Sardar Patel - The Iron Man of India

phenomenal  leader  of  india

Vallabh bhai patel was born on 31st October 1875 at Nadiad in Gujarat, popularly known as a “IRONMAN”of India.  He was one of the most  influential freedom fighter and socialleader of India during Indian freedom movement. He is always appreciated foraccomplishing the integration of princely states of India. In India and acrossthe world, he is known as Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, where Sardarstands for Chief in many languages of India.

Born and raised in the countryside ofGujarat, Vallabhbhai Patel was a self-educated, forceful and successfulGujarati lawyer, when he was inspired by the work and philosophy of MahatmaGandhi. Patel organized the peasants of Kheda and Bardoli in Gujarat innon-violent mass civil disobedience against the oppressive tax policiesimposed by the British Raj - becoming the one of the most influential leader inGujarat. He rose to the national leadership of the Indian National Congress andat the forefront of rebellions and political events — organizing the party forelections in 1934 and 1937, and helping lead Indians into the ‘Quit IndiaMovement’. Patel was known amongst nationalists as "Gandhi'slieutenant," and he enjoyed considerable support and respect in theCongress for his decisive and straightforward leadership.

INTEGATION OF INDIA BY SARDAR PATEL

Becoming the first Home Minister andDeputy Prime Minister of India, Patel organized relief and rehabilitationefforts in the riot-struck Punjab and Delhi, and leading efforts to restorepeace and security. Patel took charge of the task to forge a united Indiafrom a plethora of semi-independent princely states, colonial provinces andpossessions. Patel employed an iron fist in a velvet glove diplomacymdash; frank political negotiations backed with the option (and the use) ofmilitary action to weld a nation that could emancipate its people without theprospect of divisions or civil conflict. His leadership obtained the peacefuland swift integration of all 565 princely states into the Republic of India.Patel's initiatives spread democracy extensively across India, and re-organizedthe states to help transform India into a modern federal republic. His admirerscall him the Iron Man of India.

Patel was the chairman of thecommittees responsible for minorities, tribal and excluded areas, fundamentalrights and provincial constitutions. He worked closely with Muslim leaders toend separate electorates and the more potent demand for reservation of seatsfor minorities. He was also instrumental in the founding the IndianAdministrative Service and the Indian Police Service, and for his defence ofIndian civil servants from political attack, he is known as the "patronsaint" of India's services. When a delegation of Gujarati farmers cameto him citing their inability to send their milk production to the markets withoutbeing fleeced by middlemen, Patel exhorted them to organise the processing andsale of milk by themselves, and guided them to create the Kaira DistrictCo-operative Milk Producers' Union Limited, which preceded the Amul milkproducts brand.

WARNED NEHRU BEFORE HE MADE Big Mistake

When the Pakistani invasion ofKashmir began in September 1947, Patel immediately wanted to send troops intoKashmir. But agreeing with Nehru and Mountbatten, he waited till Kashmir'smonarch had acceded to India. Patel then oversaw India's military operations tosecure Srinagar, the Baramulla Pass and the forces retrieved a lot of territoryfrom the invaders. Patel, along with Defence Minister Baldev Singh  administered  the entire  military  effort,
arrangingfor troops from different parts of India to be rushed to Kashmir and for amajor military road connecting Srinagar to Pathankot be built in 6 months.Patelstrongly advised Nehru against going for arbitration to the United Nations,insisting that Pakistan had been wrong to support the invasion and theaccession to India was valid. He did not want foreign interference in abilateral affair. Patel opposed the release of Rs. 55 crores to the Governmentof Pakistan, convinced that the money would go to finance the war against Indiain Kashmir. The Cabinet had approved his point but it was reversed when Gandhi,who feared an intensifying rivalry and further communal violence, went on afast-unto-death to obtain the release. Patel, though not estranged from Gandhi,was deeply hurt at the rejection of his counsel and a Cabinet decision.

I Have been always influenced by following leadership skillof 

Sardar  Vallabhbhai  Patel

·     Tenacity :-one the most inspiring strong point of Sardar Patel was hisfirmness to the goal decided to achieve. His tenacity was indeed incomparable.

·     Invincibility :- After getting freedom, when whole world was thinking that Indiawould be divided in thousands of parts, Sardar Patel was the person who provedthem wrong and integrate India.

·     Ability of strong and fast decision making skill :- Before freedom or afterfreedom Sardar Patel was always know for his decision making.

·     Influence & team building :-one of the most important characteristic of any leader is hisinfluencing ability. Sardar Patel was full of this skill. For eg. Organizedfarmers of Kheda and Bardoli of Gujarat to hold mass- nonviolent civildisobedience first time in India. At that point farmers were not united and wasdetermined to do violent movement against Britishers.

·     Conflict resolution :- Sardar Patel was also having great conflict resolution skill.There are so many example in his life for it but the way he consolidated IndianPrincely States that is really incomparable.

·     Flexibility according to situation :- Sardar Patel’s most inspiring characteristic was adaptability withany kind of situation. When he was moving from one village to another to unitethe India, he faced many hurdles, he went to jail many times

·     Never ending Winning Spirit :- I have read a book about Sardar Patel’slife, written by Rajmohan Gandhi, I was motivated by his never ending spirit,dedication to work, loyalty to country, always adapting with group andmaintaining balance in group (specially in context of Jawaharlal Nehru).thereare somany incidents during his childhood about how he used to go school, his tolerance power etc. which reallymotivated me. 

Conclusion

Thus, life of Sardar Patel is continuous flow of inspirations. Thisgreat leader was self-educated. He has nurtured many skills in his self by hisown. The above-mentioned qualities about him are most desired in a manager alsobecause problems never come after informing us. I used to peep into the book of‘Sardar Patel- A dedicated life’ when I feel myself caught up in any verydifficult problem and I am always able to find the solution out of it. It won’tbe exaggeration to say that after Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel is the most saluted leader in India.I salute this great Leader.