Overview

The political landscape of India has undergone significant transformation in the twenty-first century. With the rise of the Bharatiya Janata Party as a strong nationalist force, historical figures such as Sardar Patel, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, and Deendayal Upadhyaya have been projected as key heroes of the freedom struggle alongside others. This has led to a redefinition and reprioritization of the leadership profile of the Indian independence movement. This book tries to understand Sardar Patel not from the traditional approach of viewing him just as an integrator of princely states or Iron Man but investigate the different dimensions of Patel’s thinking towards India. It discusses his ideas on secularism and minorities, status of women, ideas on cleanliness and environment, scheduled castes, Indian administration, farmers and agricultural rights and land reforms, India’s foreign policy and relations with its neighbours especially China and the greater world powers. First of its kind, this book will be of interest to scholars and researchers of Indian politics, Indian history, Nationalist movement, political sociology, and South Asian history.

Full Product Details

Author:   Harish K. Thakur
Publisher:   Taylor & Francis Ltd
Imprint:   Routledge India
Weight:   0.570kg
ISBN:  

9781032309064

ISBN 10:   1032309067
Pages:   204
Publication Date:   27 June 2025
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Tertiary & Higher Education
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
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Table of Contents

Part I 1. Introduction Part II Sardar Patel: Service, Secularism and Security 2. Service as a Response to Risk and Uncertainty: Patel and the Role of the Public Service Officer 3. Sardar Patel, Secularism and the Question of Minorities in India 4. Internal Security of India: The Sardar Patel’s Perspective 5. Tibet and India-China Border Dispute: Some Reflections on Sardar Vallbhbhai Patel’s Perspective 6. Sardar Patel on India’s Foreign Policy Part III Integrating India 7. The Essential Patel: Scanning his Ideas and Practices 8. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s Contribution towards Modern India 9. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel: The Symbol of National Unity and Integrity 10. Sardar Patel and the Making of India 11. Sardar Patel: The Princes, the Purses and the Consolidation of India 12. Patel’s Pragmatism about Jammu and Kashmir Part IV: Patel, Nehru and Ambedkar 13. Patel and Nehru: The Divergence and Convergence 14. Sardar Patel, B.R. Ambedkar and the Making of Indian Constitution Part V: The Cinematic Representation 15. Ketan Mehta’s Sardar: A Perspectival Approach to History

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Author Information

Harish K. Thakur is the former Chairperson of the Departments of Political Science and Defence & Strategic Studies at Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla. He has also served as Director of the Centre for Canadian Studies. A poet, critic, and essayist, Prof. Thakur has been a frequent contributor to national and international dailies and newsletters such as The Hindu, The Hindustan Times, Indian Express, The New Indian Express, The Quint, Live Mint, Eurasian Review, and Modern Diplomacy. He specializes in Foreign Policy, State Politics, Gandhian Studies, and Tribal Studies. Author of over fifteen books, Prof. Thakur is also Editor of Himachal Pradesh University Journal: Humanities & Social Sciences and has also successfully completed four major research projects with the ICSSR, New Delhi.

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