Hyderabad, Kashmir & Junagadh: How Sardar Patel Secured India's Unity | XploreIndia Documentary

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel: The Iron Man Who Unified India | The Story Behind the Unification of 565 Princely States

While India celebrated its hard-earned freedom, the country faced an enormous challenge: integrating over 562 princely states, each with its own ruler, army, and aspirations for independence. Thanks to the unwavering determination and strategic brilliance of Sardar Patel, India today stands united under one flag, one nation, and one law.
Sardar Patel, along with his trusted colleague V.P. Menon, achieved the Herculean task of persuading the rulers of princely states to accede to India. Patel's vision for a united India and his strategic foresight helped prevent the Balkanisation of India. Through meticulous diplomacy, legal agreements like the "Instrument of Accession," and calculated military interventions, Sardar Patel ensured that India remained undivided.
When India became independent, hundreds of princely states were given three options by Lord Mountbatten: join India, join Pakistan, or remain independent. The danger of India fracturing into small, independent states loomed large. However, Sardar Patel and V.P. Menon understood the gravity of the situation and took quick, decisive action to bring these states into the fold of India.
Through negotiations, Patel offered the rulers certain privileges, including "privy purses," to secure their cooperation. The Instrument of Accession was a masterstroke that allowed these states to join India while retaining some autonomy over local matters.
Some of the princely states posed significant challenges to India’s unity. The Muslim ruler of Junagadh, despite having an 80% Hindu population, wanted to join Pakistan. Sardar Patel, determined to keep Junagadh within India, supported the people’s right to decide their future through a referendum. As a result, 99% of the people of Junagadh chose to be part of India.

Similarly, the situation in Kashmir was complex and fraught with external threats. With Pakistan-sponsored tribal invaders already advancing into Kashmir, Maharaja Hari Singh of Kashmir signed the Instrument of Accession in exchange for India's military support. Patel ensured that the Indian army was ready to defend Kashmir, which led to the successful expulsion of the invaders.

Hyderabad, the wealthiest of all the princely states, also posed a significant challenge. The Nizam of Hyderabad refused to join India, and his private army, the Razakars, terrorized the Hindu population. Patel responded by launching "Operation Polo" in September 1948, which led to the swift integration of Hyderabad into India.
Sardar Patel firmly believed in the idea of one nation, united in diversity. His famous words, "We are not going to surrender the country to anyone except to the people of India," reflect his determination to maintain the integrity of the nation. He envisioned an India where every citizen, regardless of their background, would come together for the greater good of the country.
Patel's role as India's first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister was critical in shaping the country's internal structure. His tireless efforts to integrate the princely states laid the foundation for modern India. Without his leadership, India’s map could have looked vastly different today.
Today, the towering Statue of Unity in Gujarat stands as a tribute to Sardar Patel’s immense contribution to the nation.
Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to our channel for more historical insights and stories of India’s unsung heroes. Share this video to spread awareness about Sardar Patel's vital role in building the India we know today.

#SardarPatel #IronManOfIndia #UnificationOfIndia #IndianHistory #PrincelyStates #PatelAndVP #StatueOfUnity #Junagadh #Hyderabad #Kashmir #OperationPolo #IndiaThatIsBharat #BardoliSatyagraha #IndianIndependence

Producer - Karamjit Dua
Co-Producers - Devdarshan Chakrabortyy, Alpana Dubey & Vanshri Ratna
Head of Content - Devdarshan Chakrabortyy
Creative Director - Sahil Mehta
Business Head - Alpana Dubey
Senior Advisor - Major General V.D. Chowgule Retd.
Content Advisor Armed Forces - Col. Naresh Bhardwaj Retd.
Story & Research - Tajinder Kaur
Digital Marketing Executive – Sahar Dua
Research Executive - Aviva Tuteja
Legal Teams - Jotwani & Associates
Accounts and Finance Team - Teen Rang Business Management
Director of Photography- Binod Rai
Camera Team - Shishir Anand, Shashi Sharma, Ramesh Gosh, Sanjay Kumar Mandal
Sound Recordist - Lav Pratap Singh
Location – Tikli Bottom, Cellar Door Studios
Camera & Sound Equipment - Ambe Films, New Delhi, India
Makeup & Hair Stylist - Shruti Katyal
Archival Material - National Film Development Corporation of India
Social Media Marketing - Marketing Mojito

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[vijaychowgule]

An apt presentation on the occasion of 75th Anniversary of our Republic Day. When we see the map of India today little do we realise the threat of balkanization that a young nation faced at its birth. It is due to the vision and the iron clad determination of leaders like Sardar Patel that we India that is today.👍👍

[Sanjay_Jadhav]

Sardar Patel played a crucial role during the freedom struggle and also post independence. Very well articulated, researched and presented! Thoroughly enjoyed! Looking forward to see many more….

