Tribute to Sardar Patel

Author(s): Friends of Sardar Patel Awrd Association UCLA
Publisher: USA Friends of Sardar Patel Awrd Association UCLA

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On October 9, 1947, Sardar went with Manibehn to Pataudi, in the district of Gurgaon, because the Nawab of Bhopal, whose daughter Sajida was married to the Nawab of Pataudi, was anxious about the couple's safety. After embracing the ruler of Pataudi, Sardar asked him whether he wished to come to Delhi. The Nawab said that his place was with his people. His Begum said that her place was with her husband. Thereupon Sardar sent for the leading Hindus from the neighboring villages and "pledged them to the security and safety of the family and the Muslims there." Returning to Delhi, he wired Nawab Hamidullah in Bhopal: "Situation well in hand. You need have not anxiety."
On October 11, 1947, Sardar Patel took an ill and coughing Gandhi to a meeting organized by Delhi's Gujaratis, who wanted to donate money for the Mahatma's Harijan fund. Asked to speak at the meeting, Sardar protested: "He is to receive the purse and I am to do the speaking - that is most unfair." "See," he went on, "how quickly the old man has recovered to relieve you of your money." "The Sardar will not miss a laugh even at the foot of the gallows," Gandhi exclaimed.
On Sardar Patel asking Mahadev Desai, Gandhiji's companion and secretary, to send a cake of soap and his shaving things, the jail superintendent butted in: "No razor allowed, but we shall allow all facilities for a shave.
"I know what kind of a shave you will give me," retorted Patel. The jailor, who was the superintendent's subor dinate, courageously proposed a compromise. "In this case, sir," he said, addressing his superior, "a razor might be allowed, provided he does not keep it in his possession. We shall give it to him when he wants it." "But why not give me a razor and allow me to shave the others?" said Sardar.?? I will then have work to my credit." As Mahadev put it, "even the little parts of that inhuman machinery called the jail department could not help creaking with laughter." Recovering his dignity, the jailor pointed out to Sardar, "You may have your soap but it should not be scented soap.
Patel declined to say anything before a court to which he was brought but the loquacious Malaviya began “a discourse and disquisition." A tired Sardar interrupted him, saying "Kya bhains ke paas Bhaagavat padhte hain?" - "Does one read the Bhagavat to a buffalo?" "What was that?" the European judge asked. I was telling him," Sardar Patel said with a straight face, "that the lathi charge had been ordered by the Home Member who was watching the procession from the VT terrace."
Sardar Patel to Gandhiji: "In today's Bombay Chronicle it is stated that the Government has decided not to release prisoners until 1935, and that Gandhiji would be kept in jail for at least 3 years. Gandhiji: "Look was I not saying that I would be in jail for five years?" Sardar: "You are behaving like the thick-skinned person who was told that a babul tree was growing on his back!!! He replied, 'Excellent, it will now give me shade."
"Sardar Vallabhbhai is with me. His jokes make me laugh until I can laugh no more, not once but several times a day." So wrote the Mahatma to Srinivasa Sastri, after the latter had inquired whether solitude did not lead to depression.
One morning, over breakfast, Shantilal Shah told Sardar Patel about a caller who was threatening to go home and kill himself if denied a ticket to run in an election race. Handing Shah a knife, the Sardar said: "Tell him he doesn't need to go home. He can kill himself with this here." Later in the day Sardar said to Shah, ""No one wanting to take his life asks for permission."
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