Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day) is celebrated each year on October 31. It was introduced by the Government of India and inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014 with an intent to pay tribute to Vallabhbhai Patel, who was instrumental in keeping India united. It is celebrated as an annual commemoration of the birthday of the Iron Man of India Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, one of the founding leaders of Republic of India.
The official statement for Rashtriya Ekta Diwas by the Home Ministry of India cites that the National Unity Day “will provide an opportunity to re-affirm the inherent strength and resilience of our nation to withstand the actual and potential threats to the unity, integrity and security of our country.”
National Unity Day celebrates the birthday of Patel because, during his term as Home Minister of India, he is credited for the integration of over 550 independent princely states into India from 1947-49 by Independence Act, 1947. For this reason he is known as the “Bismarck of India”
The celebration is complemented with the speech of Prime Minister of India followed by the “Run for Unity”. The theme for 2016 celebrations was “Integration of India”. On this day a floral tribute is given to the statue of Sardar Patel every year at the Patel Chowk, Parliament Street, New Delhi in the morning. Various programmes are organized by the Government of India to mark the occasion such as run for unity, pledge taking ceremony, march past by the Indian police, etc. Run for Unity programme is held in the major cities, district towns and various places in the rural areas. Youths from the schools, colleges, universities, educational institutes, National Cadet Corps, National Service Scheme, etc., take part in the programme very actively. It is organized at huge level in the National capital from Vijay Chowk to India Gate on the Rajpath at 8.30 am in the morning.
Celebration of this occasion annually helps youth of the country to be aware of and provides an opportunity to everyone to maintain the integral strength of the nation. It makes Indian citizens realize how a national integrity helps in defeating the actual and potential threats for unity, integrity and security of the nation.