Vallabhbhai Patel, regarded as Gandhi's lieutenant, always had a mind of his own

India celebrates National Integration Day, Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, on October 31 to honour and fortify the spirit of unity and brotherhood in society.

Why? Because it marks the birth anniversary of Vallabhbhai Patel, a pivotal figure in India's post-independence national integration efforts, particularly at a time when the country was politically and otherwise fragmented.

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While his journey from skepticism towards Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi to becoming one of his closest comrades is a captivating tale, Patel always held on to his independent perspective.

Initial skepticism

• In 1916, Patel first encountered Gandhi at the Barrister's club, where he was invited to hear Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi discuss his ideas for an Ashram and a national school.
• Initially, Patel dismissed Gandhi as a "crank" due to his unconventional ideas and principles.
• However, after listening to Gandhi, Patel's perception gradually shifted. He remarked, "This man was not a mere windbag - he was out for action."
• Recognising Gandhi's sincerity and commitment to liberating India from British colonial rule, Patel once stated, "I was not concerned with his principles; all that mattered to me was that he was sincere."

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Satyagrah years

• During Gandhi's Champaram Satyagrah in 1917,  Patel enthusiastically volunteered to oversee the Kheda Satyagrah in 1918. He embarked on extensive tours in rural India, advocating against regressive colonial taxation.
• While supporting truth and non-violence, Patel held differing views from Gandhi during the Non-Cooperation Movement of 1920-21, fearing it might lead to lawlessness and violence.

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The duo

• Soon after, Gandhi and Patel formed a formidable team as Chairman and Secretary of the Gujarat Sabha, working together on various programs to benefit the subjugated people of Gujarat.
• Whether it was providing relief to plague-stricken areas, opposing forced labour, or leading the no-tax campaign in Kaira District, the duo's collaboration marked the beginning of a significant change in Patel's life and the Indian political struggle.
• While Patel is often accused of being a "yes man" to Gandhi, he had a distinct approach. He was practical, down-to-earth, and a strict disciplinarian.

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On industries

• Unlike Gandhi, Patel did not view industrialisation as a harbinger of destruction and recognised the coexistence of private enterprise and industrialists.
• GD Birla, an industrialist close to both Gandhi and Patel, once acknowledged Patel's ability to raise funds for the freedom movement, emphasizing the need for cooperation between business and the polity (Congress).

Challenging times

• Following Gandhi's imprisonment for sedition charges in 1922, the leadership of the Congress fell on Patel's shoulders.
• His popularity in Gujarat, including the Bardoli Satyagraha in 1928, was instrumental in securing victories for the people.
• Gandhi's letters to Patel during the Bardoli struggle expressed deep admiration and love for his comrade.
• Gandhi wrote, "Long live the Sardar to fight many a good fight."

On Dalits

• While Gandhi had an idealistic approach issue to untouchability and the upliftment of Dalits, leading to hunger strikes, Patel's roadmap was a more pragmatic one.
• Gandhi insisted on the immediate inclusion of Dalits in the mainstream of society, while Patel believed that the reform should happen gradually, unimposed.

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On Partition and beyond

• One major disagreement between Patel and Gandhi, in the later years, was seen over the partition of India in 1947.
• While both leaders were hurt by the communal violence and the demand for a separate Pakistan, Patel was more willing to accept the partition as a practical solution to end the violence and secure a stable future for India.
• Gandhi, however, went too long to oppose the partition.

• Later, during the national integration, Patel who was tasked with the job of bringing together 565+ princely states into the newly formed India, believed that a strong, centralised government would keep the young nation together.
• Gandhi had a more decentralised view and voiced for a more democratic and non-coercive way of dealing with these states.

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Looking back, we see how India's two freedom fighters, Gandhi and Patel, worked in their shared pursuit despite their disagreements and differences. In contrast, in the present day, the figures have been polarised and are often put against each other, often ignoring the mutual respect and relationship they had.

Summing it up, with the quote from Sardar Patel, about Gandhi.

"Gandhi is a Mahatma, I am not."