The run for unity to mark the 142nd birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel saw participation of thousands of people, including the students and the elderly, in Dehradun and other parts of the state on Tuesday. Uttarakhand Governor Krishan Kant Paul and Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat flagged off the run from the Vidhan Sabha.
The half-an-hour run slated to start at 8 am, the participants started gathering at the four venues- Vidhan Sabha Bhavan, Pavilion Ground, Kisaan Bhavan and Nagar Nigam- since 7 am. The runs which started from the four spots converged at police lines where the State Government organised the principal programme to mark the day which was followed by a blood donation camp. The youths and the students, in particular, looked energetic to run for the unity for the nation. The girls whose number was also considerable looked equally enthusiastic to participate in the commemorative run for a noble cause. Cries of ‘Bharat Mata ki jai’ and ‘Sardar Patel amar rahe’ reverberated through the places, lending the run a rare patriotic fervour. “It is a run to pay tribute to the leader who has gifted us with a united India. As long as the Indian nation is alive the name of the legendary leader would be alive,” said a college student Vinay.
The Governor and CM Rawat garlanded the statue of Sardar Patel near Clock Tower by way of paying homage. They later participated in the run from Vidhan Sabha. Governor Paul read out an oath on preserving the national unity and integrity at the function held at police lines. The Governor said that the entire country was paying homage to the “Iron Man” on his birth anniversary while participating in the run for unity. He further said that a country can progress if it remembers the contributions of its great leaders. “When 130 crore people resolve to protect the unity of the country it would be difficult for anyone to think of harming that country,” he said, adding that it was Sardar Patel’s will power, political vision and farsightedness which helped unify the country when it became independent through integration of over 500 princely states, sitting scattered here and there.
The Governor said that the title of ‘Sardar’ was given to this great leader when he embarked on a satyagraha at Bardoli during the freedom struggle. “His invincible will power and resolve won him the title Iron Man,” he said.
He further said that it was wonderful to see the energy and enthusiasm of the school and the college students who were participating in the run. “We must all work towards maintaining the unity of our country which is rich with diverse cultures and traditions,” he said.
The chief minister said that the entire country was celebrating the birth anniversary of this great leader who was the first home minister of independent India and also its Deputy Prime Minister. “Our youth must take inspiration from Sardar Patel’s life and move forward. The schools must acquaint their students about the lives and works of our leaders on such special occasions,” CM said.
Among those present on the occasion were Sports and Education Minister Arvind Pandey, higher education minister Dhan Singh Rawat, Dehraudn Mayor, MlA Vinod Chamoli, MlA Harbans Kapoor, MlA Khajan Das, chief secretary Utpal Kumar Singh and DGP Anil Raturi.