This episode of NL Interviews features Abhinandan Sekhri in conversation with Hindol Sengupta, editor-at-large at Fortune India, an entrepreneur, a journalist, and author of eight books.

The interview begins with a discussion on Hindol’s new book, The Man Who Saved India. The book explores Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s ‘idea of India’ and his contribution towards the national freedom movement and more. Abhinandan asks Hindol about his opinion on the statue of Patel, which will cost the exchequer close to Rs 4,000 crore. Hindol says he doesn’t particularly care about the budget or the statue—but he definitely thinks that there should be a proper memorial for Sardar Patel in remembrance of his contribution to the nation.

Hindol, then, talks about how Gandhi’s legacy overwhelms that of Patel’s and also asks: “Why did it take till 1991 and what was special about that year that Patel got a Bharat Ratna then. Why did it take so long?”

Abhinandan asks Hindol to explain the differences between Nehru and Patel, and whether Patel had initially agreed to let Pakistan have Kashmir? Hindol explains the entire situation and Patel’s point of view in great detail. He says he believes Nehru had great popularity, but it was Patel who was the best man for many pragmatic things India had to do at that point. Abhinandan also poses the eternal question: If Patel would have been a better first Prime Minister?

The two also touch upon the relatively less-discussed Patel-Netaji relationship, which Hindol’s book describes as ‘perhaps the most acrimonious in the Congress’.

Hindol says there should be a Patelian category just like we have Gandhians and Nehruvians.

Watch.