How Did Sardar Patel Influence India’s Administrative Structure?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel dedicated his life to India's unity and integrity.
- He played a pivotal role in shaping the country's administrative framework.
- The Rashtriya Ekta Diwas is celebrated annually on October 31.
- This year's celebrations mark Patel's 150th birth anniversary.
- The Sardar@150 Unity March aims to inspire youth towards nationalism.
Ahmedabad/Agartala, Nov 26 (NationPress) Tripura's Chief Minister Manik Saha remarked on Wednesday that Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel devoted his life to preserving India’s unity and integrity, significantly contributing to the nation’s administrative structure and the reinforcement of national cohesion.
During his address at the Sardar@150 Unity March National Padyatra flag-off ceremony at Shastri Maidan in Gujarat, Saha pointed out that Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was the architect of India’s unity, serving as a constant reminder of the critical need for unity to protect the nation's sovereignty and integrity.
An official from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) in Agartala shared that Saha, alongside Gujarat's Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, visited Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's residence and paid floral tributes to his portrait.
Saha stated, "Today, we are engaged in more than just a padyatra; we are honoring the noble principles of unity, courage, and nation-building."
The Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, observed annually on October 31 to commemorate Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s birthday, serves as a reminder of the essentiality of unity in preserving the nation's sovereignty and integrity, he emphasized.
This year’s Rashtriya Ekta Diwas holds special significance as it marks the 150th birthday of Sardar Patel.
“This National Padyatra is part of the My Bharat initiative, organized by the Youth Affairs and Sports Ministry to celebrate the Sardar@150 Unity March in honor of the Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel," Saha explained.
He added that the primary goal is to acknowledge Sardar Patel's contributions, the architect of India’s unity, while fostering the spirit of unity, patriotism, and responsibility among the youth.
Highlighting the essence of this initiative as Ek Bharat, Atmanirbhar Bharat, the Tripura CM mentioned that various programs are being conducted in Tripura to honor the 150th birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who was India’s first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, played a crucial role in unifying the nation post-independence.
“Sardar Patel envisioned a united and resilient India. He strongly believed that India’s strength lies in its diversity. During the period of independence, particularly from 1947 to 1949, he integrated around 560 princely states into India. Patel championed the unity and integrity of the nation, dedicating his entire life to maintaining India’s unity and significantly contributing to the formation of the country’s administrative framework,” he stated.
Saha noted that since 2014, in homage to Vallabhbhai Patel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been observing Rashtriya Ekta Diwas nationwide.
“In tribute to Sardar Patel, the Indian government is hosting the Sardar@150 Unity March this year in Gujarat, aimed at fortifying the nation, fostering a prosperous India, and inspiring a sense of patriotism among all. The Sardar@150 Unity March is being conducted in multiple phases throughout the country, with district-level padyatras occurring from October 31 to November 25, celebrated with great enthusiasm in Tripura as well,” the Tripura CM concluded.