How Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Saved Lakshadweep From Being Captured By Pakistan

The beautiful Union Territory of India, Lakshadweep has been making headlines after PM Modi visited the island and posted several pictures on the social media platform X. He even shared his snorkelling experience. This gave rise to a diplomatic row with Maldives where three ministers made derogatory posts against PM Modi and India. Now they have been suspended.

Lakshadweep is India’s smallest Union Territory which has pristine white-sand beaches, tourists get to experience breath-taking snorkelling in the clean water. It is a perfect travel destination if you want to relax on the beaches and stare at the beautiful blue skies. It’s a perfect place for a retreat.

After the derogatory posts against PM Modi and India, renowned Indians came forward to promote tourism in Lakshadweep, urging Indians to explore the Indian islands. Among the list of prominent Indians, there are several Bollywood A-listers including Akshay Kumar, and Amitabh Bachchan, to sportspersons like Sachin Tendulkar, Suresh Raina, PV Sindhu, and Md Shami.

Did you know that the Indian island has been consistently the most searched place on Google from India ever since?

Yes, that’s right. The Lakshadweep administration is expecting over Rs 20,000 crore in investments in the coming days to pitch it in the same league as the Maldives.

After independence, Pakistan was about to snatch Lakshadweep from India

It is known to very few people that after Independence, Pakistan was about to snatch it from India. Had it not been for the fast action of ‘Iron Man of India’ Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, now Lakshadweep would have been a Pakistan-occupied territory. Here it goes:

In the year 1947, after India got its Independence, the sub-continent was partitioned, with West Pakistan and East Pakistan on the two sides, both being Muslim majority. Another Muslim-majority area that did not seem important for Pakistan and was left undisturbed 496 km off the coast of Kochi. At that time, Lakshadweep had a 93% Muslim population, Pakistan got their eyes on the island for Mohammed Ali Jinnah, the Muslim League leader who created Pakistan.

‘Iron Man of India’ and two Tamilians protected Lakshadweep from the grasp of Pakistan

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the ‘Iron Man of India’ not only brought together the disassembled important princely states like Hyderabad and Junagarh but also protected Lakshadweep from Pakistan. In his October 2019 Mann Ki Baat, PM Modi had said,

“Soon after Partition in 1947, our neighbour had cast an eye on Lakshadweep; a ship bearing their flag was sent there. When Sardar Patel was informed of this, he wasted no time in initiating stern action. He urged the Mudaliar brothers, Arcot Ramaswamy Mudaliar and Arcot Laxman Swamy Mudaliar to immediately undertake a mission with (the) people of Travancore to Lakshadweep and take the lead in unfurling the Tricolour there”

Ramaswamy Mudaliar was the 24th and last Dewan of Mysore. His brother Laxman Swamy Mudaliar was a prominent physician who was also the Vice-Chancellor of Madras University for almost 20 years. They were born into a Tamil-speaking family in Kurnool.

Following Sardar Patel’s orders, the Tricolour was waved in Lakshadweep – what PM Modi referred to as “nefarious dreams of the neighbour” were destroyed.

Due to this development, the Pakistani ships were forced to go back to its base.

In the 2019 Diwali edition of Mann Ki Baat, the Prime Minister told the nation,

“After this incident, Sardar Patel asked the Mudaliar brothers to personally ensure all assistance for (the) development of Lakshadweep. Today, Lakshadweep is contributing significantly in India’s progress. It is an attractive tourist destination too. I hope you get the opportunity to visit the picturesque islands and its pristine beaches”

Did you know about this piece of history? Let us know in the comments.