Jal Shakti Minister CR Paatil pays tribute to Sardar Patel on Rashtriya Ekta Diwas
Synopsis
Union Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Paatil paid homage to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, 31 October 2026, honouring the Iron Man's role in uniting 565 princely states into the Indian Union and calling his ideal of putting the nation first an eternal source of inspiration.
Key Takeaways
Paatil , Union Minister of Jal Shakti and senior BJP leader, posted a tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on 31 October 2026 .
Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day) is observed annually on 31 October , Patel's birth anniversary, to promote national integration.
The Government of India formally instituted Rashtriya Ekta Diwas in 2014 .
Sardar Patel served as India's first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister , overseeing the integration of 565 princely states into the Indian Union after 1947.
Patel was awarded the Bharat Ratna posthumously in 1991 and is widely called the Loh Purush (Iron Man of India).
The Statue of Unity in Gujarat , the world's tallest statue at 182 metres , is the focal point of national observances on this day.
On the 131st birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Union Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Paatil joined the nation in honouring the architect of India's territorial unity — posting a heartfelt tribute on Saturday, 31 October 2026, as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas was observed across the country.
In his post, the minister offered 'कोटि-कोटि नमन' ('a million salutations') to Patel, describing him as the craftsman of national unity and integrity and paying homage to his Bharat Ratna legacy. He extended greetings to all citizens on National Unity Day, writing that Sardar Patel's 'firm leadership, indomitable resolve and dedication to the nation wove free India into the thread of unity.'
The Iron Man's defining act: 565 princely states, one India
The tribute lands on the anniversary that defines Patel's place in history. As India's first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister after independence in 1947, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel engineered one of the most complex feats of statecraft the modern world had seen — persuading, pressuring, and where necessary compelling 565 princely states to accede to the Indian Union. Without that effort, the map of India would look very different today.
That legacy earned him the title Loh Purush — the Iron Man of India — and, posthumously, the nation's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, awarded in 1991.
Rashtriya Ekta Diwas: a day the government made official in 2014
The Government of India formally instituted Rashtriya Ekta Diwas on 31 October 2014, anchoring a permanent national occasion to Patel's birth anniversary. Since then, the day has been marked with unity runs, pledge ceremonies, and events at the Statue of Unity — the 182-metre statue of Patel in Gujarat's Narmada district that stands as the world's tallest. Union ministers and BJP leaders offering tributes on this date has become a consistent feature of the annual observance.
Paatil, himself a senior BJP leader from Gujarat and a former state party president, carries a particular regional connect to Patel's legacy — both figures rooted in the same state that produced the Iron Man.
KICKER: As unity runs unfold from school grounds to the Statue of Unity today, Paatil's words echo a simple but enduring demand — that the ideal of placing the nation above all else never goes out of season.Point of View
The homage carries added regional resonance, reinforcing Patel's identity as Gujarat's — and by extension, the party's — most emblematic historical figure. The annual messaging cycle around 31 October also quietly underscores the government's emphasis on territorial integrity and strong central authority as living Patelian values. What began as an instituted observance in 2014 has become a fully embedded ritual in India's official political calendar.
NationPress
31 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Rashtriya Ekta Diwas and when is it celebrated?
Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, or National Unity Day, is observed every year on 31 October to mark the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The Government of India instituted the day in 2014 to honour Patel's contribution to national integration.
Why is Sardar Patel called the Iron Man of India?
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel earned the title Loh Purush (Iron Man of India) for his resolute effort as the first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister to integrate 565 princely states into the Indian Union after independence in 1947.
What did C. R. Paatil say on Rashtriya Ekta Diwas 2026?
Union Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Paatil offered a million salutations to Sardar Patel, praising his firm leadership and indomitable resolve, and extended greetings to all citizens on National Unity Day, 31 October 2026 .
What is the Statue of Unity and where is it located?
The Statue of Unity is a 182-metre statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel situated in Narmada district, Gujarat . It is the world's tallest statue and serves as the centrepiece of Rashtriya Ekta Diwas observances.
When was Sardar Patel awarded the Bharat Ratna?
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was awarded the Bharat Ratna , India's highest civilian honour, posthumously in 1991 .
