Dear lovely young friends,

When I was your age (studying in school), I remember being invited to every festival/celebration at our neighbours’ places. The Rehmans would invite us on Eid, the Vaquelines on Christmas, the Baruas for their yearly Satyanarayan Puja and so on... And we would graciously accept all these invitations, relishing diverse culinary delights each home had to offer — pulao-chicken korma at the Rehmans, plum cake at the Vaquelines, Satyanarayan Pujar ghol at the Baruas... The cuisines were different but each home had one common factor — the warmth, with which they welcomed everyone. It was a delight to interact with everyone and learn about various aspects of their religion and culture. 

In India, that is the real beauty — diversity. Right from religion, tribe, culture, food habits, dressing style to way of life, there’s diversity in every part of India, be it from Kashmir to Kanyakumari or Arunachal Pradesh to Gujarat. And let me tell you that this diversity is our real treasure and we should strive to stay united despite the diversity. Sadly, political leaders try to divide people on the lines of religion, caste, creed ethnicity and such things. But we should not get swayed and stay united, no matter what.

You must be wondering why I’m talking about unity today. It’s because National Unity Day, also known as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, is round the corner. The government in 2014 declared that Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's birth anniversary on October 31 will be celebrated as National Unity Day. So every year, October 31 celebrated as National Unity Day to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel who played a vital role in integrating more than 550 princely states together under the Union of India. He was the first Home Minister of our country and he’s also known as the 'Iron Man of India.' National Unity Day is celebrated to make people aware of unity in diversity. As the country remains grateful for Patel's crucial efforts leading to the integration of India, the day is celebrated as a homage to that “national unity”. 

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel made immense contributions to the country, while sacrificing his own interests. He had been one of India’s leading barristers but had renounced wealth and privileges without a second thought to follow Gandhiji into the freedom movement. For him, a lofty position was inconsequential compared to the independence of the country. He wanted everyone to have equal rights and responsibilities — equality in the true sense of the term.

On National Unity Day, a pledge is read out in government offices:

“I solemnly pledge that I dedicate myself to preserve the unity, integrity, and security of the nation and also strive hard to spread this message among my fellow countrymen. I take this pledge in the spirit of unification of my country which was made possible by the vision and actions of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. I also solemnly resolve to make my own contribution to ensure the internal security of my country.”

By official order, all government offices, public sector undertakings (PSUs), and other public institutions are required to arrange the pledge-taking ceremony on October 31 to observe National Unity Day. The ministry of human resource development has also issued instructions to allow students of schools and colleges to be administered the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas pledge to motivate them to strive to maintain the unity and integrity of the country.

Here’s a quote from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. I want all of you to ponder on this and stay united always:

“There are some young men who believe that in this country there should be Hindu Raj and that Hindu culture alone has a place in India. Gandhiji was fighting against that mad idea... he said our salvation depended on unity.”