CM Sai Pays Tribute to Sardar Patel on 151st Birth Anniversary
Synopsis
Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai honoured Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his 151st birth anniversary and National Unity Day, invoking Patel's integration of 565 princely states and renewing the 'Ek Bharat — Shreshtha Bharat' pledge on 31 October 2026.
Key Takeaways
CM Vishnu Deo Sai posted a Hindi tribute to Sardar Patel on 31 October 2026 , marking his 151st birth anniversary .
Patel, India's first Deputy Prime Minister, integrated 565 princely states into the Indian Union after independence in 1947 .
National Unity Day has been observed on 31 October every year since 2014 , when the Government of India declared it in Patel's honour.
CM Sai renewed the call for 'Ek Bharat — Shreshtha Bharat' , the Central government scheme launched in 2015 to foster inter-state cultural exchanges.
Sai has led Chhattisgarh as Chief Minister since December 2023 ; state-level unity events are expected to follow the observance.
On the 151st birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai joined the nation in honouring the man who stitched a fractured subcontinent into a single republic — calling him the architect of India's unity and integrity on National Unity Day, 31 October 2026.
The Iron Man's legacy, 151 years on
Posting in Hindi, CM Sai offered his tribute with the words 'koti-koti naman' — a salutation of a hundred million bows — to the leader widely remembered as the 'Lauha Purush' (Iron Man) and recipient of the 'Bharat Ratna', India's highest civilian honour. He described Patel's defining qualities as an unwavering sense of nation-first, an unshakeable resolve, and an indomitable will — the three forces that, in Sai's framing, bound India's diversity into a single thread of unity.
The tribute is more than ceremonial. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India's first Deputy Prime Minister, oversaw the integration of 565 princely states into the Indian Union after independence in 1947 — an administrative feat with no modern parallel. Without that consolidation, the map of India would look fundamentally different today.
National Unity Day and the 'Ek Bharat' pledge
The Government of India declared 31 October as National Unity Day in 2014, specifically to anchor Patel's integrationist legacy in the national calendar. Every year since, state governments, schools, and security forces mark the day with unity runs, pledge ceremonies, and cultural programmes.
CM Sai used the occasion to renew the call for 'Ek Bharat — Shreshtha Bharat' (One India — Excellent India), the Central government initiative launched in 2015 to encourage people-to-people and cultural exchanges between states and union territories. His post urged every citizen to strengthen that resolve: 'Aiye, Rashtriya Ekta Diwas par Ek Bharat-Shreshtha Bharat ke sankalp ko aur mazboot karein' — 'Come, let us further strengthen the pledge of One India — Excellent India on National Unity Day.'
BJP-governed states and the Patel tribute tradition
The tribute fits a consistent pattern among BJP-led state governments, which have made Patel a central figure in their political and cultural messaging — emphasising themes of territorial unity and strong administrative governance that align with the party's broader national-integration narrative. Chhattisgarh, under Sai's leadership since December 2023, is expected to follow up with state-level unity pledge events and inter-state cultural exchanges in the weeks ahead, though specific programme details remain unconfirmed.
One hundred and fifty-one years after his birth, Patel's blueprint for a unified India remains the living foundation of the republic. The question every National Unity Day quietly asks is whether each generation is building on it — or taking it for granted.
Point of View
Unified nationhood — with Sardar Patel serving as a cross-party historical figure whose legacy lends bipartisan legitimacy to that message. CM Sai's invocation of 'Ek Bharat — Shreshtha Bharat' ties state-level sentiment directly to a Central government programme, reinforcing vertical alignment between Raipur and New Delhi. The 151st anniversary carries symbolic weight: milestone birth anniversaries are typically accompanied by larger state events, raising the profile of Chhattisgarh's own unity-related programming. Over time, the annual tribute has evolved from a ceremonial gesture into a policy-adjacent signal — a reminder that administrative integration, Patel's original project, remains an active political value rather than a settled historical fact.
NationPress
31 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 31 October celebrated as National Unity Day in India?
The Government of India declared 31 October as National Unity Day (Rashtriya Ekta Diwas) in 2014 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and to promote national integration.
What is Sardar Patel's contribution to India?
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India's first Deputy Prime Minister, negotiated the integration of 565 princely states into the Indian Union after independence in 1947 , earning him the title 'Iron Man of India'.
What is the 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' scheme?
' Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat ' is a Central government initiative launched in 2015 to encourage cultural and people-to-people exchanges between India's states and union territories, strengthening national unity.
Who is Vishnu Deo Sai and why did he post about Sardar Patel?
Vishnu Deo Sai is the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh and a BJP leader who has held the post since December 2023 . He posted the tribute on National Unity Day, 31 October 2026 , marking Patel's 151st birth anniversary .
What events happen on National Unity Day in India?
National Unity Day is marked with unity pledge ceremonies, runs, cultural programmes, and parades across states. BJP-governed states typically hold state-level events aligned with the 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' programme.
