The preamble of our Constitution includes three timeless words, Unity, Sovereignty, and Integrity.
In school, we began our morning prayer with the pledge,
“India is my country, and all Indians are my brothers and sisters.”
Those lines may have been routine back then. But as I stood before the Statue of Unity recently, their meaning came alive in my heart. Unity, something so simple to say, yet so difficult to uphold is the strength that has kept India standing tall through centuries.
India is one of the world’s oldest civilizations. From the Mauryas to the Guptas, from the Cholas to the Marathas, our country has seen the courage and vision of great kings. Yet history also reminds us of our greatest weakness, disunity.
Many rulers did not lose and empires did not fall due powerful enemies but due to betrayal within. Prithviraj Chauhan, Siraj-ud-Daulah, the Marathas, were defeated only when unity gave way to ego, rivalry, or deceit.
Time and again, India has paid the price because the people stood divided.
And that is why the words Unity and Integrity in our Constitution are not just ideals but warnings from history and promises for the future.
My visit to Kevadia was not just a sightseeing trip but a pilgrimage, to pay tribute to Sardar Vallabh bhai Patel, the leader whose vision enabled princely states in India to become one with our nation.
And frankly, his towering 182 metres steel statue portraying his strength and determination made me look tiny, yet feel deeply proud.
The statue is not just an engineering wonder but also symbol of achievements made by collective efforts.
The Viewing Gallery at his chest level has breathtaking views of the Sardar Sarovar Dam, the Narmada River, and the Vindhya and Satpura ranges.
The museum at the base presents details about his life, courage diplomacy and his mission to unite 562 princely states into one India.
The statue transforms into a massive screen for the laser show in the evening reflecting his spirit and sense of purpose.
Ekta Nagar, has other attractions for families with children like the Valley of Flowers, Butterfly Garden, and Arogya Van which show how nature and humans can live in harmony.
At night, the Unity Glow Garden lights up the surroundings in vibrant colours.
Travel is easy in free electric buses and eco-friendly transport which make Ekta Nagar India’s first e-city, a step towards a cleaner, greener future.
What fascinated me most was the fleet of bright pink e-rickshaws driven by local tribal women.These were not just vehicles but symbols of women empowerment providing dignity and opportunity for equal development.
Having served as Deputy Commissioner (Rehabilitation) in Maharashtra for families of project affected persons, the visit gave me a perspective how development and compassion can go together, how people who sacrificed their homes and land find new beginnings.
Every year, on 31st October, India celebrates Rashtriya Ekta Diwas ,the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
On this day, the Prime Minister himself leads the nation in paying tribute to the Iron Man of India.
The Unity Parade, the floral tributes, and the Ekta Pledge, all serve to remind us that India’s strength lies not just in uniformity, but in unity.
Sardar Patel’s had a very clear vision of “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat.”
He envisaged a nation where differences of language, faith, and culture would never become walls, but bridges.That message is more relevant today because we cannot afford to forget the lessons of our past. Every act of division weakens the dream he built and each act of unity strengthens it.
In the evening, we visited the Narmada Ghat near the Shoolpaneshwar Temple to witness the Narmada Maha Aarti.
The priests, the lamps, the chants, and the shimmering river made it a moment of quiet peace. The lamps floating on the water were shining with the same message that unity is light, when we stand together, India shines brighter.
Standing there, with the Iron Man's silhouette in the background, I realized that India's strength does not lie in the steel, stone, or slogans but in our spirit to stay together through differences, through challenges, through every storm.
Sardar Patel’s statue is not just a monument. It is a mirror showing us what we can achieve when we remain united and what we would lose if we go apart. As if the Iron Man is echoing across to generations :
“Stay united, stay strong, and never let history repeat itself.”
R. Vimala, IAS
Resident Commissioner, Maharashtra,
Compassionate Civil Servant & PhD Scholar at IIT Bombay
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