NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday announced the government’s decision to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Patel with a two-year-long nationwide celebration, beginning October 31, 2024.
“Sardar Patel Ji’s enduring legacy as the visionary behind the establishment of one of the world’s most robust democracies and his pivotal role in unifying India from Kashmir to Lakshadweep remains indelible,” Shah wrote on ‘X’.
Shah said in the honour of Sardar Patel for his monumental contributions, “the Government of India, under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, will commemorate his 150th birth anniversary with a two-year-long nationwide celebration from 2024 to 2026”. He added that the celebration “will serve as a testament to Sardar Patel’s remarkable achievements and the spirit of unity that he epitomised”.
Patel was born on October 31, 1875, at Nadiad in Gujarat and the government has been observing the birthday of the first home minister of the country as ‘Rashtriya Ekta Diwas’ or National Unity Day since 2014 to reinforce its dedication to strengthening the unity, integrity and security of the nation, as he is credited for the merger of over 550 princely states with the Union of India.
As part of the two-year-long celebrations, various programmes are planned to be organised across the country, recalling Sardar Patel’s contribution to unify India.