Shaheed Diwas 2025: How Bapu’s martyrdom resolved the grievances between Nehru and Patel
Shaheed Diwas 2025: Bapu’s martyrdom brought Nehru and Patel, who were drifting apart, closer again. The last thing Mahatma Gandhi was worried about was the differences between Nehru and Patel. Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson Rajmohan Gandhi investigated the incident in his book “Patel: A Life.”.
After Bapu Mahatma Gandhi’s martyrdom on January 30, the socialists led by Jayaprakash Narayan demanded the resignation of Home Minister Sardar Patel. Patel was accused of not making adequate arrangements for Bapu’s security even after the failed attempt to assassinate him ten days earlier, on January 20, 1948. After the news related to the demand for resignation appeared in the newspapers, Patel decided to resign. It was also drafted. But this resignation was not sent to Nehru.
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Bapu’s martyrdom brought Nehru and Patel, drifting apart, closer. The last thing Mahatma Gandhi was worried about was the differences between Nehru and Patel. Just before his death, the discussion between Gandhi and Patel was centred on this. It was decided to sit with Nehru the next day. Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson Rajmohan Gandhi investigated the entire incident in his book “Patel: A Life.”
Gandhi’s security was increased after the first attack
On January 20, a bomb was thrown in an attempt to kill Mahatma Gandhi at Birla House. Fortunately, apart from damaging a wall, this bomb could not cause any major damage. The attacker, Madan Lal Pahwa, was arrested. Patel returned to Delhi from Ahmedabad on January 23. Meanwhile, he had come to know that Madan Lal Pahwa was not alone in trying to kill Mahatma Gandhi. His other companions are absconding.
Patel gave instructions to increase the security of Birla House. Apart from 19 police officers and jawans in uniform, seven policemen in plain dress were deployed. The plain-dress police, armed with revolvers, were instructed to mingle with the crowd so that they could nab the criminal as soon as they sensed a threat.
The deployment of police at every corner of his house had disturbed Ghanshyam Das Birla. Birla had mentioned this to Patel and said that Mahatma Gandhi was also against it. Patel protested by saying that he wanted everyone to be searched before entering Birla House.
On the afternoon of January 23, Patel met Gandhi and asked for permission to search every person who came to meet him or attend the prayer meeting. Gandhi refused. In this meeting, he changed the topic of the conversation by saying that it was important for both Nehru and Patel to remain together in the government. In the coming days, Patel had programs in Agra and Patna. The date for the next meeting between the two was fixed for January 30.
In the last meeting, Gandhi said that it was important for Nehru and Patel to stay together
Mahatma Gandhi’s prayer meeting used to start at 5 pm. On January 30, Patel and Mahatma Gandhi’s meeting started at 4 pm. Bapu reiterated, as he did on January 23, that it was important for Nehru and Patel to stay together in the government. He warned that the consequences of distance between the two would be disastrous for the country. At 4:30, granddaughter Manu placed Bapu’s dinner of milk, fruits and vegetables in front of him. The conversation continued even during the meal.
Meanwhile, Abha reached there to inform him that it was time for the prayer, but both of them did not pay attention to it. Patel’s daughter, Mani Ben, sitting at a little distance, reminded them of the time for the prayer meeting after ten minutes. Both of them got up, deciding that Nehru would also sit with them the next day. Patel left for his home. Gandhi headed towards the lawn for the prayer meeting.
Nehru wept profusely
Only three minutes had passed since Patel left Mahatma Gandhi’s side. As soon as they entered the bungalow at 1 Aurangzeb Road, a car arrived behind them. Gandhi’s aide Braj Krishna was in this car. While sitting in the car, he called Patel and informed him about Mahatma Gandhi being shot and his death. Immediately Patel and Mani Ben returned to Birla House in the same car.
Patel saddened, tried to check Bapu’s pulse by holding his wrist. A doctor sitting next to him informed him that there was nothing now. Patel sat at Gandhi’s feet. Within a few minutes, Jawaharlal Nehru reached there. Sitting on his knees and resting his head on Bapu’s body, he cried like a child. Then he cried while hugging the Sardar. Mahatma Gandhi’s son Devdas kept calling out repeatedly with his mouth in Bapu’s ear, “Bapuji, speak… speak.”
