(Image source from: www.americanbazaaronline.com)

The Indian embassy in Washington organized a special event on Friday marking the 143rd birth anniversary of Indian Independence leader Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (1875-1950).

The Indian diplomatic mission witnessed a packed house Friday evening.

Acclaiming Patel as "one of the tallest leaders in the freedom movement," Deputy Chief of Mission Santosh Jha commenced the program at the chancery by paying a floral tribute to the statesman, independent India's first deputy prime minister, and home minister.

"We marked his birth anniversary on October 31 with a small event at the embassy," Jha said reminding the gathering that the day is celebrated as 'Rashtriya Ekta Diwas' (National Unity Day) in India. "As public servants, we take an oath to maintain the unity and integrity of India," he revealed adding it was administered by Ambassador Navtej Sarna.

Amid other major achievements, Patel is attributed for uniting 565 princely states to build the Republic of India for which he attained the title, 'Iron Man of India'.

Admitting that "it is very difficult to talk about such an illustrious character as Sardar Patel," Jha marked his role as "one of the makers of modern India, one of the leading freedom fighters, one of the tallest leaders in the freedom movement" and the integrator of India.

Welcoming the gathering to the event, Shambhu Hakki, First Secretary, Press Information and Culture, at the Indian Embassy, said, "Today, we have gathered here to celebrate the 143rd birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, a great leader who devoted his entire life to nation-building."

During the course of the program, two informative works were screened: a documentary on the life and contributions of Patel; and a Statue of Unity Anthem highlighting the bronze monolith inaugurated earlier this week.

Earlier, on Wednesday, the world's tallest statue, a tribute to Patel, was unveiled on the scenic banks of the Narmada river near the town of Kevadiya in Gujarat by Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi.

Jha noted, "While inaugurating the statue, the prime minister reminded us of two elements: Patel had the diplomacy of Kautilya, a reference to Chanakya - India's great political thinker and economist, much before Machiavelli was born; and he had the courage of Shivaji (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, warrior king and founder of the Maratha Empire). So, two greats in one person," he said.

Interestingly, the Statue of Unity will not hold the eminence of being the world's tallest statue for long as another one is presently under construction in Maharashtra - a memorial to Shivaji which, upon completion (2021), is estimated to be over 623 feet tall, and will cost around half a billion dollars.

-Sowmya Sangam