Sardar Patel's efforts have shaped the map of India as it is today.

The first half of 1947 was a critical period in the history of India. The end of colonial rule was certain, as was the partition of India, but it was uncertain whether there would be more of a division. Prices were rising, food shortages were common but, above all, the unity of India was under severe strain.

The statue of unity is a symbol of both the unity of hearts and the geographical integrity of our motherland

It was in these circumstances that the State Department was established in June 1947. One of the main objectives of this department was to give impetus and priority to negotiations with respect to India's relations with the United States. the more than 550 princely states, as diverse as they might be, be it in size, population, land or economic status. No wonder Mahatma Gandhi remarked, "The problem of states is so difficult that only you can solve it."

In the manner of Sardar Patel, he carried out his duties with precision, firmness and administrative efficiency. The weather was shorter and the task was Herculean. But it was not an ordinary person, it was Sardar Patel, who was determined not to let down his nation. One by one, he and his team negotiated with the princely states and ensured that they were all part and parcel of free India.

It is thanks to the efforts of Sardar Patel that the map of India is what it is today!

Once the freedom gained, Vice-President Menon would have wanted to withdraw from the government, but Sardar Patel would have told him that it was neither the moment to rest nor that of retiring. Such was the firm resolution of Sardar Patel. VP Menon has been appointed Secretary of the State Department. In his book "The History of the Integration of Indian States", he describes how Sardar Patel led the front and instigated the whole team to work diligently. He also wrote that Sardar Patel was clear: Above all, there was the interests of the Indian people, there would be no compromise on it.

On August 15, 1947, we celebrated the beginning of a new destiny, but the edification of the nation was far from complete. As Prime Minister of the Independent Interior, he paved the way for an administrative framework that continues to serve the nation, whether in day-to-day governance or protecting the interests of the people, especially the poor and the marginalized.

Sardar Patel was a veteran administrator. His own experience in governance, particularly in the 1920s, when he served the municipality of Ahmedabad, proved extremely useful when he strove to strengthen the administrative framework of independent India. In Ahmedabad, he did a commendable job promoting cleanliness in the city. He ensured clean and functional drainage systems throughout the city. It is also focused on other aspects of urban infrastructure such as roads, electricity and education.

Today, if India is known for its vibrant cooperative sector, much of the credit goes to Sardar Patel. Amul's roots go back to her vision of empowering local communities, especially women. It was Sardar Patel who also popularized the idea of ​​cooperative housing companies, thereby guaranteeing dignity and housing to many.

Sardar Patel is synonymous with trust and integrity. Indian farmers had an unsurpassed confidence in him. After all, he was a Kisan putra leading at the Bardoli satyagraha. The working class saw it as a ray of hope, a leader who spoke in their place. The traders and the industrialists preferred to work with Sardar Patel because they considered that it was a strong man who had a vision of the economic and industrial growth of India.

His political peers also trusted him. Acharya Kripalani pointed out that whenever they encountered a problem and that Bapu's advice was not available, they turned to Sardar Patel. When political negotiations reached their peak in 1947, Sarojini Naidu called it "the man of decision and action". Everyone trusted him, his words and his actions. Sardar Patel continues to be respected by castes, beliefs, faith and age!

The Sardar Jayanti of this year is even more special. With the blessings of 130 Crore Indians, the Statue of Unity is being inaugurated. Located on the banks of the Narmada, the Statue of Unity is the tallest in the world. Dharti Putra Sardar Patel will stand in heaven to guide and inspire us.

I congratulate all those who worked day and night to make this large statue in tribute to Sardar Patel a reality. My spirit goes back to October 31, 2013, when we laid the foundation stone for this ambitious project. In record time, a project of such magnitude is ready and this should make every Indian proud. I urge you all to visit the Statue of Unity in the times to come.

The statue of unity is a symbol of both the unity of hearts and the geographical integrity of our motherland. It's a reminder that divided, we can not even be able to cope with ourselves. United, we can face the world and reach new heights of growth and glory.

Sardar Patel worked with astonishing speed to dismantle the history of imperialism and create the geography of unity with the spirit of nationalism.

He saved India from balkanization and integrated the weaker members into the national framework. Today, we, the $ 1.3 billion, are working together to build a strong, prosperous and inclusive new India. All decisions are made so that the fruits of development reach the most vulnerable, without corruption or favoritism, as Sardar Patel would have liked.

Narendra Modi is the prime minister of India

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