Says “Sardar Patel Shaped Modern India, Wove It into Emotional Unity”
Ekta Nagar (Gujarat) | Oct,31 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday paid rich tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his birth anniversary, asserting that modern India is unimaginable without the Iron Man’s decisive vision.
Addressing the annual ‘Rashtriya Ekta Diwas’ parade, PM Modi highlighted Patel’s monumental role in safeguarding the nation and cementing its territorial and emotional integrity during the turbulent post-1947 partition era. Reflecting on Patel’s enduring legacy, the Prime Minister emphasized how the leader steered the nation through unprecedented crises:
“Sardar Patel is that gem of a personality in India’s history, without whom imagining today’s India is difficult. Sardar Patel has shaped India into its present form. Even after Partition, it was Sardar Patel who kept India safe from the Himalayas to the Indian Ocean!” PM Modi said.
PM Modi noted that Patel’s extraordinary achievement stemmed from his deep alignment with the country’s civilizational roots. Beyond territorial amalgamation, Patel recognized that India’s vast cultural canvas served as its primary strength rather than a vulnerability:
“Sardar Patel once again laid the foundation of that same India. He not only united the geography of the country but also wove the nation into the thread of emotional unity,” he added.
“Sardar Patel was able to do this because he was familiar with India’s character and consciousness. He knew that India’s diversity is not its obstacle, but rather the real foundation of India’s unity. We have lived this way for thousands of years; we have touched the peaks of progress and prosperity in this very manner,” he noted.
Connecting the day to India’s broader democratic framework, the Prime Minister outlined the philosophical trifecta—Independence Day, Republic Day, and Unity Day—that anchors the modern state:
“For any country, independence is important. It gives a nation the freedom to decide its own future. But a republic gives direction to that independence. Our Constitution makes us accountable, while unity gives us the strength to move forward as a nation,” PM Modi said, explaining why Independence Day, Republic Day, and Unity Day are celebrated across the nation with equal fervour.
Observed annually on October 31, Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day) honors Sardar Patel’s pivotal contribution to forging political and national integration, inspiring citizens to reaffirm their pledge toward maintaining India’s sovereignty and peace.
