Jharsuguda : The Jharsuguda district administration celebrated Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day)* with great enthusiasm on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India’s first Deputy Prime Minister, popularly known as the Iron Man of India. The programme was jointly organised by the District Sports Department and the District Information and Public Relations Department.
The celebration aimed to uphold the unity, integrity and sovereignty of the nation. The event, held at the conference hall of the District Collector’s Office, witnessed the participation of senior district officials, employees, intellectuals and a large number of students.
As part of the celebrations, a grand awareness rally titled ‘Unity Rally’ was organised in the morning. The rally commenced from Kisan Chowk at Beheramal, passed through various important roads of the town and culminated at the District Collector’s Office. Students from various schools and colleges, young sportspersons, NCC cadets, members of social organisations and administrative officials participated in the rally, carrying the national flag and placards highlighting the ideals of Sardar Patel. Slogans such as “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Long Live National Unity” filled the atmosphere with patriotic fervour.
Following the rally, a commemorative meeting was organised at the conference hall of the District Collector’s Office. District Collector Kunal Motiram Chavan attended the programme as the chief guest. The meeting was presided over by Biswaranjan Nayak, Chief Development Officer-cum-Executive Officer of the Zilla Parishad.
Among the distinguished guests were Additional District Magistrate (General) Brajabandhu Bhoi, Additional District Magistrate (Revenue) Subodh Chandra Acharya, Additional Superintendent of Police James Thomas, keynote speaker Dr. Shivapriya Mishra, Sub-Collector Sabyasachi Panda, District Information and Public Relations Officer Ritakanti Baliyarsingh and District Sports Officer Amrit Acharya.
Deputy Collector-cum-District Tourism Development Officer Somesh Acharya, Sadar Tehsildar Sadakar Kumbhar, DPM, OLM Dr. Pushpasree Nayak, along with officials and employees from various departments, students from different schools and colleges, members of Self-Help Groups, Anganwadi workers, ASHA workers, police personnel, OSAP Battalion teams and ambulance teams also participated enthusiastically in the programme.
Addressing the gathering as the keynote speaker, Dr. Shivapriya Mishra, former member of the Odisha Sahitya Akademi, elaborated on the life, ideals and historic contributions of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. She stated that unifying India, which was on the verge of fragmentation after independence, was an extremely challenging task. However, through Sardar Patel’s extraordinary political vision, unwavering determination and strong diplomatic skills, the princely states were integrated into the Indian Union.
She further observed that Patel had not merely unified the country’s geographical territories but had also instilled a strong spirit of unity in diversity among the people of India. She urged the younger generation to rise above narrow divisions of language, caste and religion and work towards fulfilling Sardar Patel’s vision of nation-building.
At exactly 11 a.m., District Collector Kunal Motiram Chavan administered the National Unity Day pledge to all the officials, employees, students and members of the public present at the gathering. Everyone pledged to preserve the unity, integrity and internal security of the nation and to spread the message of national unity among fellow citizens.
In his address, the District Collector emphasised that national unity is the country’s greatest strength and that building a strong nation is possible only through the dedicated service and commitment of every citizen.
The programme was coordinated by Sub-Divisional Information and Public Relations Officer Krishnakeshi Baliyarsingh.
