Raja Javiad
(The Statue of Unity at Kevadia — a 182-metre tribute to India’s Iron Man)
A legacy cast in bronze
Standing tall on the banks of the Narmada River, the Statue of Unity, the world’s tallest statue at 182 metres, is not merely a monument of steel and concrete. It is an emblem of gratitude to the man who gave India its territorial soul.
Since its inauguration in 2018, the statue has become the epicentre of the annual Rashtriya Ekta Diwas celebrations, drawing citizens, police contingents, youth groups and cultural performers from across the country. “The Statue of Unity is not a monument to the past, but a pledge for the future,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said during a previous Ekta Diwas address.
The institutional legacy of Patel
Patel’s vision of unity was intertwined with his emphasis on strong institutions. The creation of the IAS and IPS was a deliberate attempt to ensure administrative continuity and national coherence. His words to the first batch of officers, “Maintain the spirit of service to the people and the integrity of the nation,” remain a guiding principle in governance even today.
The Government of India has further institutionalised Patel’s ideals through national initiatives that promote unity and inclusivity, from the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat programme to cultural exchange initiatives among schools and universities.
(Prime Minister delivers the National Unity Day address at Kevadia, reaffirming the spirit of integration)
Ekta Diwas as reflection and renewal
Across India today, schoolchildren are taking the Unity Pledge, marathon runners are participating in the Run for Unity and state capitals are hosting Ekta Parades. These events may appear ceremonial, but they carry a profound message: unity must be renewed through participation. At Kevadia, the Ekta Parade showcases tableaux from different states, CAPF contingents and cultural performances, a visual metaphor for the coexistence Patel envisioned.
From commemoration to commitment
As India commemorates Patel’s 150th birth anniversary, the focus is not only retrospective but forward-looking. National integration now extends beyond geography; it includes digital inclusion, gender equality, and equitable growth. Unity, in this sense, must be both emotional and economic. Bridging regional disparities, creating opportunities for the youth, and preserving constitutional values are all part of Patel’s living legacy.
(Generations renew Patel’s vision through the Ekta Pledge — a ritual of remembrance and resolve)
The spirit of 2047
As India looks ahead to its centenary of independence in 2047, the true measure of unity will not be physical territory but shared purpose. The idea that once held together 560 princely states must now hold together 1.4 billion dreams.
Patel’s vision was not frozen in 1947—it was prophetic. His call for unity remains India’s national compass. On this Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, let us move from remembrance to realisation, from statue to substance, and carry forward the task Sardar Patel began: to keep India whole, harmonious, and hopeful.
