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Wednesday, May 20, 2026
TopicSardar Vallabhbhai Patel

Topic: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was a towering figure in the Independence movement and the country’s first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister after 1947. Often called the ‘Iron Man of India’, Patel was instrumental in unifying over 500 princely states into the Indian Union, laying the groundwork for a cohesive nation.

As a senior leader of the Indian National Congress, Patel held various influential positions, including the chairmanship of the Congress’s Parliamentary Board.

He was a successful lawyer. And one of MK Gandhi’s earliest political lieutenants. He began his public life in local government and gained recognition through his leadership in Gujarat, particularly during the Bardoli Satyagraha, where his success in championing the farmers’ cause earned him the title ‘Sardar’. As Home Minister, Patel oversaw efforts to integrate states into the union and establish India’s civil services, leaving an enduring legacy on India’s administrative and political framework.

Patel’s 1950 letter to Nehru: Find no legal power to deal with Press or men like Syama Prasad

Vallabhbhai Patel -
Less than a year before the First Constitutional Amendment, Patel wrote to Nehru about Supreme Court rulings that had 'knocked the bottom out' of press control laws.

Surprising how little this country is grateful to Sardar Patel: Nani Palkhivala

Nani Palkhivala -
In 1992, Nani Palkhivala delivered the Sardar Patel Memorial Lecture, outlining Patel’s enduring relevance and his role in shaping modern India.

Midnight’s grown ups & getting the short end of titanic tariffs

ThePrint Team -
The best cartoons of the day, chosen by the editors at ThePrint.

Neither retaliation nor revenge—Sardar Patel’s appeal for peace after Partition violence

Vallabhbhai Patel -
On 12 September 1947, deputy PM Vallabhbhai Patel addressed the nation 'with a heavy heart and in obedience to the call of duty' to call for an end to the communal violence and unspeakable brutalities.

Forces trying to destabilise country will have problem with ‘ek hain toh safe hain,’ says Modi

ThePrint Team -
Addressing gathering near Statue of Unity at Ekta Nagar in Gujarat’s Narmada district, PM Modi also urged Indians to identify 'urban Naxals' who he said are trying to break the country.

Sardar Patel had many critics. Jayaprakash Narayan even blamed him for Gandhi assassination

Urvish Kothari -
Sardar Patel had many critics, but many of those detractors eventually came to appreciate his qualities, shedding their previous reservations.

Why did Gandhi pick Nehru instead of Sardar Patel for PM? Charisma was key

Shubhangi Misra -
According to Karan Singh, eight out of 11 Congress members had chosen Sardar Patel to be the Prime Minister of India. But Gandhi picked Nehru.

Sardar Patel endured 2,300 days in jail with wit and will. ‘I can live on air for 3 months’

Urvish Kothari -
‘The one thing that makes me sad is that all the officers here are Indians… Had they been British, I would have taught them a lesson.’

How Nehru became Congress president over Sardar Patel—diary entry sheds new light

Urvish Kothari -
Leaders at the time didn’t consider the election significant enough to be documented in detail, which ended up leaving room for propaganda. But what really happened?

Vithalbhai was supposed to be the nation-builder & Vallabhbhai the family provider

Urvish Kothari -
The two brothers developed an understanding: the elder Vithalbhai would devote his time to public service and Vallabhbhai would earn money to support both families.
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National Interest

Pakistan is tactically brilliant, strategically disastrous. It’s primed for repeated blunders

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Pakistan has ended up losing every war against India but that hasn’t prevented it from claiming victory. We will go over the evidence to anticipate what to expect next.

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