No right-minded person would deny Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel his place in history as the strongman who merged 550 princely states into free India.
Where we take exception is to the memory of Patel being hyped as an official national function, thus forcing people into choosing between one national icon and another.
October 31 was always celebrated as Patel’s birthday, but quietly in the Central Hall of Parliament with Presidents and Prime Ministers attending.
October 31 is also the death anniversary — the 30th this time — of Indira Gandhi, who fell to bullets fired against national unity.
This solemn memorial function was always held by the Congress party, but with Presidents and PMs in attendance, regardless of who was in government.
For Prime Minister Narendra Modi to throw his weight behind Patel — who was from the Indian National Congress — at the cost of snubbing the memory of Indira Gandhi’s contribution is to invite odious comparisons between two national icons.
To play politics with iconography in a land that marks the birth and death anniversaries of all its leaders is to play a divisive game.
It was astute of President Pranab Mukherjee, who owed his rise in politics to Indira Gandhi, to attend both functions so as to be seen as a bipartisan head of state.
Political landscapes change. Those at the top would do well to remember that they should not be the ones seen to be dividing this land of myriad languages and political persuasions.
The true Indian would treasure the contributions of all national giants without bringing in politics.
