Sardar Patel as the Iron Man of India and his Approach to Decision Making and Crisis Management

Abstract

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel is one of the architects of India unity and has contributed not only through the political foresight but also through the crucial leadership during the times of crisis in India. In this chapter, the mode of decision making and crisis management by Patel is discussed in the formative years of India which was formed due to the independence of the country in 1947, through consolidation of princely states and key issues inside the country. It examines how he used diplomacy, toughness, intelligent bargaining and in exceptional instances militancy to help save the integrity and cohesiveness of a disjointed political system. Using the examples of cases, the chapter replicates the balancing of persuasion and pressure, ethical consideration and political necessity, and short urgency and long-term nation-building that Patel did like Junagadh, Hyderabad (Operation Polo), and Junagadh plebiscite. Lessons are learnt about modern human resource management: the process of leader negotiating with the stakeholders, the ability to overcome the conflicting interests, taking decisive initiatives in ambiguous situations, the manner of risk management, and an ability to maintain composure of stress, as well as the efforts of balancing different teams in the presence of the common purpose. In this leadership, Patel is perceived as being directed by a strong sense of responsibility, articulation of goal, and the capacity to overcome all decisively despite the implication of political, administrative, as well as moral sacrifice. The chapter ends with the lessons to the leaders of contemporary organisations.