Why Sardar Patel is the iron man of India?

                          Sardar Vallabhai Patel was the first Home Minister of India. He is better known  as 'The Iron man'. Let us now see why he is known as 'The Iron man'.

The scenario in 1946-47:

                        There were 565 princely states in India. Some of the Maharajas and Nawabs were patriotic. They have agreed to join the Indian union. But most of them had interest to become independent rulers. Some of them went to the extent of planning to send their representatives to the United Nations Organization. Patel asked all of them to join in the freedom of their nation and act as responsible rulers who cared about the future of their people. He made them understand the impossibility of independence from the Indian republic, especially in the presence of growing opposition from their subjects. He made them join the Indian Union. Nizam of Hyderabad and the Nawab of Junagarh initially did not want to join India. Hyderabad nizam prefered to be with Pakistan. Sardar Patel's military operations and untiring efforts towards the unity of the country brought the success.

Interesting thing about Lakshadweep:

                          The people of Lakshadweep islands are isolated from the mainstream of the country and they have learnt about Indian independence after many days. The majority of population in Lakshadweep was muslim and Patel realised that Pakistan could lay claim to these islands on the grounds of Muslim majority.
                         

                          The islands were very far away from Pakistan. So, Patel has sent an Indian Navy ship to Lakshadweep Islands to hoist the national flag. A similar ship was sent by Pakistan from Karachi.After India hoisting its flag, vessels belonging to the Pakistan Navy were spotted near the islands.These vessels however went back to Karachi after seeing the Indian flag flying over the Lakshadweep. Else, the regions of Hyderabad, Lakshadweep would have been a disputed territory.

                           Gandhiji believed that, this aggressive attitude of  Patel is not suited for a PM post and hence, he was made Home minister and deputy to the PM. Many believe that, the Kashmir problem and the China war would never have arised if he was in the place of Nehru.

                           Patel united a scattered nation. Due to the achievement of this massive task, Sardar Patel got the title of 'Iron Man'. After almost four decades, his services to the nation were recognized and Sardar Patel was conferred with Bharat Ratna in 1991. While, Indira gandhi, being the then incumbent prime minister, took a Bharata Ratna for herself in 1971.

National Emergency - Why it was imposed in 1975?

                       Indira Gandhi imposed emergency in 1975. In case of emergency, all the fundamental rights of citizens, freedom of press, media and opposition will be suspended. President, as the supreme commander, will discharge his duties in consultation with the Prime Minister.

What made Indira to impose emergency?

                        Indira's government had to face general elections in 1971 after the war against Pakistan for the liberation of Bangladesh. There was a great opposition against this war and many did not like the idea of war. Moreover, as a result of this war, we were in financial crisis.

                         In spite of all these, Indira and her government won the general elections with huge majority. Many alleged that Indira misused the state machinery for election purposes. Some even alleged that, she used a rare type of Russian ink on the ballot papers. This ink has a chemical property of being invisible till the time it is exposed to open air and light. So, these ballot papers when opened for counting had a vote being cast to the desired candidate. All such allegations were raised by the opposition in those days.

                          Raj Narain, who was defeated in election by Indira Gandhi, lodged cases against her in the Allahabad High Court. On 12 June 1975, Allahabad High Court found the Prime Minister guilty on the charge of misuse of government machinery for her election campaign. The court declared her election is not valid and also banned her from contesting any election for an additional six years. Some serious charges such as bribing voters and election malpractices were withdrawn and she was held responsible for

• Misusing the government machinery, 

• Using the state police to build a dais, 

• Availing the services of a government officer and 

• Use of electricity from the state electricity department. 

                         So, strikes swept across the country.And her close associates suggested that it would be better to impose emergency in order to control the situation.Many great leaders (now in BJP) were arrested, no permissions were given for dharnas, hartals etc. This emergency went on till 1977 when she faced defeat and opposition party for the first time rose to power.

                         But, as there is no proper unity in the opposition  it remained in power for just 2 years when again, she became the PM of India until her assassination.

                         Keeping all these things aside, one should admire the boldness of Indira Gandhi. If anyone else were in that place, we could have never seen them again in active politics. Opposition which was successful in rising to power was never successful in retaining that due to lack of proper leadership.

                         She moved from infinity to zero, then to minus infinity and again rose to plus infinity in no time.Even today, every congress leader names new policies on her name. She is/was a leader....