Unifying states-man SARDAR VALLABHBHAI PATEL OCTOBER 31, 1875 — DECEMBER 15, 1950

Had it not been for Vallabhbhai Patel, the map of India might have looked quite different. In the days leading up to August 15, 1947, one of the crucial issues was how to integrate the 565-odd princely states into the Indian nation. Patel, along with his trusted aide V P Menon, set about this task with ruthless determination.
By Independence Day, most princely states had signed the Instrument of Accession. There were three notable holdouts and only one without a border with Pakistan: Hyderabad. The Nizam of Hyderabad wanted independence or accession to Pakistan. This was an unworkable demand.
In September 1948, Patel swung into action and convinced Nehru and governorgeneral C Rajagopalachari to take military action against the Nizam. Within days the Nizam was forced to surrender.
In Kashmir — the other princely state demanding independence — Patel’s hardnosed strategy was ignored. When Pakistan invaded Kashmir in 1948, Patel wanted to send in troops immediately. But he was kept at bay by Nehru and Mountbatten. Patel played a key role in the subsequent military operations in Kashmir. He was also bitterly opposed to Nehru’s suggestion to take the issue to the UN. Ironically, even Nehru would later come to regret this decision.
After Mahatma Gandhi’s death, Patel was the only one within the Congress who could outflank Nehru. A consummate backroom person, he often knew the pulse of the Congress rank and file much better than Nehru. During the jockeying over who would become India’s first president. Nehru backed Rajagopalachari while Patel’s man was Rajendra Prasad. Patel got the party cadre to propose Prasad’s name and it was Prasad who became the first president.
Nehru and Patel again clashed over the Congress presidency in 1951. Nehru was against the candidature of Purshottam Das Tandon, a conservative Hindu. But Tandon won with Patel’s support, prompting Nehru to declare he felt unwanted in the Congress. Patel, ever the loyal Congressman, patched up with Nehru. Indeed, he never let his differences with Nehru undercut the party. In the early years of Independence, when the Congress was virtually identified with India, this meant a great deal.