Sardar Patel’s leadership in crisis management and disaster governance
Author(s): Sanjay Kumar Sahoo
Abstract: During the early years of independent India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel served as the "Iron Man of India" while leading crisis management and disaster governance. His leadership resulted in the unification of more than 560 princely states, which prevented political collapse and civil disturbances from occurring. Through his diplomatic skills and forceful methods, Patel achieved national unity by demonstrating persuasion first and then using coercion, when necessary, as shown in the Hyderabad and Junagadh crises. His governance approach to refugee rehabilitation after Partition proved his ability to handle humanitarian crises effectively. Through his advocacy for strong administration, anticipatory decision-making and swift response mechanisms, Patel established the fundamental principles for India's disaster governance policies. His belief in a unified coordinated bureaucracy remains a core principle which guides modern governance systems. This research evaluates Patel's leadership approach by studying his critical crisis responses to determine his strategic approaches and his lasting impact on present-day governance systems in India. The research findings demonstrate that his historical contributions continue to direct current crisis management approaches in India.
Sanjay Kumar Sahoo. Sardar Patel’s leadership in crisis management and disaster governance. Int J Political Sci Governance 2026;8(1):55-61. DOI: 10.33545/26646021.2026.v8.i1a.833
