THE
business of nation-building started with invocations to
the Gods, but as the first prime minister would find out,
the business of running a nation weighs heavy. Internal
friction within the Congress leadership would spill over
beyond amicable luncheons for the council of ministers to
discuss matters of a young, turbulent state. There was
talk of "Iron Man" Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
being short-changed in the run for power, bending before
realpolitik. These were also the years when Nehru's idea
of the "temples of India" took shape, building
blocks of industry with total state intervention. The new
republic had its first larger-than-life demagogue.
THE
business of nation-building started with invocations to
the Gods, but as the first prime minister would find out,
the business of running a nation weighs heavy. Internal
friction within the Congress leadership would spill over
beyond amicable luncheons for the council of ministers to
discuss matters of a young, turbulent state. There was
talk of "Iron Man" Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
being short-changed in the run for power, bending before
realpolitik. These were also the years when Nehru's idea
of the "temples of India" took shape, building
blocks of industry with total state intervention. The new
republic had its first larger-than-life demagogue. 
