The Research paper titled “From Fragmentation to Federation: Sardar Patel’s Legacy in Nation-Building” explains the important work done by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in consolidating post-Independent India into a unified federal republic. In the immediate events after the partition, the newly independent India faced unavoidable challenges to which Patel emerged as a key guiding personality who attempted to make India a unified nation-state. The paper examines the immediate situation after the independence of India and the challenges faced by the country. The paper also discusses the attempts made by different Indian political leaders, especially Sardar Patel, in the unification and integration of princely states. Apart from this, the paper also deals with the vision and efforts made by Sardar Patel in having a strong centralised administration paired with democratic federalism. His political philosophy, the formation of the All-India Services and the need for having a strong neutral institution have also been discussed in the paper.
Patel’s support for territorial distribution along linguistic and administrative lines and his pragmatic governance approach have also been reflected in the paper. This paper also highlights his pragmatic approach to building Social Cohesion, belief in the spirit of secularism and promoting communal harmony.
Ultimately, this paper argues that the strong and committed impact of Patel’s leadership is reflected in modern India through initiatives like Rastriya Ekta Diwas and the Statue of Unity. His broad vision and strategic thinking continue to influence contemporary political issues.
International Journal of Political Science and Governance
