CBSE asks schools to commemorate Sardar Patel birth anniv

After UGC's communication to the varsities in this regard, CBSE today asked all its affiliated schools to celebrate the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on Oct. 31 by taking a national unity pledge and organising events celebrating his life and work.
The students, during morning assembly, will take the 'Rashtriya Ekta Diwas' pledge, one of the lines in which says: "I take this pledge in the spirit of unification of my country which was made possible by the vision and action of Late Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel."
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) said that the event will convey a message of unity, safety and security to all students. The commemoration of Patel's birth anniversary would allow the students to further spread the message and they will act as unity, safety and security ambassadors, CBSE said in its communication to the schools.

The students will also take part in a run for unity soon after taking the pledge, CBSE said. They are also expected to participate in other activities such as poster and collage- making, painting and team debates.
About 350 selected centres will also be separately involved in spreading the message by inviting students from their neighbourhood schools.
CBSE has also appointed 250 centre co-coordinators in schools across the country to mark the occasion.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) had on Oct. 22 written to all vice chancellors of affiliated institutions to commemorate the Oct. 31 birth anniversary of Sardar Patel, independent India's first home minister.

Earlier, the government had designated the birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi on Oct. 2 as the date for the official launch of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. On that day, students across the country had taken the 'cleanliness pledge' in their schools.