Tribute to a great unifier: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel can justly be regarded as the maker of modern India, writes PM Modi on day of Statue of Unity's inauguration

following is a blog post written by Prime Minister Narendra Modi:

first half of 1947 was a critical period in India’s history. end of colonial rule was certain and so was India’s Partition, but what was uncertain was wher re would be more than one division. Prices were rising, food shorts were common but over and above everything else, unity of India was under severe strain.

It was in se circumstances that States Department came into being in June 1947. Among chief aims of this department was to give impetus and top priority to negotiations vis-à-vis India’s relationship with over 550 princely states, which were as diverse as y could get, be it in size, population, terrain or ecomic situation. wonder Mahatma Gandhi remarked, “ problem of states is so difficult that YOU alone can solve it.”

In vint Sardar Patel style, he went about his work with precision, firmness and ministrative efficiency. Time was less and task was herculean … but this was ordinary person, it was Sardar Patel, who was determined t to let his nation down. One by one, he and his team negotiated with princely states and ensured that y all became a part of free India.

It was due to round--clock effort of Sardar Patel that map of India is what it is today!

Once freedom was won, VP Men, it is said, wanted to retire from government service, only to be told by Sardar Patel that this was neir time to rest r time to retire. Such was Sardar Patel’s firm resolve. VP Men was me Secretary of States Department. In his book ‘ Story of Integration of Indian States’, he writes about how Sardar Patel led from front and inspired entire team to work assiduously. He also writes that Sardar Patel was clear – first and foremost came interests of people of India, re would be compromise on that.

On August 15, 1947, we celebrated dawn of a new destiny but work of nation building was far from complete. As independent India’s first home minister, he set st for an ministrative framework that continues to serve nation be it in matters of day to day governance or protecting interests of people, particularly poor and marginalised.

Sardar Patel was a veteran ministrator. His own experience in governance, particularly in 1920s when he served Ahmedab municipality, was extremely handy when he worked towards strengning independent India’s ministrative framework. While in Ahmedab, he did commendable work in furring cleanliness in city. He ensured clean and functioning drain systems across city. He also focussed on or aspects of urban infrastructure such as ros, electricity and education.

Today, if India is kwn for a vibrant cooperative sector, a large part of credit goes to Sardar Patel. roots of Amul can be traced back to his vision for empowering local communities, particularly women. It was Sardar Patel who also popularised idea of cooperative housing societies, thus ensuring dignity and shelter for many.

Two traits synymous with Sardar Patel are trust and integrity. farmers of India h unparalleled faith in him. After all, he was a kisan putra, who led from front during Bardoli satyagraha. working class saw him as a ray of hope, a leer who would speak up for m. Trers and industrialists preferred to work with Sardar Patel because y felt here was a stalwart who h a vision for India’s ecomic and industrial growth.

His political peers too trusted him. Acharya Kripalani remarked that whenever y faced an issue and if Bapu’s guidance was t available, y would turn to Sardar Patel. When political negotiations were at ir peak in 1947, Sarojini Naidu called him “ man of decision and man of action”. Everyone trusted him, his words and his actions. Sardar Patel continues to be respected across caste, creed, faith, !

This year’s Sardar Jayanti is even more special. With blessings of 130 crore Indians, Statue of Unity is being inaugurated today. Situated on banks of Narma, ‘Statue of Unity’ is tallest in world. ‘Dharti Putra’ Sardar Patel will stand tall in skies, to guide us and inspire us.

I congratulate all those who have worked day and night to ensure that this grand statue in tribute of Sardar Patel becomes a reality. My mind goes back to October 31, 2013, when we laid foundation stone for this ambitious project. In record time, a project of such scale has become rey and this should make every Indian proud. I urge you all to visit Statue of Unity in times to come.

Statue of Unity is a symbol of both unity of hearts and geographical integrity of our morland. It is a reminder that divided, we may t be even able to face ourselves. United, we can face world and scale new heights of growth and glory.

Sardar Patel worked with astonishing speed to dismantle history of imperialism and create geography of unity with spirit of nationalism. He saved India from Balkanisation and integrated even weakest of limbs into national framework. Today, we, 130 crore Indians, are working shoulder to shoulder to build a New India that is strong, prosperous and inclusive. Every decision is being taken to ensure that fruits of development reach most vulnerable, without any corruption or favouritism, just as Sardar Patel would have wanted it.