Amrita Sher-Gil Cultural Centre

Budapest, Hungary

On October 31, 2022, an event called ‘Run for Unity’ is organized by the Embassy of India to spread awareness about Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s contribution to Indian history. / 2022. október 31-én „Fuss az egységért” eseményt szervez az India Nagykövetség, amellyel Sardar Vallabhbhai Patelre és az indiai történelemben betöltött fontos szerepére emlékezünk, a politikus születésének évfordulóján.

Venue / Helyszín: Margit-sziget (találkozóhely: a Margit hídhoz közeli szökúkútnál) / Margaret Island (meeting point: the fountain close to Margaret-bridge)

Date & time / Időpont: 31st October, 2022, 10.00 AM

Entry is free, everyone is most welcome! / A rendezvény ingyenes, mindenkit szeretettel várunk!

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Rashtriya Ekta Diwas or National Unity Day is celebrated annually on October 31 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.

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.

Sardar Patel is most popularly known as a founding father of the Republic of India. This is because he played a significant role in integrating the independent provinces into a unified India just after the partition of India and Pakistan. He also acted as Home Minister during the political integration of India and the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947.

In 2014, Rashtriya Ekta Diwas or National Unity Day was introduced by the government of India. The official statement for Rashtriya Ekta Diwas was provided by the home ministry of the country. It 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.”

For his efforts towards a united India, Sardar Patel’s birth anniversary is now celebrated as National Unity Day. This is also known as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas. To celebrate the day, the ‘Unifier of India’ was honored with the Statue of Unity which is actually the world’s tallest statue! Dedicated to Sardar Patel, the statue is approximately 597 feet in height. Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi inaugurated the event on October 31, 2018.