The Central government has announced to commemorate Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's birth anniversary October 31 as "National Integration Day." "Awareness about Sardar Patel's contribution is very low...which is very unfortunate. Recently, I came to know that in the history book of Class X, there is mention of Sardar Patel only once," said Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar.
Sardar Patel, known as the "Iron Man of India", was instrumental in the merger of over 500 princely states to create a modern India, just after independence between 1947-1949, the minister said. Javadekar said the central government would make the "National Integration Day" or "Rashtriya Ekta Divas" as a popular mass movement with voluntary participation from all sections of the society.
As part of the action plan, he said a 'Run For Unity' will be organised in towns and villages all over India on the morning of October 31. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will himself participate in the event and also broadcast a short radio address on the occasion. Police and members of other organisations like National Cadet Corps (NCC), National Social Service (NSS), Scouts and Guides and Home Guards would perform march-past in all district headquarters for which necessary instructions have already been issued to the concerned departments.
Sardar Patel was born October 31, 1875, at Karamsand in Gujarat. A barrister with a successful law practice, he joined the Indian national movement under Mahatma Gandhi and grew up to become one of its tallest leaders. He played key role in organising peasants' movements in Kheda, Borsad and Bardoli in Gujarat and promoting the 'Quit India Movement' against the British regime.
Statue of Unity work to begin on Oct 31
The construction work on the 182-metre tall Statue of Unity of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel would begin on October 31 at Sardar Sarovar Dam site. The Gujarat government on Monday formally presented work order to L&T company for construction of the statue. Chief Minister Anandiben Patel who made the announcement in this regard said that work would be completed in four years at a cost of Rs 29.89 billion.
"The statue will boost tourism in the state. It involves construction of not just the world's biggest statue but also an underwater fish aquarium, agriculture development and water management centre, a museum dedicated to Sardar Patel and other attractions," said Patel.
According to an estimate, the statue will be built using 75,000 cubic metre concrete, 5,700 metre structural steel, 18,500 metre reinforced bar and 1,900 metre bronze of 8mm thickness. The statue will provide opportunity to visitors to view the dam from a height of 450 ft. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the Statue of Unity project in October 2010 when he was chief minister of Gujarat.
