Week-long celebrations on Sardar Patel's anniversary announced

Week-long celebrations will mark the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, also known as the Iron Man of India, later this month, the government said on Monday.

Patel, the first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of India, was born on October 31, 1875 in Nadiad, Gujarat. The government last year decided to observe his birth anniversary as "Ekta Diwas".

The celebrations would commence on October 31 with Prime Minister Narendra Modi paying tributes at the statue of Patel and later in Parliament House here, according to an official statement.

The Prime Minister would also release a commemorative stamp on the same day. He will also administer the Pledge of Unity and flag off the Unity Run. Modi will also release a digital film on the life of Patel at a programme to be organised at Pragati Maidan here by the Ministry of Culture.

"In all the government offices, the Pledge of Unity will be administered on October 31. Essay writing, elocution, painting and slogan writing competitions will be held in schools and colleges recalling Patel's contribution to the unification of India, during the week till November 6," the statement said.

All central ministers will visit different parts of the country during the week, garlanding Patel's statues and holding public meetings.

All central ministries and departments will organise appropriate programmes including administering pledge of unity and will display his photos with the caption "A grateful nation salutes Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the pioneer of national unity".

"Beginning this week, Doordarshan and All India Radio will launch special programmes on the life and works of Sardar Patel using archival material," it said.

"Home Minister Rajnath Singh has written to all the Chief Ministers suggesting to organise programmes recalling the life and works of Sardar Patel and use the occasion to reaffirm the inherent strength and resilience of the nation to withstand the actual and potential threats to the unity, integrity and security of the country," the statement said.

--IANS

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