High Commission of India in Ottawa, in collaboration with the Canada – India Centre for Excellence and community leaders in Ottawa celebrated the 141^st Birth Anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, at the Carleton University, Ottawa today.

2. Acting High Commissioner Arun Kumar Sahu delivered the inaugural remarks and highlighted Sardar Patel’s contribution to the foundation of modern India, Indianness and “political democracy’.  He underlined PM Modi’s views that it is because of one man Sardar Patel, who united all states of India, when we travel from Kashmir to Kanyakumari do not need any visa or permit and we do not pay any tax when we pass through all the states of India. Acting High Commissioner also highlighted PM’s commitment to build the tallest statue “Statue of Unity” of Sardar Patel in India.

3. Ms. Pauline Rankin, Associate Vice President, Research and International Affairs, Carleton University, addressed the gathering at the event. In her address she said that it was an honour to be invited at such a prestigious function for the first time, and admired the role of Sardar Patel in ameliorating the plight of refugees and unifying various diverse groups in India.  She said, though it was Sardar Patel’s 141^st Birth Anniversary but still his teachings bear resonance in the 21^st century.

4. Mr. Umesh Kumar, President of the India – Canada Association, Mr. Kashyap Desai, President of Gujarati Association, Mr. Bala Madaparthi, President of Festival of India, Dr. Virendra Bharti,Patanjali Yoga and Mr. Deepak Menon, President, Malayali Association also spoke on the occasion.

5. To mark the occasion, Mission also organized an essay competition on the life of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and the winners of the competition were awarded prizes by the Acting High Commissioner Arun Kumar Sahu. A photographic exhibition on the life of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was also mounted.

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High Commission of India -Ottawa
4.11.2016