Sardar Patel Tatha Bhartiya Musalman

Indias first Home Minister, the Iron Man, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, faced accusations of anti-Muslim sentiments during the final years of his life, and even more so after his death. In this book, Dr. Rafiq Zakaria, a renowned intellectual, has investigated this allegation without any bias or prejudice, delving into its depths. Drawing on Sardar Patels numerous statements, various events from his political career, and various documents, the learned author has revealed his thinking and behavior. In this investigation, he has found that while witnessing the plight of Hindu refugees during the Partition may have fostered some pro-Hindu tendencies in Patel, there is no evidence to suggest that he harbored any inclination to oppose Indian Muslims. As an early colleague of Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel set a shining example of Hindu-Muslim unity in Gujarat, a strong desire to maintain it to the end. His strong opposition to Mohammad Ali Jinnah and the Muslim League, rather than expressing any anti-Muslim bias, reflects his frustration that despite his best efforts, he was unable to preserve Indias communal unity. Dr. Zakaria also points out this weakness of this Indian nation-builder, who was almost devoid of diplomatic behavior and had a habit of speaking the truth: his inability to clearly articulate his opposition to the Muslim League often left him vulnerable to misunderstanding. This book will largely dispel many of the misconceptions about Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.