Sardar Patel and Amit Shah, both from Gujarat, redefined India’s unity and security, Patel through integrating 565 princely states post-independence and Shah through abrogating Article 370, enacting CAA and resolving Northeast issues.
By Prem Shukla
(National Spokesperson, BJP)
India’s history has been shaped by towering leaders whose vision and determination ensured the strength and unity of the nation. Among them, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Iron Man of India, and Amitbhai Anilchandra Shah, the present Home Minister, stand out as leaders who transformed the destiny of India. Though separated by decades, both hailed from Gujarat and shared striking similarities in their life journeys, values, and decisive roles in protecting the unity and sovereignty of India.
Early Life and Inspiration
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was born in Gujarat and became a central figure in India’s freedom struggle. From his early years, he showed an extraordinary ability to lead and a deep sense of responsibility towards society. He was elected as the Sanitation Commissioner of Ahmedabad in 1917 and later served as Chairman of the Municipal Committee from 1924 to 1928. During this time, he carried out meaningful reforms to improve civic life, including better water supply, sanitation, and town planning. He also worked tirelessly during calamities such as the plague of 1917 and the famine of 1918, displaying his commitment to public welfare. Patel was deeply influenced by Mahatma Gandhi and accepted him as his leader, dedicating his life to the cause of India’s freedom and unity.
Similarly, Amit Shah’s journey also began with a deep sense of service and commitment at a young age. Belonging to Gujarat, he was inspired by the lives of patriots whose biographies he read during his student years. His public life began when he joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh as a young swayamsevak in 1980 at the age of 16. By 1982, he had risen to become the joint secretary of the Gujarat unit of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad. In 1984, he began working for the Bharatiya Janata Party as a polling agent. From those early days, Shah showed the same grassroots connection and dedication to organization that had once marked Patel’s early career in civic administration.
Building from the Grassroots
Both Patel and Shah were grounded leaders who understood the pulse of the people. Sardar Patel, through his years in municipal administration, transformed the Ahmedabad Municipality from a mere instrument of British control into a people’s body with a will of its own. His grassroots connect made him one of the strongest leaders of the Congress during the freedom struggle.
Amit Shah too, from his early involvement in student and youth movements, built a strong connect with the grassroots. In 1997, he was elected as an MLA from Sarkhej, winning by a margin of 25,000 votes. He continued to win every assembly election till 2012 with margins that kept growing, and when he contested from Naranpura for the fifth time, his victory margin was over 63,000 votes despite a reduced voter base. During his long tenure as an MLA, he worked relentlessly for development in his constituency, not just using MLA funds but also mobilizing resources from multiple sources for public welfare.
Visionary Leadership in National Integration and Security
Sardar Patel’s greatest contribution was the integration of 565 princely states into the Indian Union after independence. Many of these states, including Hyderabad, Junagadh, Travancore, Bhopal, and Kashmir, were reluctant to join India. Patel used a combination of diplomacy, negotiation, and where necessary, firmness to ensure they became part of India. He did not hesitate to use force to annex Junagadh and Hyderabad, whose rulers wanted to remain outside India. His tireless work prevented the balkanization of India and created a united nation. For this monumental achievement, he came to be known as the Iron Man of India.
In the present era, Amit Shah has displayed the same determination and vision as India’s Home Minister. One of his most historic contributions is the abrogation of Article 370, which had long kept Jammu and Kashmir away from complete integration with the rest of India. This bold decision under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ended decades of separatism and terrorism in the valley. Today, Jammu and Kashmir is experiencing grassroots democracy with peaceful Panchayat Elections, Assembly Elections and is reaping the benefits of development like the rest of India. Roads, electricity, health, and education have improved dramatically, and the people of the valley are now connected with the mainstream of the nation.
Empowerment through the Citizenship Amendment Act
Another significant decision taken under Amit Shah’s leadership is the Citizenship Amendment Act. For decades, Hindus and other minorities in countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh had suffered persecution at the hands of radical forces. Their voices were silenced, their dignity crushed, and their hopes for a secure life denied. The Citizenship Amendment Act has given them a new ray of hope and a chance to live with respect and security in the land of their ancestors. This decision reflects Amit Shah’s firm belief that India has a moral responsibility to protect those who have been historically wronged and denied basic rights by radical regimes in neighboring countries.
Resolving Long Pending Issues in Northeast and Fighting Extremism
Sardar Patel in his time focused on preventing the disintegration of India through firm and decisive action. Amit Shah is continuing this legacy in modern India. Under his watch, the Modi government resolved long-standing issues in the Northeast such as the Bru-Reang Pact, the Bodo problem, and the Assam-Meghalaya border dispute. His policy of zero tolerance against left-wing extremism has pushed Naxal violence to the margins, with terrorist activities reduced to sporadic incidents. The internal security of India today is stronger and more prepared than ever before.
Shared Legacy of Gujarat and Shared Vision for India
It is a historic coincidence that both Sardar Patel and Amit Shah hail from Gujarat. Both accepted the leadership of great visionaries from Gujarat as their guiding force, Patel following Mahatma Gandhi and Shah working under the guidance of Narendra Modi. Both leaders started from the grassroots, grew through dedication and hard work, and rose to positions where they could shape the destiny of the entire nation. Their journeys reflect the spirit of Gujarat, which has given India some of its greatest leaders.
Sardar Patel and Amit Shah, though from different eras, share a common vision of a strong, united, and secure India. Patel’s monumental achievement of integrating 565 princely states laid the foundation of a united nation at independence. Amit Shah’s decisive leadership in abrogating Article 370, implementing the Citizenship Amendment Act, and resolving internal security challenges is ensuring that India remains united and strong in the twenty-first century. Both leaders embody courage, pragmatism, and an unyielding commitment to the nation’s unity and security. Their lives and contributions will continue to inspire generations to come as examples of how determined leadership can transform the destiny of a nation.
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