Government to celebrate Sardar Patel’s 150th birth anniversary with two-year nationwide programme

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday announced that the government will celebrate Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s 150th birth anniversary with a two-year nationwide programme from 2024 to 2026 to honour his remarkable contributions to the country. Shah said Sardar Patel’s enduring legacy as a visionary architect of the establishment of one of the world’s strongest democracies and his key role in unifying India from Kashmir to Lakshadweep is indelible. “To honour his remarkable contributions, the Government of India led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will celebrate his 150th birth anniversary with a two-year nationwide celebration from 2024 to 2026,” he said in a post on ‘X’. The Home Minister said the celebrations will serve as a testimony to Sardar Patel’s remarkable achievements and the spirit of unity he epitomised. Patel was born on 31 October 1875 in Nadiad, Gujarat. The central government has been celebrating October 31 as National Unity Day since 2014, underlining Sardar Patel’s dedication to preserving and strengthening the unity, integrity and security of the nation. As India’s first home minister and deputy prime minister, Patel is credited with merging over 550 princely states into the Union of India.