Steel and Soul: Patel’s Vision of Nationhood Beyond the West
Author(s): Rachna Yadav & Shalini Yadav
Abstract: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, a key architect of modern India, played a decisive role in shaping the nation’s political unity and ideological foundations, which also underscores his unique perception of the concept of ‘Nation’. It’s in this context that this paper seeks to discuss Patel’s idea of the nation, which stands in contrast to Western notions, which often define the nation in terms of legal-rational authority, individual rights, and state-centred sovereignty. Rather than viewing the nation as a contractual or purely political entity, Patel drew upon indigenous concepts such as Dharma (moral order), Swaraj (self-rule) and Samaj (community). For him, India was not a new creation but a historical and civilizational entity rooted in shared cultural practices, ethical values, and collective memory. His most significant contribution—the integration of over 560 princely states—was a monumental achievement that required strategic diplomacy and an unwavering sense of national duty, and this showed Patel’s vision of emphasizing on integration without erasing diversity, promoting a form of unity based on mutual respect and social cohesion. His nation-building efforts combined administrative realism with cultural sensitivity, making him a symbol of both strength and inclusivity in the Indian political imagination. This study uses a theoretical-exploratory method to identify alternative conceptions of nationhood beyond dominant Western paradigms. It also presents Patel’s positioning within the broader discourse on global political thought and the evolving idea of the nation from an Indian perspective in contemporary times.
Keywords: Patel, Nation, Indigenous Tradition, Global Order
DOI: doi.org/10.65719/RC.3.2.2025.052
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