SARDAR PATEL TO TELENGANA

It is said that a proud Indian who answered to the name Sardar Vallabhai Patel told Lord Mountbatten that he had all the 560 apples in his basket even as he handed over a basket of apples to him. The rustic Iron Man of India had picked the gauntlet of coaxing, cajoling, enticing and if it warranted coercing the kingdoms into a union. It was this accomplishment and the simple metaphor used by him that have remained imprinted in my mind from my childhood days. Much later, I had the occasion to read some of the letters penned by him to various rulers and their dewans. The flavour of the book lay in the precise writing of the letters, drawing of attention of the need for co-existence by alluding to a local delicacy. 

Swing from there to the present era, we are on the verge of having one more State. Boundaries are being drawn within boundaries. First it was linguistic sentiment, now it is regionalism within the linguistic flavour and soon other criteria may follow to reach or cross the milestone of 560.

Imagine the consequences. We would have children who would wonder how their parents claim that they knew the names of all the States and their capitals. We may also be baffled to know the names and portfolios of the men in power. Administration would suffer in quality as vision would narrow down to micro issues leaving the national scene far behind. Vision itself may need to be a specialised course imparted in premier institutions. We would have more employment opportunities in the babudom and the netadom.

Well, it could also lead to a situation of requiring passports and visas to travel within our desh mahaan. Or the present Aadhaar may provide us some concession of stamping on entry. 

In an era of consolidation, we should learn from the Russian experience of breaking away or the European experience of integrating on limited counts. The true tribute we could pay this great may on each of his birthdays falling on 31st October, is to start integrating States. Could we start with Telengana and Seemandhra remaining integrated for this year and vowing to realise the dream of the Sardar of a single India.

There may be several questions regarding the need for administration of a growing population, But imagine the kind of facilities the Sardar enjoyed. He travelled in a rickety car which would not race him to any place. The phones he used are of antique value. The manpower he controlled was not sure who was their leader. The citizens he administered were tearing between shifting loyalties. The economic dependence was its pinnacle while the defence was left unspoken about.  The difference was and remains to be the difference is that he defined his work and just did it. Guha does not consider Patel to be a thinker and categorises him as a doer. But with due apologies, yours truly believes, the Sardar remains unmatched in vision and deed. Time did not permit him to go ahead and leave a stronger bond. This is what we should supplement and complement.

Let us hand him a salute he deserves and if we do feel that he does not deserve the salute, let us at least agree that his meritorious work should not be undone.