National Unity Day 2020 | 31 Oct 2020

Why in News

Every year, the National Unity Day (Rashtriya Ekta Diwas) is celebrated on 31^st October to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

• The Prime Minister launched the seaplane service from Ahmedabad to the Statue of Unity, Kevadia.

Key Points

• The day was celebrated for the first time in 2014, when the Government of India decided to celebrate Patel’s birthday as the National Unity Day to recognise his monumental contribution and service to the nation.
• On this day, several events like Run For Unity, a nationwide marathon to increase awareness about Patel’s contributions, National Unity pledge, Ekta Parade, etc. are organised.
• In 2018, the Government unveiled the Statue of Unity in Gujarat in Patel’s honour.
  
  • It is the tallest statue (182-meter) in the world.
  • In January 2020, it was added in the ‘Eight Wonders’ of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

• Born: 31^st October 1875 in Nadiad, Gujarat.
• Achievements:
  
  • First Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of India.
  • Headed various Committees of the Constituent Assembly of India, namely:
    
    • Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights.
    • Committee on Minorities and Tribal and Excluded Areas.
    • Provincial Constitution Committee.
  • Integrated the farmer’s cause in Kheda Satyagraha (1918) and Bardoli Satyagraha (1928) with the national freedom movement.
    
    • Women of Bardoli bestowed the title ‘Sardar’ on Vallabhbhai Patel, which means ‘a Chief or a Leader’.
  • Known as the “Iron Man of India” for playing an important role in unification and integration of Indian princely states into the Indian federation and for convincing princely states to align with the Indian Union.
  • Requested the people of India to live together by uniting (Ek Bharat) in order to create a foremost India (Shresth Bharat).
    
    • This ideology still reflects in the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative which seeks to make India self-reliant.
  • Remembered as the ‘Patron Saint of India’s Civil Servants’ as he established the modern all-India services system.
• Death: 15^th December 1950 in Bombay.

Source: IE