Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Sunday, paid tributes to India’s first home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his 74th death anniversary, saying Patel’s personality and work will continue to be an inspiration for the citizens for the unity, integrity of the nation and the achievement of the resolution of a developed India.

Patel died on December 15, 1950 after a heart attack at Birla House in Mumbai. He was conferred the Bharat Ratna Award posthumously in 1991. In a post on X in Hindi, PM Modi said, “Hundreds of salutes to the Iron Man of the country, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his death anniversary. His personality and work will continue to be an inspiration for the countrymen for the unity, integrity of the nation and the achievement of the resolution of a developed India.”

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Union Home Minister Amit Shah also paid homage to the first home minister of Independent India. “I remember and pay my tribute to the symbol of India’s unity, ‘Iron Man’ Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his death anniversary. Sardar Patel laid the foundation stone for the creation of modern India by integrating more than 550 princely states. His dedication towards national unity and integrity laid a strong foundation for ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’. Sardar Saheb’s great personality and resolve to build the nation will forever remain a guide like the Pole Star for those who give priority to the national interest,” Shah wrote in a post on X.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh wrote that Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s contribution would never be forgotten. “My heartfelt tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his ‘Punyatithi’. India will never forget his vision and contribution,” he posted on X.

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was born on October 31, 1875 in Gujarat’s Nadiad. He played a crucial role in the freedom struggle of India and was instrumental in the integration of over 500 princely states into the Indian Union. He was also the first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of independent India.

In Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s remembrance, National Unity Day was introduced by the Union government in 2014. He is credited with uniting all 562 princely states of the pre-independent country to build the Republic of India.

Since 2014, October 31 has been observed as National Unity Day or Rashtriya Ekta Diwas and on this occasion ‘Run for Unity’ is organised across the country, which is participated by people from all walks of life.