PM Shri.Narendra Damodardas Modi unveils the Statue of Unity

PM  Shri.Narendra Damodardas Modi unveils the Statue of Unity, dedicated to the Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. It took 250 engineers, 3,400 labourers to build this statue in a span of 3 years and 9 months. It took 2,12,000 litres of concrete, 18,000 tonnes of reinforced steel and 6,565 bronze panels to build the statue. The Statue of Unity is dedicated to the Iron Man of India - Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. He is to be credited for uniting 562 princely states in the pre-independent India to build the Republic of India. That’s why the name Statue of Unity.Vallabhbhai Patel (October 31, 1875 – December 15, 1950) was a political and social leader of India who played a major role in the country's struggle for independence and subsequently guided its integration into a united, independent nation. He was often addressed as "Sardar" which means "Chief" or "Leader" in many languages of India. His pivotal role in channeling India's unity was but one of a multi-

faceted leadership of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Also crucial in building India in the post-independence years were his pursuit of practicing "Suraaj", meaning good governance, which he practiced as India's first Home Minister and India's first Deputy Prime Minister. Always rooting for unity, he was also instrumental in mobilizing the farmer community of India, as well as bringing together various castes and communities to join the freedom struggle. As the first Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of India, Patel organised relief for refugees in Punjab and Delhi, and led efforts to restore peace across the nation.-Compiled by Kris