Prior to independence the main points of the then envisaged Indian constitution had been constantly discussed by the main leaders of Indian freedom movement, among whom a few were barristers and solicitors trained in Britain.
'Vir'(indomitably courageous) Vitthalbhai Z. Patel was one of them who had travelled widely outside the country, and was the representative of Bombay Legislative Council, the Imperial Legislative Council, the Viceregal Legislative Council, the Mayor of the city of Bombay (Mumbai), and thereafter the President of the Central Legislative Assembly in Delhi (the present Constituent Assembly of India) where he created history by setting out healthy traditions maturing democratic institutions for the prosperity of the united and integrated nation; and he was surely deemed to be the first PM of India,but unfortunately he died in1933.
Though later in 1947 during Independence his younger brother Saradar (a leader) Vallabhbhai Patel, who was also called 'the iron man), was voted to be the first PM of India, but Mahatma Gandhi persuaded him to give up the right and to allow Mr Nehru to be PM of India to which Saradar Patel generously agreed.
Instead, he became the Deputy PM and Home Minister; and with V P Menon he did the most basic requirement of the day - the mammoth task of convincing the rulers of 565 various princely states to accede to Union of India, explaining the future of the kings and their states within the Union of India, and citing the terms and conditions of the Indian constitution they was being formed at that time.
Among the barristers and solicitors who could draft the legal documents of the Indian constitution, Saradar Patel himself was very busy negotiating with the rulers of the princely states; so the task was assigned to Dr Ambedkar, who keenly did it using the legal phrases and terms in English for precise meaning.
In the course of it, Mahatma Gandhi, and on behalf of Saradar Patel, K M Munshi, Dada Saheb Mavalankar etc would see Dr Ambedkar to discuss, for example, the interests of Schedule Tribes and Castes etc.
The Indian constitution came into force on 26 Jan 50 repealing the Indian Independence Act, declaring a Sovereign democratic republic; and thereafter Saradar Patel, the main architect of the Union of India, who had sacrificed his right to be the first PM of India died on 15 Dec 50.
R.N.Patel
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