SHILLONG, Oct 14: Meghalaya will host the Sardar 150 Unity March, aligning with the national campaign honouring the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Announcing this in a press briefing here on Tuesday, Sports Minister Wailadmiki Shylla said that the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports had instructed all states to conduct the Unity March as part of the year-long celebration. “This is not merely an event — it is a call to reawaken the spirit of unity that Sardar Patel stood for,” he told reporters.
Shylla said that the national campaign, inaugurated on October 6 by Union Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, has already commenced digitally through My Bharat, where youth from across the country are engaging in essay contests, online challenges, and leadership programmes.
According to him, the second phase of the initiative will unfold from October 31 to November 25, featuring district-level Padyatras across Meghalaya. Each of these unity marches will span 8 to 10 kilometres in every district and Lok Sabha constituency.
“To build momentum, schools and colleges will hold debates, seminars, essay competitions, cleanliness drives, and Swadeshi Melas ahead of the Padyatras,” Shylla said. “Just as Sardar Patel united the princely states into one India, this march aims to unite the hearts of our people.”
Participants in the state-wide Padyatras will include volunteers from My Bharat, NCC, NSS, educational institutions, and various community and religious groups. The activities will also feature Swadeshi pledges, yoga sessions, environmental campaigns, and exhibitions based on the theme Viksit Bharat.
Shylla added that two to five Padyatra teams from each region will journey to Karamsad, Gujarat — Sardar Patel’s birthplace — by November 25 to join the grand national finale. On November 26, Constitution Day, thousands of marchers will cover 152 kilometres from Karamsad to the Statue of Unity at Kevadia.
Reflecting on Patel’s vision, Shylla said, “Sardar Patel’s dream was not confined to his era. It was for generations to come. We must carry it forward by building an Atmanirbhar and Viksit Bharat.”
He appealed to every citizen of Meghalaya to actively join the march and promote the ideals of national integration.
When asked by the media, Shylla confirmed that he himself would participate in the Unity March. “We are still at the planning stage, but coordination is underway with my department, district officials, and the police for logistics and traffic management,” he noted.
He also mentioned that all MLAs would be invited to take part. “I believe every legislator will share equal responsibility in making this a success. I’ll personally reach out and send invitations,” he added.
Closing the briefing, the minister called on citizens to embrace unity and self-reliance. “Let us honour Sardar Patel’s legacy by joining hands for a stronger, self-reliant India,” Shylla said.
