Akashvani to broadcast Sardar Patel Memorial Lecture on his 151st birth anniversary

Akashvani will broadcast the recording of the annual Sardar Patel Memorial Lecture, delivered by Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, tonight at 9:30 PM. The recording will be broadcast across the entire Akashvani network on the occasion of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s birth anniversary.
Delivering the 67th Sardar Patel Memorial Lecture, Mr Chouhan said that Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s vision, determination and leadership laid the foundation for India’s national unity and territorial integrity. He said that Sardar Patel’s efforts to integrate 565 princely states remain a defining chapter in the country’s history. The Minister emphasised that Patel’s vision of a united India continues to inspire the nation through the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’.
Mr Chouhan also said that, inspired by Sardar Patel’s firm approach towards national security and his policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism, India has responded decisively to threats from across its borders, including through measures such as surgical strikes.
As a tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who served as independent India’s first Deputy Prime Minister and Information and Broadcasting Minister, Akashvani has been organising the annual Sardar Patel Memorial Lecture since 1955. Over the years, the annual event has served as a rich repository of thoughts, ideas and perspectives on a wide range of subjects. It has also provided an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of India’s diverse cultural heritage and the various dimensions of its developmental challenges.