Sardar Patel: Unifying India’s Princely States

Sardar Patel single-handedly saved India from shattering into hundreds of tiny countries.

When the British left in 1947, they left behind 562 princely states, each free to become

its own nation. It was a recipe for chaos. But Patel, the "Iron Man of

India," had a plan. He used a mix of smart diplomacy and sheer force. He appealed to the

patriotism of the princes, offering them generous deals and royal pensions to join

India. But for those who resisted, like the rulers of Junagadh and

Hyderabad, he didn't hesitate to use military power to ensure they fell in line.

He literally pieced together the map of modern India.