About the Book: Had Patel Been Prime Minister
India repeatedly swears by democracy but we forget how undemocratically we
selected our first Prime Minister. Of the 16 Pradesh Congress Committees across
the country, 15 opted for Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel while one chose Acharya J B
Kripalani. This book asks the pertinent question, what if Sardar Patel had been
Indias first Prime Minister? Would Indias political and development trajectories
be different? It also discusses Patels thoughts on Partition and the East Bengal
problem that finally led to the formation of Bangladesh. His views on
independent Princely states, on China and Communists and his views on planning
and economic