Minister Tinku Roy led the ‘Sardar @150 Ekta Yatra’ in Dharmanagar to honor Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s 150th birth anniversary, promoting unity, self-reliance, and environmental awareness through a symbolic march and tree plantation drive.
In a powerful tribute to the Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Minister for Social Welfare and Social Education Tinku Roy led the ‘Sardar @150 Ekta Yatra’ from Dharmanagar to Krishnapur on Wednesday. The event celebrated Patel’s 150th birth anniversary and his timeless contribution to India’s unity and integrity.
The 6-kilometer-long unity march began from Vivekananda Satabarshiki Bhavan in Dharmanagar and concluded at Krishnapur Government Higher Secondary School. The march witnessed enthusiastic participation from government officials, local citizens, school students, and youth volunteers, all walking together to uphold Patel’s message of national integration, strength, and self-reliance.
A March for Unity and Inspiration
The rally resonated with patriotic fervor as participants carried banners, chanted slogans of unity, and waved the national flag. The atmosphere reflected the shared pride and gratitude for Sardar Patel’s vision of an India bound by solidarity and purpose.
Minister Tinku Roy, addressing the large gathering at the conclusion of the Yatra, paid rich tributes to Patel’s monumental role in shaping independent India. He emphasized that Sardar Patel’s leadership, wisdom, and foresight remain the foundation of India’s national unity.
“Sardar Patel’s ideals remain an eternal source of inspiration in building a united, strong, and self-reliant India,” said Minister Roy.
“His foresight, resolute leadership, and unwavering patriotism teach us that the true strength, progress, and pride of a nation lie in its unity.”
Translated Statement (from Bengali to English)
Minister Tinku Roy, while speaking at the event, further stated:
“Today, I joined the ‘Sardar @150 Ekta Yatra’ organized from Dharmanagar to Krishnapur in reverent remembrance of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel — the Iron Man of India, the symbol of our nation’s unity, solidarity, and integrity.
The ideals of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel remain an eternal source of inspiration for us in building a united, strong, and self-reliant India. His vision, strong leadership, and tireless patriotism teach us that the bond of unity holds the true essence of a nation’s strength, progress, and pride.”
Environmental Commitment: Tree Plantation Drive
Following the unity march, the District Forest Department organized a tree plantation drive near the Dharmanagar Children’s Park roadside. Minister Roy, along with senior officials and participants, planted saplings as a symbolic act of environmental stewardship and community development.
Speaking about the initiative, Minister Roy remarked that the plantation drive symbolized the responsibility of every citizen to protect the environment, much like Sardar Patel envisioned a sustainable and inclusive India.
He said, “Planting a tree is not just an act of environmental duty but a tribute to the generations to come. It reflects the same spirit of unity and responsibility that Sardar Patel lived by.”
People’s Participation and Public Spirit
The event attracted a diverse crowd — students carrying patriotic placards, local women’s groups dressed in traditional attire, and administrative officials marching shoulder to shoulder. The Yatra not only celebrated Patel’s vision but also strengthened the collective resolve for unity and communal harmony in the region.
Cultural programs and speeches by local leaders followed the Yatra, highlighting Patel’s key role in integrating over 560 princely states into the Indian Union after independence — a monumental task that earned him the title of “Iron Man of India.”
Honouring the Legacy of a True Nation-Builder
The ‘Sardar @150 Ekta Yatra’ stands as a reminder of how Patel’s leadership continues to inspire India’s journey toward unity and progress. Minister Tinku Roy’s participation underscored Tripura’s solidarity with the national celebration of Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day), observed every year on October 31 — Patel’s birth anniversary.
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As the Yatra concluded, the crowd chanted “Sardar Patel Amar Rahe!” (Long Live Sardar Patel!), echoing through Dharmanagar’s streets — a testament to the enduring influence of one of India’s greatest nation-builders.
