NATIONAL UNITY DAY

31st October, 2022 Polity and Governance

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The National Unity Day (Rashtriya Ekta Diwas) is celebrated every year on 31st October to mark the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
- He was India's first Home Minister, who played an important role in convincing many princely states to join the Union of India.
The National Unity Day was introduced by the Union government in 2014 to pay tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his birth anniversary.
The Sardar Patel National Unity Award is also presented on Rashtriya Ekta Diwas.

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (31 October 1875 – 15 December 1950) Started his public life journey as a peasant leader.
Meeting with Gandhi, in 1917 brought a radical change in Patel and guided him into the Indian independence struggle.
He entered into the freedom movement through successful satyagrahas in Bardoli and Kheda.
He supported Gandhi's movement, also recruit members and raise funds, and Supported Gandhi's controversial suspension of resistance in the wake of the Chauri Chaura incident.
In Gujarat, he worked against alcoholism, untouchability, and caste discrimination, for the empowerment of women.
- ‘Sardar’ title after Bardoli satyagraha in 1928.
Patel's key achievement was the building of cohesion and trust amongst the different castes and communities, which had been divided along socio-economic lines.
Patel was elected president of Congress for its 1931 session in Karachi – Ratified the pact and committed himself to the defence of fundamental rights and human freedoms, and a vision of a secular nation with a minimum wage and the abolition of untouchability and serfdom.

Relation between Patel-Nehru-Gandhi

Patel and Gandhi grew close to each other, and the two developed a close bond of affection, trust, and frankness.
Patel was intensely loyal to Gandhi, and both he and Nehru looked to him to arbitrate disputes
Patel clashed with Nehru, opposing declarations of the adoption of socialism at the 1936 Congress session, which he believed was a diversion from the main goal of achieving independence
Patel supported Nehru's decision to withdraw the Congress from central and provincial legislatures, opposite to Gandhi's advice
He was one of the first Congress leaders to accept the partition of India as a solution to the rising Muslim separatist movement led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

UNITED INDIA

As the first Home Minister, he played a key role in the integration of the princely states into the Indian federation.
He is also known as the Founding father of the Republic of India; he played a leading role in the country's struggle for independence and guided its integration into a united, independent nation.
He acted as Supreme Commander-in-chief of the Indian army during the Political integration of India and the Indo-Pakistan War of 1947.
- Organized relief efforts for refugees fleeing from Punjab and Delhi and worked to restore peace across the nation.
Employing frank diplomacy with the expressed option to deploy military force, Patel persuaded almost every princely state to accede to India
Patel was a key force behind the appointment of Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar as the chairman of the drafting committee, and the inclusion of leaders from a diverse political spectrum in the process of writing the constitution.
Patel was the chairman of the committees responsible for minorities, tribal and excluded areas, fundamental rights, and provincial constitutions.
He worked closely with Muslim leaders to end separate electorates.

ADMINISTRATION

He established the modern all-India services system.
His commitment to national integration in the newly independent country earned him the title of "Iron Man of India".
Patel was conscious of the fact that independent India needed a steel frame to run its civil, military, and administrative bureaucracy.
It was Patel who sent the Indian navy to the port of Lakshadweep at an appropriate time, as Pakistan was equally keen to occupy the strategically important islands.
He almost single-handedly prevented this balkanization from happening
Patel took the lead in organizing relief and emergency supplies, establishing refugee camps, and visiting the border areas with Pakistani leaders to encourage peace.
He restructured the Indian bureaucracy after the transfer of a large number of officials to Pakistan, integrated the princely States into the Indian union, and had an important role in shaping the Indian Constitution

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