Unity is not created by bricks and stones, unity arises from emotion and emotion arises from thought,” said Hon’ble Governor of Bihar, Shri Arif Mohammad Khan, while addressing a Symposium organised at the Delhi Legislative Assembly on the occasion of the 150th Birth Anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Floral tributes were offered to the statue of Shri Vithalbhai Patel in the presence of Hon’ble Speaker Shri Vijender Gupta, Hon’ble Deputy Speaker Shri Mohan Singh Bisht, Delhi Cabinet Minister Shri Kapil Mishra, and Ms. Niranjanaben Kalarthi, Administrator, Swaraj Ashram, Bardoli (Gujarat). A special exhibition titled “Sardar Patel and the Journey of India’s Unification” was also inaugurated in the Assembly premises, showcasing rare archival photographs and historical exhibits celebrating the life, vision, and legacy of the Iron Man of India.Vice Chairman of Gandhi Smriti Shri Vijay Goel, Senior Leader Shri Sudhanshu Mittal and other MLAs were also present at the event. Hon’ble Governor underlined that true unity is born from the collective consciousness of a nation. Expressing his gratitude for being invited to speak on ‘Sardar Patel and the Journey of India’s Unification’, he said he was deeply thankful for the opportunity to bow before the sacred soil of the great son of Mother India. He added that to fulfil the resolve of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji to make India a developed and leading nation, “we must constantly recall and reawaken the ideals and values for which Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel dedicated his entire life.”
Shankaracharya established the spiritual
Drawing an inspiring parallel between Adi Shankaracharya and Sardar Patel, Shri Khan noted that just as Adi Shankaracharya established the spiritual unity of India through Vedanta, Sardar Patel achieved political unity through courage and conviction. Quoting the timeless lesson from Shankaracharya’s encounter with a Chandala in Varanasi, he said, “true unity is born of the realization that the same divine consciousness dwells within every being.” He emphasized that Sardar Patel’s unification of more than 565 princely states was a historic act of statesmanship — “a task comparable to that of Bismarck in Germany, or perhaps even greater.”
Recalling Sardar Patel’s own words at the inauguration of the Indian Union — “After centuries, for the first time in history, India can truly call itself a united and integrated nation” — Shri Khan said that Patel’s vision continues to shape India’s strength and integrity. He lauded the Government of India’s decision, under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji, to celebrate Sardar Patel’s birth anniversary as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, calling it “a fitting tribute to the Architect of India’s Unity, expressing the gratitude and respect of an entire nation for the man who made India one.”
Unity of hearts and purpose
“The strength of a nation lies not in its might, but in its unity of hearts and purpose,” said Hon’ble Speaker of the Delhi Legislative Assembly, Shri Vijender Gupta, while addressing at the Symposium on the occasion of the 150th birth anniversary of the Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. He paid tribute to the architect of India’s integration — a leader whose courage and foresight transformed a divided land into one sovereign nation. From the fields of Bardoli to the halls of the Constituent Assembly, Shri Vijender Gupta noted that Sardar Patel’s vision turned hope into harmony and independence into enduring nationhood. Through his diplomacy, determination, and deep faith in the Indian spirit, over 565 princely states were united into one India, and the foundation of a strong administrative framework , the Indian Administrative Service, was laid for generations to come.Hon’ble Speaker Vijender Gupta emphasized that Sardar Patel’s life reminds us that unity is not a slogan, but a sacred duty. He stated that Patel’s ideals of discipline, integrity, and selfless service continue to inspire India’s progress and purpose. As the nation observes Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, Shri Gupta urged everyone to rededicate themselves to preserving the unity Sardar Patel built and the values he embodied. Under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, he said, the nation reaffirms Sardar Patel’s timeless message — that India’s true strength lies in the unity of its people and the integrity of its institutions.
