The History of India would have been differently written had Sardar Patel not been the Deputy Prime Minister when India became independent in 1947. Sardar Patel consolidated the country into one united whole in a unique manner.
A man of iron will and absolute fearlessness, Sardar Patel set about the task as Home Minister without fear or favor. He was one of those few men who knew what he wanted and knew also how to get it. A man with a superb knowledge of human nature — its strength and its weaknesses and an uncanny perception for sizing up human beings — Sardar Patel tackled the question of 550 and odd States and principalities in a masterly strategic manner which left even his wildest critics in complete amazement. Almost within a year, he redrew the map of India with every princely State joining the Indian Union and thus forming part of the political stream of life that was endowed with unity as it was already endowed with a cultural unity and harmony.
Even if Sardar Patel had not done anything else, his name would have been written in golden letters in Indian history for the future generations to take inspiration from.
This is part 1 of the series “Quotes of Sardar Patel”, We will publish more quotes on the various topic by Ironman of India Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Quotes of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on ‘UNITY’
- The negligence of a few could easily send a ship to the bottom, but it required the whole-hearted co-operation of all on board; the ship could be safely brought to port.
- We have to shed mutual bickerings, shed the difference of being high or low and develop the sense of equality and banish untouchability. We have to restore the conditions of Swaraj prevalent prior to British rule. We have to live like the children of the same father.
- Happiness and misery are paper balls. Don’t be afraid of death. Join the nationalist forces, be united. Give work to those who are hungry, food to invalids, forget your quarrels.
- There are some young men who believe that in this country there should be Hindu Raj and that Hindu culture alone has a place in India. Gandhiji was fighting against that mad idea. . . he said our salvation depended on unity.
- It is true that we removed the foreign rule but after removing it we quarrelled and cut the throats of each other. Before the World, we have presented a spectacle which is the very antithesis of our culture and diametrically opposed to the teachings of Gandhiji.
- In a domestic Government unity and co-operation are essential requisites.
- Today we must remove distinctions of high and low, rich and poor, caste or creed.
- No distinctions of caste and creed should hamper us. All are the sons and daughters of India. We should all love our country and build our destiny on mutual love and help.
- There is nothing to be gained from the loyalty of a cowardly and cringing public. . . The brave man, who has inspired this fight, however, is capable of converting the cowardly into the bravest of persons.
- Let us firmly demand our rights. Stop being afraid of the tehsildar and demand your rights with courage.
- Our fight is for truth and that is what Satyagraha means. It is a fight between the people and the blind Government. The Government has decided to forcibly realise land revenue. . . the people would accept all the troubles, but would not pay land revenue.
- Just as rest is absolutely essential to recoup the lost energy due to hard labour, similarly in order to infuse liveliness in people, rest is that much essential.
- Idleness is the greatest enemy of man.
- A person has to anyhow fill his belly and for that, he is prepared to do anything. This is how bonded labour originates. If we try to provide subsistence to everybody then automatically bonded labour will be abolished.
- Only the person who shoulders the responsibility of protecting and maintaining his wife and family has the right to marry. One who cannot do that should not marry.
- The bird which is habituated to live in a cage, if it is made free by the person who maintains it, then it gets scared, and again returns to the cage. Similarly, if the farm-owners free the labourers, they will return to their masters because they have no hatred towards slavery
- I wish the farmers should be free from debt, but I wish more than a farmer should be a farmer, he should be a man, not living like an animal. Farmers have an unbearable burden of debt of moneylenders on their heads.
- The duty of the princess is to see that there are cordial relations between the farmers and moneylenders. Where farmers are not happy the State is also not happy.
- Many of you ask me to get them free from bondage. I tell them that nobody has chained them. If there are any chains, those are the chains of weakness.
- The mightiest tyrant must bend if people are determined to put up with suffering.
- Discipline and organisation mean half the battle won.
- When thieves enter the house then we do not discriminate on armed and unarmed thieves, allow unarmed thieves to enter the house and not allow armed thieves to enter.
- This reign of Government (British) is merely illusory. The Government merely makes paper tigers dance and cause fear in you. You shed your fear and once be bold. You will see that the Government will seek your advice. . .
- Your goodness is an impediment in your way, so let your eyes be red with anger, and try to fight the injustice, with a firm hand.
- Don’t forget that a struggle which involves such big risks has big results in its womb.
- If you think that when even a dummy ruler can bring you mountains of difficulties and you shall be powerless in the face of such a powerful ruler then it would be better if you drop this idea of struggle at all.
- The whole state is dependent upon the farmer. The complete working of the Government is dependent upon the farmer.
- I congratulate the village for fighting bravely. I warn the revenue officer that if they do not stop terrorising the people, the latter shall have to force them to perform their duty to the people.
