Unity Day 2025: Remembering the Spirit of Sardar Patel
Siddharth Roy
Civil Engineer, Author and Columnist
Rehabari, Guwahati
Every year on 31st October, as India celebrates National Unity Day, the nation pauses to remember the man who made unity his life’s mission — Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. This year, the occasion carries even deeper meaning as it marks 150 years since his birth. It is a moment not just to pay tribute, but to reflect on the values he stood for and to ask ourselves whether we are still carrying his vision forward.
When Sardar Patel was born in 1875 in Nadiad, Gujarat, India was a land divided not just by geography but by fear and inequality. Few could have imagined that this quiet, disciplined boy from a small town would one day become the architect of a united India. Yet, Patel’s life shows what determination and honesty can achieve when guided by a love for one’s people.
Before politics, Patel was a lawyer known for his sharp intellect and calm demeanor. But his real calling came when he joined Mahatma Gandhi during the Kheda and Bardoli movements. When farmers faced crushing taxes during years of drought, Patel stood by them, organizing peaceful resistance and giving them hope. His leadership in Bardoli earned him the title “Sardar,” meaning leader, bestowed not by politicians but by the very people whose lives he transformed. It was a title he carried with humility and purpose for the rest of his life.
During India’s struggle for independence, Sardar Patel was often seen as the man who kept things together. While others debated ideology or sought grand gestures, Patel worked quietly but firmly to build the organizational strength of the freedom movement. He was practical, disciplined and deeply loyal to the cause. His role in organizing the Indian National Congress at the grassroots level gave the movement the structure it needed to survive years of struggle. Gandhi often called him his right hand, and rightly so.
But it was after independence that Patel’s leadership reached its greatest test. In 1947, India stood free but fragile. The joy of freedom was overshadowed by the tragedy of Partition, and the nation was left with more than 560 princely states — each with its own ruler, army and ambition. Some wanted to remain independent, some wished to join Pakistan, and others hesitated to commit. The dream of a united India could have easily shattered right then.
At that crucial moment, Patel stepped forward. As India’s first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, he took on the daunting task of integrating these states into one nation. He worked tirelessly with his secretary, V P Menon, using a blend of persuasion, diplomacy and, when needed, firmness. One by one, the princely states signed the Instrument of Accession, joining the Indian Union. Patel’s handling of Hyderabad and Junagadh in particular showed his ability to balance patience with decisiveness.
It is often said that Mahatma Gandhi gave India freedom, and Sardar Patel gave it unity. Without his vision and strength, India might have emerged as a collection of scattered territories instead of the strong, diverse nation we know today. His work gave meaning to independence, ensuring that the map of India became whole.
Patel’s contribution, however, went beyond political boundaries. He believed that unity was not only about territory but also about spirit. He often reminded people that India’s strength lay in its diversity. To him, unity was not about making everyone the same, but about learning to stand together despite our differences. He once said, “Manpower without unity is not a strength unless it is harmonized and united properly.” Those words ring true even today.
On this Unity Day, as we look around, we find ourselves in an India that Patel helped imagine but one that still faces challenges he would have understood well. We are a nation of many languages, religions and cultures, and while this diversity is our pride, it can also test our patience and understanding. At a time when divisions sometimes cloud our collective purpose, Patel’s vision feels as urgent as it was in 1947.
Unity for Patel was not just a slogan. It was an attitude — a belief that India’s progress depends on shared responsibility, respect and cooperation. He believed in hard work, honesty and discipline. He had little patience for empty talk or personal ambition. What mattered to him was the collective good. In today’s world, where public life is often marked by noise and self-interest, his calm and steadfast approach reminds us of what real leadership looks like.
The Statue of Unity in Gujarat stands tall as a tribute to his contribution. Yet his true legacy lives not in stone but in the spirit of the country he built. Every time India speaks with one voice during crisis, every time we stand united against challenges, we honor Sardar Patel. His idea of unity was never forced; it was about shared purpose and mutual respect.
As we mark Unity Day 2025, we must ask ourselves how to keep that spirit alive. Unity is not achieved once and for all; it has to be nurtured every day. It means listening to each other, respecting differences and finding strength in our shared dreams. It means remembering that India’s greatest strength has never been its size or power but its ability to hold together as one people with many hearts.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel taught us that unity is not born out of fear but out of faith — faith in one another and in the idea of India. On his 150th birth anniversary, let us not only celebrate him but also renew our promise to uphold the values he lived for. In doing so, we continue his work, keeping alive the spirit that built a nation and still lights its path forward.