Jayaprakash said Patel should resign
That night, Nehru and Patel, in their address on the radio with choked throats, gave the country shocking and disturbing information about the murder of Bapu Mahatma Gandhi by a Hindu youth. Then Patel did not sleep the whole night. The next day, a sad and tired Patel accompanied Mahatma Gandhi on his funeral truck.
Just before Gandhi’s body was cremated at Rajghat, a sobbing Manu hugged Patel and then wept uncontrollably. Manu felt that Patel had suddenly aged a lot. The Statesman’s report on February 3, which demanded Patel’s resignation, also questioned his ability as home minister, citing his old age.
Socialist leaders demanded Sardar’s resignation and the appointment of a new Home Minister for his failure to protect Bapu Mahatma Gandhi despite having sufficient prior information about the assassination attempts. Jayaprakash Narayan, referring to Sardar’s 74 years of age, said that he was shouldering the burden of a department that was difficult for a 30-year-old youth to handle. In private conversations, Mridula Sarabhai was also repeating similar things.
Patel wrote his resignation
Patel immediately wrote his resignation addressed to Nehru. He reminded me that you had a letter of his resignation even before this. Bapu Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination is an additional reason for my resignation. I do not want to create more trouble for you in this difficult time.
At a time when there is a demand for my resignation from the public that is certainly justified, please help me. Differences between Nehru and Patel were going on even before Gandhi’s assassination. Patel had already sent his resignation to Nehru.
Questions related to this were discussed between the two during their meetings with Mahatma Gandhi on 23 January and 30 January, just before the assassination. On both occasions, Mahatma Gandhi had stopped Sardar from resigning. It was decided that Nehru would also sit together the next day during their meeting on 30 January. But destiny did not provide an opportunity for this.
But then why did Patel not send his resignation?
Jayaprakash Narayan, who demanded Sardar’s resignation after Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination, was close to Nehru and was living with him in those days. Mridula Sarabhai was also close to Nehru. Patel understood that Jayaprakash Narayan was sharing Nehru’s thoughts about him and giving voice to it. Even after this second letter of Patel’s resignation was written, it was not sent to Nehru.
Patel’s personal assistant, Vidya Shankar, tried to convince him that destiny had decided this. The Home Ministry cannot be blamed for this. This letter of resignation will give Sardar’s opponents the freedom to act arbitrarily. The country will be deprived of the joint leadership of Nehru and Sardar, which is badly needed at this time. At this point, both Patel and Vidyashankar were failing to understand Nehru. Nehru’s letter of the same day was saying something else.
Nehru wrote that everything changed with Bapu’s death
On the same day when the news of the demand for Patel’s resignation appeared in the newspapers, on 3 February 1948, Nehru wrote to Patel, “Everything has changed with Bapu’s death. We have to face a changed and more difficult world. I am distressed by the whispers and rumours exaggerating the differences between you and me. We have to stop such mischief. In the 25 years we have been together, we have faced many crises and storms. I am saying with all honesty that during this time my affection and respect for you have constantly increased, and it cannot decrease under any circumstances.”
Nehru further wrote that after Bapu, it is my responsibility as well as yours to face crises and challenges together with full loyalty and honesty, not just superficially but with mutual trust as friends and allies. I had thought of a long conversation with you, but now I do not want to wait for it. This letter is a message of my love and friendship towards you.
Patel said we fought together for freedom and will stay together
Patel’s reply to Nehru on 5 February 1948 was giving news of the return of warmth between the two. But a day before that, on 4 February, in a meeting of the Congress in the Constituent Assembly, Patel, for the first time, addressed and accepted Nehru as “My Leader,” demonstrating his loyalty and solidarity towards his leadership. In his speech on this occasion, Patel said, “I am with the Prime Minister on every question of national interest. We have sat together at the feet of our guru Mahatma Gandhi for 25 years.
We have fought together for freedom. It cannot even be imagined that when the Mahatma is not among us today, we will fight among ourselves.” In his letter dated 5 February, Patel wrote about Nehru’s letter dated 3 February that the love and warmth expressed in it touched his heart. We have been together all our lives for the benefit of the country. My meeting with Bapu just before his death and his thoughts also connect us. I assure you that I will carry out my responsibilities with the same spirit.