[whaddoiknow]

Credit should also be given to Yadavindra SIngh, then Maharaja of Patiala. Sardar Patel himself said, ”1 must mention the notable contribution which His Highness, the Maharaja of Patiala, has made to the unity and integrity of India. He took the cause of the country at a time when there were few friends amongst the princely order and when serious attempts were being made to balkanize India. It was his patriotic lead that contributed in a large measure, to a change in the attitude of the princes to the problem of accession to the Indian Dominion.”

[whaddoiknow]

Patel was a great Indian hero. His letter to Nehru warning him that he did not see China as a friend before the 1962 war was ignored, to India's permanent grief.

[majorsudeep]

Interesting pointers Sir. Worth pondering and definetly research worthy

[vpsingh]

Excellent feature. Explained the sequence of events leading to unification with Sardar Patel's efforts with complete clarity. Well penned down script👍👍

[shiwanibahuguna]

Excellent Narration.Very interesting story telling and visuals .

[majorsudeep]

Wow. Thoroughly enjoyed the weaving together of this beautiful story. Exceptional footage and behind the door intrigues

[Murali-lgts]

Well articulated, a real refresher of memory. One shudders to think about the fate of independent India without Sardar Patel. Sardar played a role in the annexation of Travancore too through diplomacy when there was an attempt on the life of CP Ramaswamy Iyer, the Diwan who had convinced the king to be an independent nation. Annexation of Goa would have happened much earlier had Patel lived little longer. May be, he had plans for Ceylon & Maldives too though they were not part of the colony but directly ruled by British. We owe our unity, integrity & sovereignty as a nation to Sardar Patel.

[shakeelazeem]

भारतीय समाज में सब लोग हिंदी भाषा और उर्दू ज़बान को समझते हैं और उसी भाषा को सुनना चाहते हैं

[revatichowgule]

Absolutely enlightening.. to understand and appreciate where India stands today, it is necessary to recognize the efforts towards unification made in the past. Wonderful narration! Happy Republic Day 🫡 💐

[shridhargramopadhye]

Great work done by Shri Patel & thankful to d Team that has compiled & presented in easily understandable Youtube

[vinaypande]

Sardar Patel offered Kashmir to Jinnah not once, but twice in exchange for Hyderabad. Jinnah refused the offer. He wanted both Kashmir and Hyderabad. Please get your history right. Patel was a practical man and realised Kashmir would prove troublesome.

[pramadanmp]

Very well analysed. If not for Sardar Patel, Bharat would have fragmented into different nations. With Subash Chandru Bose, and Sardar Patel at the helm, Bharat would have moved forward above caste and religion. Were they both pushed behind by the British and the elitist of that era.???

[sanjaymishra]

Well researched and good show. Refreshed memory and learnt a few new things.

[chandandas]

Historically, Bharat of today is Fathered by Sardar Patel. There had been kingdoms extending the length and breadth of Asia, but did not acquire the nature of a Nation. Subjugated regions paid taxes to the the Victor that’s it. It never was a Nation as one.
It is only Sardar vallabh Bhai Patel who conceived and made it a Nation.
He is the true Father of This Nation

[HardeepSingh-qmil]

XploreIndia looks and sounds like a platform that brilliantly explores and presents historical facts of India. The compilation and presentation were truly commendable, shedding light on aspects that are often underplayed and obscured. I am particularly impressed by Maj Sudeep's presentation skills, which surpass those of many professional presenters. His ability to convey historical information with clarity and engagement is truly noteworthy.

It's heartening to know that my respected Senior from the OTS days, Maj Gen Vijay D Chowgule, serves as the Senior Advisor for XploreIndia, contributing to the dissemination of valuable historical knowledge. The dedication and expertise reflected in the content are a testament to the channel's commitment to excellence. Many thanks to the team.

[sanjaygupta]

Breathtaking! No other words can describe it!”

[mrjyotilalpatel]

🙏🌺🌸🌺🌸🌅🇮🇳Jai Hind VANDEMATRAM 🙏🌅🇮🇳🌅🇮🇳🌅🇮🇳🌅🇮🇳🌅🇮🇳🌅🙏🌺🌏🌅🇮🇳🙏🚩

[ravindraghooi]

A very educative clip, must see for the younger generation. Most youngsters today are ignorant about the problems faced by the young nation at the dawn of independence. What is taught is either inadequate, or is a highly sanitized version in which all credit goes to a few. The belief that the British left India because of the non violent agitation is economizing the truth. Few are aware of the tremendous effort that was required to get the 560 odd princely states sign the instrument of Accession. Many think think that the charisma of Congress leaders led to all these states sign the dotted line. This video tells us a part of the story, I do hope many such clips will follow. I also urge the makers to prepare a library of such clip for school students, to supplement their history lessons.