Rashtriya Ekta Divas: Celebrating Birth Anniversary of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel

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Rashtriya Ekta Divas- Relevance for UPSC Exam

GS Paper 1: Indian History- Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues.

The Country is celebrated Rashtriya Ekta Divas (National Unity Day) on 31st October to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
On this occasion, the Prime Minister of India paid rich tribute to Sardar Patel who dedicate his life to the ideal of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshth Bharat’.
The Prime Minister said that ‘Ek Bharat’ is a Bharat that gives equal opportunities to women, Dalits, deprived, tribal, and forest dwellers.
- ‘Ek Bharat’ is a Bharat where housing, electricity and water are within the reach of everyone without discrimination.

About: Rashtriya Ekta Divas is being celebrated every year since 2014 with the aim to pay tribute to the ‘Iron man of India’ by remembering his extraordinary works for the country.
Statue of Unity: Government constructed the Statue of Unity in Gujarat in 2018 to honour Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel and his contribution towards ensuring National Unity.
- The Statue of Unity is the tallest statue in the world.
Significance: The occasion of Rashtriya Ekta Divas provides an opportunity to re-affirm the inherent strength and resilience of the nation to withstand the threats to its unity, integrity and security.

Birth: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was born on 31st October 1875 in Nadiad, Gujarat.
Key Contribution in freedom struggle:
- Elected as secretary of Gujarat sabha (congress wing in Gujarat) in 18917.
- Supported and participated in Gandhi jee-led Non-Cooperation Movement (NCM).
- Led Bardoli Satyagraha in 1928 and successfully secured farmers’ interests. Women of Bardoli gave him the title of ‘Sardar’ which means ‘a Chief or a Leader’.
- Presided the Karachi Session of Indian National Congress in 1931 where the party deliberated its future path.

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was the first Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of India.
‘Operation Polo’: was launched by Sardar Patel to liberate and integrate Hyderabad in India in 1948.
- This was done after the Nizam of Hyderabad entertained false hopes of either joining Pakistan or remaining independent.
Ensured integrity and unity of India: Sardar Patel is praised for effectively uniting all 562 princely states in pre-independent India to build a united Republic of India.
- He appealed to the people of India to live together by uniting in order to create Shresth Bharat (Foremost India).
Father of Indian Civil Services: Sardar Patel is also remembered as the ‘Patron saint of India’s civil servants as he established the modern all-India services system.