Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's 70th death anniversary today: His role in uniting India and political legacy, see pics

Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel is most popularly known as a founding father of the Republic of India. He played a significant role in integrating the independent provinces into a unified India just after the partition. Sardar Patel ensured, by his calculated methods, the absorption of a multitude of princely states into the Indian Union. Without a civil war, he secured the solidarity of the nation.

Sardar Patel oversaw the incorporation of more than 565 princely states into the Indian union, thereby blocking splitting of a country into miniature nations. He is known as  'Iron Man of India'.

Sardar Patel took charge of the states department in July 1947. He sensed the urgent and imperative need of the integration of princely states. He followed an iron handed policy. He made it clear that he did not recognize the right of any state to remain independent and in isolation, within India.

Sardar Patel also appealed to the patriotic and national sentiments of the Princes and invited them to join the forming of a democratic constitution in the national interest. He persuaded them to surrender defence, foreign affairs and communication to the government of India.

Sardar Patel by his tactics, broke the union of separatist princes. By August 15, 1947 all except Hyderabad, Junagarh and Kashmir acceded to India. He thereafter carried three fold process of assimilation, centralization and unification of states. The states were amalgamated to form a union and that union was merged with the Union of India.

Sardar Patel handled the Junagarh and Hyderabad crisis as a seasoned statesman. Nawab of Junagarh wanted to accede to Pakistan. When the people revolted, Patel intervened. Indian Government took over the administration. Patel merged it with India by holding a plebiscite. Sardar Patel with an iron fisted hand subdued the Nizam, he ordered the army to March into Hyderabad. The Nizam surrendered and Hyderabad was acceded to India.