National Unity Day 2023 (Rashtriya Ekta Diwas)

Context:

• October 31 is celebrated as National Unity Day or Rashtriya Ekta Diwas every year in India to commemorate Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s birth anniversary.

National Unity Day 

• On this day, ‘Run for Unity’ is held across the country. People from all walks of life take part in this event.
• National Unity Day seeks to promote social and community service initiatives. It also seeks to foster a sense of volunteerism and community engagement.

About Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (October 31, 1875—December 15, 1950)

• Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was an Indian barrister and statesman, one of the leaders of the Indian National Congress during the struggle for Indian independence. 
• From 1917 to 1924, he served as the first Indian municipal commissioner of Ahmedabad and was its elected municipal president from 1924 to 1928. 
• In 1928, he successfully led the landowners of Bardoli in their resistance against increased taxes. 
  • His efficient leadership of the Bardoli campaign earned him the title sardar (“leader”), and henceforth he was acknowledged as a nationalist leader throughout India. 
• He served as deputy prime minister, minister of home affairs, minister of information, and minister of states.
• During the 1930 Salt Satyagraha (prayer and fasting movement), he served three months’ imprisonment. 
• In March 1931 Patel presided over the Karachi session of the Indian National Congress. 
  • Under his chairmanship, “Fundamental Rights and Economic Policy” resolution was passed by the Congress in 1931.
• Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel is remembered as the “Patron saint of India’s civil servants” for having established the modern all-India services system.
• He is known as the Iron Man of India for uniting all 562 princely states of the pre-independent country to form the Republic of India.
• He headed following committees:
  • Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights.
  • Committee on Minorities and Tribal and Excluded Areas.
  • Provincial Constitution Committee.
• The Statue of Unity, the world’s tallest statue, was dedicated to him on 31 October, 2018, which is approximately 182 m (597 ft) in height.

News Source: Economic Times