UGC wants varsities to hold events on Patel’s birth anniv

ALLAHABAD The University Grants Commission (UGC) has directed the universities across country to celebrate the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on October 31 in a grand manner.

It has asked the institutions to conduct events like runs, debates and essay writing etc built around the theme of unity, which “reflect on Patel’s decisive efforts in unifying a diverse country like India, so as to create a single political, socio-economic and administrative entity for governance under Independent India.”

Patel, a lifelong Congressman, was the first home minister of independent India and is considered by the ruling BJP as an icon of national unity.

Patel’s birthday has been observed as National Unity Day since 2014.

Making plain that the initiative was being taken at the behest of the union ministry of human resource development (MHRD) to honour Patel’s efforts to create a single political, socio-economic and administrative entity for governance under Independent India, the UGC has asked the institutions that these events should be accorded top priority.

Events suggested for being organised to commemorate the memory of Sardar Patel include: Unity Runs—in cities, towns and rural areas by students with the message of unified Bharat, Inter-department competitions within every institution in the area of unity, dramas, songs and plays.