Gadkari pays tribute to Sardar Patel on National Unity Day
Synopsis
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari paid homage to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his birth anniversary, honouring the Iron Man of India's role in integrating 565 princely states and extending greetings on Rashtriya Ekta Diwas 2026.
Key Takeaways
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari posted a tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his birth anniversary, 31 October 2026 .
Patel is credited with integrating 565 princely states into the Indian Union after independence in 1947 .
He was awarded the Bharat Ratna posthumously in 1991 — India's highest civilian honour.
Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day) was officially declared on 31 October 2014 by the Government of India.
The Statue of Unity in Kevadia, Gujarat , standing 182 metres tall, serves as the centrepiece of annual National Unity Day observances.
On the 151st birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari paid tribute to the Iron Man of India, calling him the architect of modern India whose resolve and willpower set a standard for generations to come.
In a post on 31 October 2026, Gadkari wrote in Hindi: 'भारत रत्न लौह पुरुष सरदार वल्लभ भाई पटेल जी ने आधुनिक भारत के शिल्पकार के रुप में अपने दृढ़ संकल्प और मजबूत इच्छाशक्ति का परिचय दिया' — 'Bharat Ratna Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Iron Man, demonstrated his firm resolve and strong willpower as the architect of modern India.' He also extended greetings to all citizens on Rashtriya Ekta Diwas — National Unity Day.
The man who stitched a nation together
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India's first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, accomplished one of the most consequential feats of 20th-century statecraft: the integration of 565 princely states into the Indian Union following independence in 1947. Through a combination of diplomacy and decisive authority, he forged a geographical entity that could easily have fragmented. The title 'Loh Purush' — Iron Man — was not ceremonial; it described a method.
Patel was awarded the Bharat Ratna posthumously in 1991, India's highest civilian honour. His legacy is most visibly commemorated at the Statue of Unity in Kevadia, Gujarat — at 182 metres, the world's tallest statue — which stands as a permanent national monument to his role in unifying the country.
Rashtriya Ekta Diwas: from declaration to annual tradition
The Government of India officially declared 31 October as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas in 2014, institutionalising the anniversary as a day of national reflection on integration and unity. Every year since, government programmes, pledge-taking ceremonies, and Run for Unity events are organised across the country — with the most prominent gathering held at the Statue of Unity in Gujarat.
Senior leaders across parties mark the day with tributes, but BJP leaders have made Patel's commemoration a consistent pillar of public messaging — emphasising his association with strong central governance and territorial cohesion as values that resonate with the party's broader political identity.
Patel's birth anniversary is a reminder that the India mapped today did not arrive automatically — it was argued, negotiated, and in some cases compelled into being. That story, Minister Gadkari noted, 'will continue to inspire for centuries.'
Point of View
When the government both institutionalised Rashtriya Ekta Diwas and inaugurated the Statue of Unity project. By repeatedly invoking Patel's 'firm resolve,' BJP figures implicitly frame decisive central authority as a founding virtue of the Republic. The broader arc suggests Patel's legacy will remain a contested but potent symbol in India's political discourse.
NationPress
31 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 31 October celebrated as National Unity Day in India?
31 October is the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel . The Government of India officially declared it Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day) in 2014 to honour his role in integrating 565 princely states into the Indian Union and to promote national unity.
Why is Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel called the Iron Man of India?
Sardar Patel earned the title 'Iron Man of India' for his decisive diplomacy and firm authority in persuading and compelling 565 princely states to accede to India after independence in 1947 — a task widely regarded as one of history's most remarkable feats of statecraft.
What did Nitin Gadkari say about Sardar Patel on his birth anniversary?
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari called Patel the architect of modern India, saying his 'firm resolve and strong willpower' would inspire generations for centuries. He also extended greetings to all citizens on Rashtriya Ekta Diwas 2026 .
When was Sardar Patel awarded the Bharat Ratna?
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was awarded the Bharat Ratna — India's highest civilian honour — posthumously in 1991 .
Where are National Unity Day events held every year?
The most prominent National Unity Day events are held at the Statue of Unity in Kevadia, Gujarat — the world's tallest statue at 182 metres — along with state-level programmes and Run for Unity events across India.
