Iron man gets a special day out in integration drive

In the backdrop of recent threats to the national unity, the Modi government has ordered ministries to publicise the relevance of Sardar Patel.
PM Narendra Modi pays tribute to Sardar Patel
PM Narendra Modi pays tribute to Sardar Patel

NEW DELHI: In its effort to cleanse the Nehruvian legacy and restore the historical importance of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in the popular mind, the Narendra Modi government has conceived a nationwide ‘Integration of India’ programme to celebrate the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai on Monday. The Iron Man was born on October 31, 1875. All across the country, television shows, special movie screenings, education drives, commemorative events, hoardings and banners will
honour the Independence era giant’s legacy.

The entire government machinery has been deployed for this purpose, sending out the unambiguous message as to who owns Patel’s legacy. A copy of the minutes of the meeting held on October 13 at the ministry of Information and Broadcasting reveals that other ministries too have been roped in to popularise the programme. A senior ministry official said all channels of Doordarshan and AIR will broadcast archival clips of Patel.

Apart from government media, private entertainment channels have been rope in too. The official said they have been requested to dedicate 10-15 minutes daily in prime time slots to material related to Patel and national integration. The ministry’s publications division will publish archival letters of Patel, which have great historical value. “DD has also been advised to organise debates on the letters,” added the official. A short film on the nationalist strongman will be produced for showing in theatres nationwide before the start of the main movie. The Films Division has also been told to come up with a theme song on Sardar Patel. Similarly, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) will organise special programmes on the occasion at all its major missions. MEA has also been told to organise a pledge and a movie show on Patel in the embassies. The Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs has been instructed to make arrangements for sports competitions, particularly in rural areas, to engage youth.

In the backdrop of recent threats to the national unity, the Modi government has ordered ministries to publicise the relevance of Sardar Patel. The HRD Ministry will organise essay competitions in all central government schools including the Kendriya Vidyalayas and Navodaya Vidyalayas.
The National Book Trust will bring out a new publication on Patel, or adapt existing publications for distribution in schools countrywide. The PM will launch a digital exhibition on the nationalist icon at the National Science Centre. Later, he will release a commemorative stamp at a programme at India Gate at 3 pm. He will also administer the Ekta Pledge and flag off a ‘Unity Run’. A national cultural festival will be organized in major cities. In the smaller cities, the Urban Development ministry, in association with municipal bodies will conduct an outreach programme to inform people about Patel’s historical importance.

The Tourism ministry, along with ASI will exhibit banners and hoardings at tourist, pilgrimage and heritage sites. The Railway ministry has been told to put up hoardings and banners
at the maximum number of railway stations countrywide.

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