Rashtriya Ekta Diwas is celebrated in India every year on October 31st to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, one of the founding fathers of the Republic of India. It was introduced in 2014 by the Government of India to pay tribute to Patel's role in the political integration of India after independence and keeping the country united. Patel, popularly known as the "Iron Man of India", persuaded princely states to join the Indian union through diplomatic and non-violent means and is credited with laying the foundation of the strong and unified India.

1. Rashtriya
Ekta Diwas
-31st October

2. Introduction
• Introduced by the Government of India and
inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra
Modi in 2014.
• It is celebrated on 31st October every year on
the birthday of the Iron Man of India Sardar
Vallabhbhai Patel, one of the founding leaders
of Republic of India.
• The intent is to pay tribute to Patel, who was
instrumental in keeping India united.
• 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.

3. Iron Man of India
• Vallabhbhai Patel (31 October 1875 – 15
December 1950), popularly known as Sardar
Patel, was the first Deputy Prime Minister of
India.
• He was an Indian barrister and statesman, a
senior leader of the Indian National
Congress and a founding father of the Republic
of India who played a leading role in the
country's struggle for independence and guided
its integration into a united, independent
nation.In India and elsewhere, he was often
called Sardar, Chief.
• Threatening military force, Patel persuaded
almost every princely state to accede to India.
His commitment to national integration in the
newly independent country was total and
uncompromising, earning him the sobriquet
"Iron Man of India".
• He acted as de facto Supreme Commander-in-
chief of the Indian army during the political
integration of India and the Indo-Pakistani War
of 1947.

4. Social Work
• He started his practice in
Ahmedabad and soon he
became aware of the local
life, activities and people's
problems. He became an
extremely popular person
and he got elected in the
Municipal Corportaion in
1917. Around 1915, he
came across Mahatma
Gandhi when the Swadeshi
Movement was at its peak.

5. Fighting for independence
• Patel won an election to become the sanitation commissioner of
Ahmedabad in 1917. Patel gave a speech in Borsad in September 1917,
encouraging Indians nationwide to sign Gandhi's petition demanding
Swaraj independence from the British. Meeting Gandhi a month later at the
Gujarat Political Conference in Godhra, Patel became the secretary of the
Gujarat Sabha a public body which would become the Gujarati arm of the
Indian National Congress at Gandhi's encouragement.

6. Satyagraha in Gujarat
• Supported by Congress volunteers Narhari Parikh, Mohanlal Pandya and
Abbas Tyabji, Vallabhbhai Patel began a village-to-village tour in the
Kheda district, documenting grievances and asking villagers for their
support for a statewide revolt by refusing the payment of taxes. Patel
emphasised potential hardships with the need for complete unity and non-
violence despite any provocation. He received enthusiastic responses from
virtually every village.

7. Political integration of
India• This event formed the
cornerstone of Patel's
popularity in post-
independence era and even
today, he is remembered as
the man who united India.
The Congress as well as
senior British officials
considered Patel the best
man for the task of achieving
unification of the princely
states with the Indian
dominion. Gandhi had said
to Patel "the problem of the
States is so difficult that you
alone can solve it".

8. “MANPOWER
WITHOUT UNITY IS
NOT A STRENGTH
UNLESS IT IS
HARMONISED AND
UNITED PROPERLY,
THEN IT BECOMES A
SPIRITUAL POWER.”