INDIA: National Unity Day marks the 147th birth anniversary of India’s first home minister, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, popularly known as the ‘Iron Man of India.’ Since 2014, Oct 31 has been celebrated as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas or the Day of Unity.
His contribution to the Indian freedom movement left an indelible mark in history. In Independent India, he became the first Deputy Prime Minister of the country.
On this special occasion, President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Delhi Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena, and Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi, among various other Indian leaders, paid floral tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s statue at Delhi’s Patel Chowk.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah delivered a speech in which he reminded everyone of Sardar Patel’s immense contribution towards uniting India.
He said, “Even during that time, there were efforts by some forces to keep India divided. We have seen how Sardar Patel brought Junagarh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Hyderabad under the fold of the Union of India through his farsightedness and political acumen.”
Sardar Vallabhbhai was born on 31 October 1875 in Nadiad, Gujarat. He lived his last, on 15 December 1950, in Mumbai (Maharashtra).
In 1991, Patel was awarded the prestigious Bharat Ratna.
In 2018, on the anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai’s birth, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the “Statue of Unity,” a 182-meter-tall statue of Patel.
The tallest statue in the world, located on the banks of the Narmada river is a major tourist attraction.
Indian leaders pay tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Today, on the birth anniversary of the ex Dy Prime Minister, PM Modi went live and paid his respect to him via his speech and took to his Twitter and wrote, “Rashtriya Ekta Diwas is a tribute to the invaluable role of Sardar Patel in unifying our nation.”
Home Minister Amit Shah, during his floral tribute, posted a series of photos on Twitter and wrote, “In centuries, one becomes a ‘Sardar,’ who for many centuries awakens the never-fading and never-extinguishing flame of unity and patriotism…On the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, paid homage to him on behalf of a grateful nation at Patel Chowk in New Delhi.”
President Draupadi Murmu tweeted, “My humble tributes on the birth anniversary of Iron Man Sardar Patel! He was the architect of modern India and also the builder of our administrative system. He is counted among the main guides of the development journey of modern India. Our country will always be indebted to him.”
Congress former Chief Rahul Gandhi also extended his respect to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel by posting a video of his and wrote on Twitter, “Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s ironclad will unite India. The most fitting tribute to him would be to keep the flame of unity he ignited shining brighter than ever.”
Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot also remembered Patel on his birth anniversary and wrote on his Twitter, “My humble tributes to Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Ji on his birth anniversary. He was one of the prominent leaders during the freedom movement and played a significant role towards the nation’s unity and integration after independence.”
Minister of External Affairs, S Jaishankar, also paid tribute to Sardar Patel by writing on his Twitter, “On #RashtriyaEktaDivas, pay my tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who led our freedom struggle, united our nation and refashioned India’s governance. His political vision, organizational skills, and administrative acumen are deeply admired. They continue to guide our path today.”
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