Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel wove together the story of modern India, leaving an indelible mark on the very map of our nation-state. While the legends of Junagarh and Hyderabad are etched in our collective memory, another heroic chapter unfolded in the unification of Saurashtra, the Kathiawar peninsula along the Arabian Sea in the present-day state of Gujarat.
The significance of the unification of Saurashtra lies in its proximity to Patel’s homeland, Nadiad. The region must have held a special place in Patel’s heart. We all share a deep emotional connection to the regions close to our roots. What truly set Patel apart was his exceptional foresight, which enabled him to avoid the limitations of narrow visions. He resisted the temptation to allow the ruin of the nation in the name of appeasing his homeland’s people. In contrast, Nehru, with his Kashmiri heritage, approached the Kashmir issue emotionally. His intentions weren’t to weaken India, but his myopic approach created lasting challenges.
The unification of Saurashtra was no small feat. In this region, there were more than 200 small states and smaller administrative units which made it difficult to maintain law and order; especially after the British Political Department had ceased to exist. These princely states had varying degrees of autonomy and their own local rulers.
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Creating a single unit
The situation in Saurashtra was complex, with some of the princely states supporting the idea of unification, while others were hesitant or even resistant. In some states of Saurashtra, the people organised powerful agitations against the rulers. For example, in Dhrangadhra, farmers created a furore and even threatened to march to the palace of the Maharaja. Patel did not approve of such actions and said that if the people wanted a responsible government, they should seek help only from the Indian government. Patel also wanted to knit Saurashtra into a single unit so that the benefits of development could be enjoyed on a wider scale. This strategic move achieved dual benefits: It fulfilled the developmental aspirations of the region and served as a testament to the unity of our nation, especially given Saurashtra’s position as a boundary region.
The State Ministry had appointed NM Buch as the Commissioner of Saurashtra. Major kingdoms of Saurashtra proposed a plan under which four groups were to be formed headed by Bhavnagar, Navanagar, Junagadh, and Dhrangadhra. All smaller states were to be grouped under these units. However, Patel realised that the only solution was to join all of Saurashtra with Junagadh. He then met the leaders of Saurashtra and drew up a plan. The main features of the plan were joining all the big and small states to create a single unit of Saurashtra, and creating a constitutional assembly with one representative per two lakhs population. The plan also proposed that the functioning of the administration and judiciary would be according to the rules and regulations of a responsible government, as per the Constitution drawn by the assembly. The plan further said that in case a future decision was taken to create states on the basis of language, Saurashtra would join it. Instead of one Governor, there would be a committee of three which was to be comprised of the Maharaja of Navanagar and Bhavanagar along with an elected representative of the other big states.
Patel decided that under this plan, there was no question of approval of the ruler. The main issue at hand was the creation of a United Saurashtra. The rulers also realised that if they ignored the will of the people, they could face vehement protests.
The Rulers of the Kathiawar States entered into a covenant for the formation of the United States of Kathiawar on 24 January 1948. Patel inaugurated the United State of Kathiawar on 15 February 1948. Jam Saheb of Nawanagar was appointed as its Governor, Uchharangrai Dhebar was made the Chief Minister. The creation of this unified state was described by Nehru as “a great step forward . . . one of the most notable in contemporary Indian history”.
In the initial stages, the state of Saurashtra was designated as the ‘United State of Kathiawar’ but was renamed ‘Saurashtra State’ in November 1948. On 1 November 1956, Saurashtra was integrated into the Bombay state. Subsequently, in 1960, the Bombay state underwent a linguistic division, leading to the emergence of the new states of Gujarat and Maharashtra. In this transformative shift, the Saurashtra territory, encompassing Junagadh and the entirety of Sorath (Saurashtra), became an integral part of the vibrant state of Gujarat.
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Transformative chapter
Another yarn belonging to the fabric of Saurashtra is the Somnath Temple reconstruction episode. Interestingly, it was during the orchestration of Saurashtra and Junagarh’s unification that Patel issued the historic directive for the reconstruction of the Somnath Temple. It signified freedom from slavery of more than a thousand years. The revival of the Somnath Temple not only breathed life into a sacred edifice but also infused a fresh spirit into the political canvas of India, forging a path to a transformative chapter in the nation’s history.
Here, we are reminded of Prime Minister Modi’s profound words about the ‘Iron Man of India’ on the occasion of the inauguration of the Statue of Unity, “We are criticised for praising Sardar Patel. We are made to feel as if we have committed a serious crime…If Sardar Patel had not united the country, …‘shiv bhakts’ would have needed a visa to perform puja at Somnath temple in Gujarat…”.
In his homeland, Patel applied the very idea of unification that he championed on a national scale. Patel’s astute leadership led to the unification of various small princely states within his home state, bringing them together to create a more cohesive and prosperous Gujarat. This internal consolidation not only served as an example to the rest of the nation but also laid the foundation for a stronger and more unified India.
The author teaches Political Science at Satyawati College, University of Delhi. Views are personal.
(Edited by Theres Sudeep)