New Delhi, Oct 7 (PTI) The Delhi government, in collaboration with the Union government, has launched a nationwide campaign titled "Sardar @150" to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Addressing a press conference at Delhi Secretariat, Education Minister Ashish Sood said the campaign aims to honour Patel's historic role in uniting states to form a sovereign India and to inspire the younger generation to uphold the values of unity, integrity and self-reliance.
The celebrations are being held under the theme "Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat," said Sood.
A symbolic initiative, 'Sacred Waters of Unity,' will also be a part of the campaign, the minister said.
Under this initiative, 150 students and teachers will collect water from the Yamuna river in Delhi and carry it to 25 states, bringing back sacred water from prominent rivers there for a 'jalabhishek' ceremony at Sardar Patel's statue near Parliament Street on October 31 — Sardar Patel's birthday.
The journeys will be documented for a special screening during the main event, he said and added that the campaign will unfold in three phases.
The first phase, which began on October 6, focuses on digital engagement through social media reel contests, essay writing competitions and a national quiz under the Young Leaders Programme for participants aged 15 to 29. These activities, hosted on the MY Bharat platform, are intended to build nationwide participation ahead of on-ground events, the minister said.
The second phase (October 31 - November 25) will see district-level padyatras (unity walks) in every parliamentary constituency. Each will run for three days, covering 8 to 10 km per day, and will feature cultural performances, youth debates, health camps and awareness drives. Volunteers from MY Bharat, NSS and NCC will assist in these events.
The final phase, the National Padyatra, will begin on Constitution Day, November 26, from Karamsad, Sardar Patel's birthplace in Gujarat and conclude at the Statue of Unity in Kevadia on December 6.
Covering 152 km, it will be led by Union minister Mansukh Mandaviya and joined by 150 youth leaders selected through the national quiz, he said.
Along the route, participants will engage in community welfare activities and attend evening sessions titled Sardar Gatha, featuring stories from Patel's life, Sood added.
A state-level unity march, led by CM Rekha Gupta, will also be held in Delhi on October 31. It will begin from Patel Chowk and conclude at the National War Memorial, with about 5,000 participants expected. District-level padyatras covering 150 km will follow in the remaining 10 districts between October 31 and November 15.
For the first time, Delhi Foundation Day on November 1 will be celebrated under the theme "Meri Dilli, Mera Desh", featuring projection mapping, light and sound shows and a food festival showcasing India's culinary diversity, he said.
As per a statement, the Directorate of Education will organise a painting competition across 15 districts under the Sardar @150 banner. The top 150 winners will join the march in Delhi, while 15 top students will get an opportunity to interact with the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister, and visit the Statue of Unity in Gujarat.
The campaign will also highlight key social and environmental themes such as the Clean Yamuna Drive, the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, women-centric welfare initiatives and the "Viksit Delhi, Viksit Bharat" campaign, it stated.
Sood also said the Sardar @150 initiative is not just a tribute to Patel's legacy but also a call to India's youth to participate actively in nation-building.
"Through this campaign, India seeks to reaffirm its commitment to unity, self-reliance and development,” he added.