New Delhi: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s birth anniversary is celebrated on 31 October. National Unity Day or National Unity Day is celebrated on 31 October every year since 2014 to mark the birth anniversary of the Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. This year marks the 144th birth anniversary of freedom fighter Vallabhbhai Patel. Sardar Vallabhbhai merged 565 princely states to make India one nation. This is the reason why National Unity Day is celebrated on the occasion of birth anniversary of Vallabhbhai Patel.
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When is National Unity Day celebrated?
National Unity Day is celebrated every year on 31 October across the country. This year on 2023, it will be celebrated by people all over India on Saturday, 31 October to commemorate the 144th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The main theme of this day in the year 2016 was ‘Unification of India’.
History of National Unity Day
In October 2014, the Government of India announced to celebrate the birth anniversary of freedom fighter Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel as ‘National Unity Day’ every year. It is noteworthy that Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was born on October 31, 1875. The day was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014 by laying flowers on the statue of Sardar Patel and flagging off the program ‘Run for Unity’ in New Delhi.
The objective of starting this event is to pay tribute to the great man, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his birth anniversary by remembering his extraordinary deeds for the country. He had worked really hard in keeping India united.
Biography of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was a freedom fighter of India. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was born on October 31, 1875 in Nadiad, Gujarat. He became the first Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister after India’s independence.
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Patel, who was leading the Bardoli Satyagraha, was conferred the title of Sardar by the women there on the success of the Satyagraha. Sardar Patel is also referred to as the Bismarck and Iron Man of India for playing a central role in the geo-political integration of India scattered into various princely states after independence.
Important Interesting Facts about Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
- Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was a farmer by heart and nature. Despite this, he received higher education and became a successful lawyer.
- In view of the financial condition of the family, Sardar Patel had refused to pursue higher education.
- Despite being the most capable leader of the Congress party in independent India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel could not become the Prime Minister. He became the Deputy Prime Minister.
- The India that is visible today is a group of 565 local princely states. Sardar Patel had created modern India by unifying these princely states.
- The Nizam of Hyderabad and the Nawab of Junagadh had flatly refused to merge their princely states into India. Sardar Patel used the army while showing his intelligence. In the year 1948, the Nizam of Hyderabad gave his consent to include himself in India.
- Jawaharlal Nehru liked western culture and Englishism. While Sardar Patel was away from the British.
- Sardar Patel refused the post of Prime Minister because he did not want to split the Congress party.
- Sardar Patel proved to be a god to the refugees.
- If anyone deserved the Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest honor, it was Sardar Patel. But it is sad that this honor was given to him very late in the year 1991.
- Sardar Patel wanted to keep the country safe. He had also made policies for this.
- Sardar Patel was an important member of the Constituent Assembly of India, which played an important role in making the Constitution of India.
- Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was never against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.
- Sardar Patel was a nationalist. For him the country was first. It was the greatness of his personality that he never worked for the post but for the country.
Statue of Unity
Dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Statue of Unity is a monument located in the Indian state of Gujarat. It is built near the Narmada Dam, 3.2 km from Sadhu Bet near Vadodara. It is the tallest statue in the world, 54 meters taller than the Vasant Mandir Buddha. This statue related structures is spread over 20000 square meters and is surrounded by an artificial lake spread over 12 km and its estimated cost is 29.8 billion. It was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi on 31 October 2018 on his 143rd anniversary.
What is National Integration?
National integration refers to the feeling of common identity among the people of the country to build a strong and developed nation even after living from different castes, cultures, religions and regions. It promotes unity in diversity and a sense of unity among people to great level. It brings about a kind of ethnic and cultural equality among the people of different community. It can be said that it is the unity that was expressed among the common Indian people against the British rule during the Indian independence movement.
India is counted as one of the largest countries in the world, which is the second most populous country in the whole world, where languages and dialects were spoken around 1652. This country incorporates all the major religions of the world such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Jainism, Islam, Sikhism and Zoroastrianism with different culture, food habits, traditions, dress and social customs. It is a diverse country with considerable variation in climate. Despite the major differences in the country, each part of it is very peacefully governed by the same constitution.
Objectives of National Unity Day
- National Unity Day is celebrated every year to encourage about unity, peace, love and brotherhood among the people.
- To promote harmony among Indian people despite having culture, many languages, religions, geographical diversity in Indian society.
- To enable youth and other people of different religions to work in a group and understand each other through social, cultural, economic and education camps.
- To develop better understanding among youth about diverse ideas, religions and lifestyles to strengthen the unity of the people in the society.
What is the National Integration Council?
The National Integration Council of India, an assembly of senior politicians and people, was set up to meet the needs of addressing problems such as casteism, communalism and regionalism in India. It was first established by the first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, in a convention organized in 1961, with the aim of fighting the problems that divide the country’s unity as well as hinder progress.
It was reconstituted in April 2010 under the leadership of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with 147 members. Meetings are organized from time to time by the members of the National Integration Council for the eradication of discrimination, promotion of communal harmony as well as control of communalism and violence from the country.
What is the Sardar Patel National Unity Award?
It is the highest civilian award given in the field of contribution to the unity and integrity of India. Website of Ministry of Home Affairs nationalunityawards.mha.gov.in. Nominations are being received online. Whose last date is 31 October 2023. The Central Government has instituted the highest civilian award in the name of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel for his significant contribution to the unity and integrity of the country. This award will be given for remarkable contribution towards national unity and integrity and a strong and united India. All citizens and institutions and organizations of the country are eligible to apply for this award.
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