states with a democratic self-governing India was difficult and delicate. But it was essential to save India from balkanization, once the Paramountcy of British crown would lapse. Sardar Patel took charge of the states department in July 1947. He sensed the urgent and imperative need of the integration of princely states. He followed an iron handed policy. He made it clear that he did not recognize the right of any state to remain independent and in isolation, within India. Patel also appealed to the patriotic and national sentiments of the Princes and invited them to join the forming of a democratic constitution in the national interest. He persuaded them to surrender defense, foreign affairs and communication to the government of India. He, by his tactics, broke the union of www.scholarsimpact.com ■ [email protected] ■ Vol-I, Issue-4 ■ {24 } July To September 2015 Quarterly Online : ISSN-2394-7632 Research Journal SCHOLARS IMPACT Print : ISSN-2394-7640 separatist princes. By August 15, 1947 all except Hyderabad, Junagarh and Kashmir acceded to India. He thereafter carried three fold processes of assimilation, centralization and unification of states. The states were amalgamated to form a union and that union was merged with the Union of India. He handled the Junagarh and Hyderabad crisis as a seasoned statesman. Nawab of Junagarh wanted to accede to Pakistan. When the people revolted, Patel intervened. Indian Government took over the administration. Patel merged it with India by holding a plebiscite. Patel with an iron fisted hand subdued the Nizam. When the Nizam boasted anti-India feelings and let loose a blood both by the Razakars, Patel decided upon police action. He ordered the army to March into Hyderabad. The Nizam surrendered and Hyderabad was acceded to India. Thus Sardar Patel ensured, by his calculated methods, the absorption of a multitude of princely states into the Indian Union. Without a civil war, he secured the solidarity of the nation. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY:- 1. Importance of Vallabh Bhai Patel. 2. Political ideas and values. 3. To study the political integration. 4. To analyze the sardar patel’s their role in integration india. METHODOLOGY: - The research article focuses on the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and their role in Unifying India. A two-step methodology was followed for this article, comprising literature review, and analysis of secondary data. In order to achieve the research aim and objectives, the article mainly based on secondary data are drawn classified from the Publications of books, magazines, article, internet, and monthly journals. IMPORTANCE OF VALLABH BHAI PATEL:- Patel was born on October 31, 1875 in the influential Patidar community as the fourth child to Ladbha and Jhaveribhai. Married at an early age, he matriculated and cleared his law examination much later. He became a successful lawyer from Godhra and then Borsad, but he decided to go to London and become a barrister. To quote Patel, “I came from a middle class family. My father lived a humble and pious life and died in the temple he loved. He had no means to enable me to fulfill my ambitions. I realised finally that if I wanted to go to England. I www.scholarsimpact.com ■ [email protected] ■ Vol-I, Issue-4 ■ {25 } July To September 2015 Quarterly Online : ISSN-2394-7632 Research Journal SCHOLARS IMPACT Print : ISSN-2394-7640 had to earn money for myself. I, therefore, studied very earnestly for the law examination and resolved firmly to save sufficient money for a visit to England.” He finished his LL.B from the Middle Temple, England in June 1912 in a record two-and-a-half years and returned to India with ‘a lot of confidence, cynical attitude and a rational mindset’. Despite tragedies in the domestic front, he went ahead to work in the public domain. Vallabhbhai Patel admitted: “No doubt, my practice is flourishing today. I am also doing something big in the Municipality. But, my practice may or may not be there tomorrow. My money will be blown tomorrow, those who inherit my money will blow it .Let me leave them a better legacy than money.” After Independence, as Deputy Prime Minister under Jawaharlal Nehru, he managed the departments of Home, States, Information and Broadcasting. He played an active role as the Chairman of the Committees for Fundamental Rights, Minorities and Provincial Constitution and provisions like the Right to Private Property, Privy purses for Princes and Constitutional guarantees for the Civil Services were incorporated. As a member of the Partition committee, he helped the allocation of the liabilities and dividends between India and Pakistan. His role was commendable, and in Junagarh, Kashmir and Hyderabad he had to use force; in all the other cases his negotiating skill could integrate the princely States. His health was steadily declining and in 1948, he had a heart attack immediately after the death of Gandhi and finally he succumbed to another massive heart attack on December 15, 1950. POLITICAL IDEAS AND VALUES:- Sardar vallabhbhai Patel always raised his voice on several issues against exploitation and criticized the high-handedness of authority, the exploitative revenue policy of the Government and maladministration in the Princely states. He not only criticized the arbitrary policies of confiscation of movable and immovable properties, but also insisted on guarded regulations on land reforms and nationalization of key industries. His efforts to reform the Hindu religion and protect the people of other faiths reflected his longing for the right to religion. He encouraged the duly elected authority to bring restrictions through various legislative measures to freedom for all. Thus, his political value system was a fine synthesis of liberalism, conservatism and welfarism. His vision of State was in tune with the pattern of his political values. In his concept, the State was founded and held together by a high sense of nationalism and patriotism. Individual liberty was to be in conformity with the provisions of the Constitution, to create a Nation-State, he pressed for the emancipation of backward communities and women and bring about Hindu- www.scholarsimpact.com ■ [email protected] ■ Vol-I, Issue-4 ■ {26 } July To September 2015 Quarterly Online : ISSN-2394-7632 Research Journal SCHOLARS IMPACT Print : ISSN-2394-7640 Muslim unity through the Gandhian constructive programme and skillfully utilised the higher castes for social integration and political mobilisation. Thus, he strengthened the plural basis of the nation-state by bringing electoral participation as effective political mobilisation. He saw a nation as ‘democratic in structure, nationalistic in foundation and welfarist in spirit and function’. POLITICAL INTEGRATION OF INDIA:- This event formed the cornerstone of Patel's popularity in post- independence era and even today, he is remembered as the man who united India. He is, in this regard, compared to Otto von Bismarck of Germany, who did the same thing in 1860s. Under the plan of 3 June, more than 562 princely states were given the option of joining either India or Pakistan, or choosing independence. Indian nationalists and large segments of the public feared that if these states did not accede, most of the people and territory would be fragmented. The Congress as well as senior British officials considered Patel the best man for the task of achieving unification of the princely states with the Indian dominion. Gandhi had said to Patel "the problem of the States is so difficult that you alone can solve it". On 6 May 1947, Patel began lobbying the princes, attempting to make them receptive towards dialogue with the future Government and trying to forestall potential conflicts. Patel used social meetings and unofficial surroundings to engage most monarchs, inviting them to lunch and tea at his home in Delhi At these meetings, Patel stated that there was no inherent conflict between the Congress and the princely order. He stressed that the princes would need to accede to India in good faith by 15 August 1947. Patel invoked the patriotism of India's monarchs, asking them to join in the freedom of their nation and act as responsible rulers who cared about the future of their people. He persuaded the princes of 565 states of the impossibility of independence from the Indian republic, especially in the presence of growing opposition from their subjects. He proposed favorable terms for the merger, including creation of privy purses for the descendants of the rulers. All but three of the states willingly merged into the Indian union only Jammu and Kashmir, Junagadh and Hyderabad did not fall into his basket.