Rashtriya Ekta Divas (National Unity Day)

As you are aware 31st October 2014 is Sardar Patel's Birth Anniversary. Government of India have decided to observe this day as the Rashtriya Ekta Divas (National Unity Day). As such the institute celebrated and observed this day in a simple function arranged in MP hall at 10.30AM. Prof.Javagal K Sridhar, Registrar of the institute in his opening remarks recalled the life history of Sardar Vallabbhai Patel and his contributions to the Union of India.

Born in simple family on 31-10-1875, Patel finished his matriculation surprisingly at a later  age of 22 and then went on to do his barrister at law in England. After returning to his native place, he started practicing as an advocate. He then showed interest in politics and got elected to municipality.  This  was the time when he got attracted to Mahatma Gandhi's ideals of non violent civil disobedience, Dandi March, Salt satya Graha, Swaraj Movement, Quit India movement and so on. He virtually became a right hand man of Gandhi and was a good friend of Raja Gopala  chari , Maulana Azad and many prominent freedom fighters. Out of many followers of Gandhi, Patel was chosen as the best and most trusted one to lead the campaign of Gandhi. That is how became Leader and in other words SARDAR. In short, Gandhi said and Patel did.

Patel was the most effective leader in speech and in action. He was quite tough always in his approach. That is he was nick named as Iron Man of India. Many interpreted as a ruler with iron cane in his hand. But he was very simple at his heart, but was never afraid of speaking out when the situation most demanded.

Prof Sridhar went on to say that if Gandhi is remembered for all his hard work towards gaining independence, then Sardar equally deserves the same amount of appreciation. Often is said, Gandhi is incomplete without Sardar. During partition time, Patel helped a lot to thousands of families irrespective of their religion who became refugees in their own homeland. The history is still not old to forget it. Most of the effected families are from Punjab. We not only lost huge amount of  precious  fertile land of Punjab  but also millions of Punjabi  families.   When partition was agreed based on the lines religion, Pakistan was formed on both sides of India as West and East Pakistan. When Mohammed Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan claimed to form the southern states of NIZAM ruled Hyderabad as South Pakistan, it was only Sardar Patel who broke the silence and stood up to Gandhi and all the National Congress leaders. He went against Gandhi's peace propoganda and marched army to Hyderabad and made Nizam to accede to India. In the same way he gave 2 options to all 565 local kings all over the country either to accede or to face army. This was just not enough. When Pakistan moved army to Kashmir and occupied nearly half of it, it was only Patel's courage stopped from complete occupation. He gave order in the capacity of Deputy Prime Minister and the first ever Home Minister  to army to march and fight. In this way his brave courage and timely action saved the remaining Kashmir from occupation. His bold courage brought all the 565 princely states into Indian Union and saved breaking of India into innumerable pieces. That is why Government has decided to choose his birth anniversary as National unity day.

In short, Patel was an outstanding country man to be ever remembered and was aptly called as one of the founding fathers of India. 

With these forewords to the national leader, Prof Sridhar gave oath and pledge to the entire gathering in Hindi and English. In addition some glimpses of Patel's speech were also played as video clips. Finally the curtain was drawn to the program through National Anthem in chorum

Here are some photos taken during the function

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