The year was 1939. Across India, anti-British sentiments were at their peak. People were not only demanding more rights for themselves but were also intensifying their call for the British to “Quit India.”
In Gujarat too, numerous local organizations and committees had emerged, devoted to nationalism and the freedom movement.
One such organization in Bhavnagar was the Bhavnagar Praja Parishad — or People’s Association.
Its fifth conference was held on 14–15 May 1939 in an open field near Radha Mandir on Vaghawadi Road.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was invited to preside over the session.
The organization was working to awaken political consciousness and mobilize the masses for the national movement — so Patel accepted the invitation wholeheartedly.
The Nagina Masjid Case — When a Muslim Mob Attacked Patel with Swords
On May 14, 1939, Patel arrived in Bhavnagar by air, where a huge crowd had gathered to welcome him.
A 9-kilometre-long procession was planned from the airport to the railway station. Thousands of people lined both sides of the road, cheering and waving.
Patel stood in an open jeep, greeting people as the procession moved forward.
But when the convoy reached Khar Gate Square, near the Nagina Masjid, a mob of about 40 to 50 men armed with sticks, spears, swords, and knives suddenly charged at the crowd.
All these attackers belonged to the Muslim community and had been hiding inside the Nagina Masjid, waiting for Patel’s vehicle to pass.
How Two Brave Young Volunteers Saved Patel’s Life
The sudden attack caused chaos and panic. But before the assailants could reach Patel, two young volunteers — Bachubhai Patel and Jadavbhai Modi — leapt in front of him, shielding him with their own bodies. The mob, realizing they couldn’t get to Patel, unleashed their full fury on the two youths.
Bachubhai Patel was killed on the spot, while Jadavbhai Modi succumbed to his injuries the next day in the hospital.
Others were also seriously injured:
- Nanabhai (Nrusinhprasad) Bhatt suffered a deep head injury,
- Makanjibhai Valia and Kalubhai Valia were wounded while resisting the attackers,
- Atmaram Bhatt, the Congress secretary, received a deep knife wound near his temple.
Patel’s Message of Calm and Restraint
The attack stunned everyone. Patel immediately stopped the procession and went to Takhtsinhji Hospital to meet the injured.
Fearing that the incident could spark communal violence, he sent out an appeal from the hospital:
“There is no need for fear or anger in response to this tragic incident. Those who attacked the innocent have lost their senses and committed a sin in madness. The edifice of public life stands upon the sacrifice of the innocent. Let us maintain peace, love, and ensure the success of this conference.”
Patel also informed Mahatma Gandhi via telegram. Gandhi’s reply read:
“I have read your telegram and was deeply shocked. May God guide us. I hope Nanabhai and others are recovering.
Awaiting full details.”
The attack spread panic across Bhavnagar, yet the conference was not canceled.
Patel Calls It a “Premeditated Attack”
Addressing the session, Patel said:
“We must not fight among ourselves. If we fail to isolate such elements, they will devour our society. This was not a momentary act of anger — it was a carefully planned conspiracy.”
At the night gathering, he added:
“This atmosphere of disorder is not limited to Bhavnagar — it is spreading across India. The blows meant for me were borne by Bachubhai, Jadavbhai, and Nanabhai. This is not the first such incident in my life — God has saved me time and again.”
Patel himself declared that the attack was “pre-planned.” The Prajamandal’s 1944 report also affirmed this conclusion.
Why Patel Said It Was Planned
Because earlier that same year, during a procession in Mandvi, Patel had been attacked in a similar manner — and that attack too was linked to the Muslim League. Fortunately, he escaped unharmed.
The Bhavnagar assault, however, was clearly an assassination attempt. Had those two brave youths not stood like shields, India’s destiny might have changed forever.
Even the British administration was shaken by the incident, for Patel was a national leader of stature comparable to Mahatma Gandhi.
Investigation and the Mysterious Secrecy
At that time, Maharaja Krishnakumar Singh ruled Bhavnagar. He ordered an immediate probe. The Police Chief, Chhelbhai Dave, personally investigated the case and summoned the famed Bombay lawyer K. K. Shah to prosecute it.
The Sessions Judge later described the case as a “well-planned political attack.” At least one accused was convicted, and the police chief submitted his report to the Maharaja — but the report was never made public, citing the need to “maintain communal harmony and peace.”
Unanswered Questions
This secrecy raises several questions:
- What was in that report that could disturb “communal harmony”?
- Why was the name of the convicted attacker never revealed?
- Did he belong to a particular religious group?
- Why was Patel so insistent on restraint and silence after such a heinous attempt on his life?
How the Incident Was Buried for 86 Years
For nearly 86 years, this event remained shrouded in mystery. The names of the attackers and the investigation reports were locked away.
But now, on Sardar Patel’s 150th birth anniversary, the Modi government has declassified those documents —
which reveal that the Muslim League was behind the attack.
Historian Rizwan Kadri has even shared images of the records on social media, where the attackers’ names clearly show that they were from the Muslim community.
The Missing Records
Surprisingly, despite its historical gravity, no official court records, FIR copies, or investigation files exist today related to the “Nagina Masjid Attack.” The British, known for meticulous documentation of far older cases, somehow left no trace of this one.
Even memoirs and historical writings make no mention of this assassination attempt on Patel’s life.
A Forgotten Shame in Indian History
The truth is — the attempted murder of Sardar Patel in Bhavnagar was one of the most shameful episodes in modern Indian history.
Had the assassins succeeded, the integration of 562 princely states (including 222 in Kathiawar) into the Indian Union might never have happened.
India’s history and geography would have been completely different. But fate, and the courage of Bachubhai and Jadavbhai, saved Patel — and India’s future.
Why Was Congress Silent?
Even after Independence, successive Congress governments deliberately buried the memory of this attack.
The same political party that repeatedly blamed the RSS for Gandhi’s assassination never once criticized the Muslim League for attempting to kill Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel — the Iron Man who united India.