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National Unity Day or Rashtriya Ekta Diwas is celebrated on October 31 every year to mark the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. This year will mark the 146th anniversary of the Iron Man of India. The objective of this celebration is to maintain the nation’s unity and aims to spread awareness about Patel’s contribution to Indian history.
Rashtriya Ekta Diwas or unity day 2022 india is celebrated annually on October 31 as a way to pay tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, an Indian freedom fighter and independent India’s first deputy prime minister and home minister. He was instrumental in making a united India from the 565 semi-autonomous princely states and British-era colonial provinces.
For his efforts towards a united India, Sardar Patel’s birth anniversary is now celebrated as National Unity Day in the country. People mark the day with activities such as runs for unity. On this day, locals are encouraged to remember the inherent strength and resilience of the nation.
To know more about when is national unity day celebrated in India, keep reading!
National Unity Day 2022 – History, Significance
In memory of the First Deputy Prime Minister of independent India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Rashtriya Ekta Diwas was introduced in 2014. Patel played a crucial role in India’s freedom movement and in the integration of India from 560 princely states.
In addition to this, the Government of India has constructed a huge statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel near the Narmada River in Gujarat in memory of the Iron Man of India. The Iron Man of India, also known as the Loh Purush, Vallabhbhai Jhaverbhai Patel was born on October 31, 1875.
He is also popularly known as Sardar Patel and was one of the most known Indian politicians after Independence when the British withdrew from the deeply divided country. Under Jawarharlal Nehru’s term as Prime Minister, Sardar Patel served as the First Deputy Prime Minister of India.
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National Unity Day 2022 Theme
National unity day 2022 theme does not have any theme until now, but the Government of India has dedicated a different theme every year. Even though there is no particular theme announced yet, the aims and activities to be carried out remain the same.
In 2019, Unity Day was celebrated with the theme “To bring the nation together, united in times of strife and rising extremism”. In 2020, the theme was, “Unity in diversity is better than unity in similarities”. Every year the National Unity Day is observed by reciting the Unity Pledge.
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Why do we love National Unity Day?
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It’s a reminder of true vision
A true visionary, Sardar Patel is credited for the unification of India post-independence. India is more unified today because of its vision, despite the colonial rulers’ wish that it is to be disintegrated into smaller states after Independence. We can all take inspiration from a leader with a sincere and dedicated vision for his country.
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We are inspired by the importance of unity
Rashtriya Ekta Diwas is all about unifying the people of India. But, we can all get inspired by Sardar Patel’s drive to remove distinctions between us as human beings. In fact, one of Sardar Patel’s most popular quotes mentions this. He said, “We have to shed mutual bickering, shed the difference of being high or low and develop the sense of equality and banish untouchability.”
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The way of non-violent disobedience
Like many great leaders who believed in non-violence as a way to stand up against the oppressors, Sardar Patel also maintained this notion during the Independence struggle and beyond. He believed that ‘non-violence has to be observed in thought, word and deed’ and the ‘measure of non-violence is the measure of success.’ That’s a leader which any person can be inspired by.
National Unity Day Activities 2022 (RASHTRIYA EKTA DIWAS)
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Run for unity
Since 2019, thousands of people ran for unity in honour of Sardar Patel and his vision for a unified India. If you can’t make it to a run in the city, gather friends and family to go for a jog near your street. Even if you’re Indian living overseas, it’s the perfect time to not only get some exercise but to gather people of all different religions and cultural beliefs and run in unity. The essence of the run is the message.
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Read up on the history of India
India has a rich and interesting history which is important to have at least some knowledge about. India’s Independence in 1947 was a vital point in the world’s history, as the British officially left. Not only this, when the British withdrew, India was partitioned into two independent countries – India and Pakistan. The time was both a proud and also challenging time for Indians, which caused deep divides between people and families. Make sure to brush up on some important historical facts.
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Celebrate unity
If you’re Indian, invite friends or family over and celebrate all there is to love about India. If you’re not Indian and have Indian friends, perhaps today is a great time to wish them well on the day and spread a message about the meaning of unity and patriotism.
National Unity Day Quiz 2022
1) National Unity Day 2022 marks _____ Birth Anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel?
Answer: 147th
2) Rashtriya Ekta Diwas was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in which year?
Answer: 2014
3) Who is known as the Iron man of the India
Answer: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
4) National Unity Day in India was introuced by Indian govt. in ___?
Answer: 2014
Takeaway
The Home Ministry of India, in an official statement for National Unity Day, cited, “The 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.”
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