Sardar did not follow Gandhi blindly, but revered him for his qualities.
It is an open secret that Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel had differences of opinion on a host of issues both during the freedom movement as well as post-Independence. These included non-violence, supporting Britain during World War II in 1939 and Partition.
Despite the parting of minds not ways Sardar followed Gandhi only because of the latter’s commitment and ability to work towards his goal of bringing freedom for India.
“I had read about him (Gandhi). I listened to his speech in fun.
When he was talking, I kept on smoking. However, of late, I realised that he is not a man of words but action…. He wanted to get freedom. He knew his work and that was enough for me,” said Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in 1915 following Gandhi’s visit to Gujarat Club.
Gandhi and Patel balanced their differences with consensus, too.
After Gandhi’s death, Patel’s speech at Benaras Hindu University on November 25, 1948, clearly showed that the relationship between the two was emotional and complex.
“I claim to be nothing more than an obedient soldier of him like the millions who obeyed his call. There was a time when every one used to call me his blind follower. But, both he and I knew that I followed him because our convictions tallied,” said the Sardar in his speech.
Patel wanted to give up his responsibility after differences with Jawaharlal Nehru surfaced and he also wrote to Gandhi about the same. But, his strong bond of love for Gandhi and his unwavering loyalty to him did not allow Patel to leave either the side of Gandhi or Nehru. Manilal Patel, editor of fortnightly magazine Gram Garjana, said if the Sardar had wished, he could have become Prime Minister. But, only because of his reverence for Gandhi, he did not even show whether he was not happy with the selection of Jawaharlal Nehru as India’s first Prime Minister.
Rizwan Kadri, a historian, believes that Patel was a follower of Gandhi who dared to express his views and his differences of opinion on certain issues. “However, he expressed his opinion with respect. Despite the differences, Gandhiji’s words were final for Sardar,” said Kadri. Patel said Gandhi, Sardar and Nehru were not separate. They complemented one another.
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