Nehru-Patel: Agreement Within Differences (Select Documents and Correspondences, 1933-1950)

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This collection brings together, for the first time, correspondence between Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Set against the tumultuous backdrop of India's freedom struggle, these conversations engaged with some of the most challenging debates of the day. What is striking about these exchanges is the candour and high intellectual acumen with which they addressed many of these issues. Disagreements were aplenty, but they also display a willingness to set these aside for the common pursuit of national goals. A collection that inspires as much as it informs.

Neerja Singh teaches history at Satyawati College (Evening), University of Delhi. She did her Ph.D. on 'The Right and the Right Wing Politics in Congress: 1934- 1949', from the Centre for Historical Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Among her other writings include Gandhi-Patel: Letters and Speeches, Differences within Consensus.

The volume intends to make available to the reader an insight into the deep emotional and complex relationship between Nehru and Sardar Patel, as it comes out through their correspondences.

Care has been taken in the presentation and analysis of the documents so that the volume does not become a heavy reading with notes and references. The attempt is also significant as it brings history closer to the reader, making it free from the domain of archives and libraries. The endeavour of the volume is to dispel misconcepts about leaders, events and movements in the 'popular' minds.

I am thankful to Prof. Bipan Chandra for encouraging me to take up this assignment. Without his help and guidance the volume would not have been possible the way it is. My thanks are also due to Sardar Patel Memorial Society, Ahmedabad and Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, New Delhi.

I am also thankful to Shri Binny Kurian for his valuable editorial assistance and to the staff of NMML and NBT.

A study of Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Patel's letters and correspondences offers us an important insight into the aspects of consensus and differences in their views on policies and practices during the freedom struggle and after. It refers to the formative years of nation-building in India. Despite their individual differences on the policies they pursued, we find a noticeable thread of unity in their overall perspective. Their outlook on history and tactics on the craft of nation-building might differ; they might differ on procedure and the method of implementation of policies, but in the normative domain we find them on the same side of history.

In a note to Gandhiji, dated 6 January, 1948, Nehru reflected upon his relationship with Patel. "It is true that there are not only temperamental differences between Sardar and me but also are difference in approach in regard to economic and communal matters. These differences have persisted for a large number of years, ever since we worked together in the Congress. Nevertheless, in spite of these differences, there was obviously a very great deal in common in addition to mutual respect and affection and, broadly speaking, the same national political aim of freedom. Because of this we functioned together during all these years and did our utmost to adapt ourselves to each other. If the Congress came to a decision, we accepted it, though there might have been a difference in implementing it."