Patna: The education department has asked all government schools, universities and colleges to celebrate India's first home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's birth anniversary as Rashtriya Ekta Divas (National Unity Day) on October 31.
"As per our academic calendar we have been observing birth anniversaries of national icons, but this is for the first time that we have received a circular from the education department asking us to hold the event in a grand way," said Abhishek Kumar, a teacher at Bapu Smarak Mahila Uccha Vidhyalaya, Rajendra Nagar. "Educational institutions have been asked to administer a pledge to students to preserve the unity, integrity and security of the nation."
The circular issued by education department principal secretary R.K. Mahajan also directs institutions to hold essay, debate and slogan-writing competition on the theme of Patel and national integration, and the institutions have to inform district education officers (DEO) or higher bodies about their event.
Sources said that the state government till last year ignored the Centre's directive, saying the state will celebrate Sardar Patel's birth anniversary in its own way.
"The state education department issuing such directives clearly indicates that chief minister Nitish Kumar has surrendered before Narendra Modi," said RJD Hilsa MLA and party spokesperson Shakti Singh Yadav.
"By organising such events the state government tries to divert people's attention from real development issues. The condition of government schools is very pathetic, there is one computer teacher per 60,000 students, one physics teacher per 20,000 students at high schools and others," he added.
In August this year, the state education department had issued a directive - on the Centre's instructions to all government schools to promote the Swachh Bharat Mission through essay and painting competitions at government schools on September 5.
Patna to hold run
The Patna district administration will organise a Run for Unity to mark Sardar Patel's birth anniversary.
Over 1,200 people will participate in the run on October 31 that will start from Rajendra Chowk near Raj Bhavan, district magistrate Sanjay Kumar Agarwal announced on Sunday. Chief secretary Anjani Kumar Singh will flag off the run, which will end at Eco Park where all participants will take an oath of national integration and unity.
"Registrations will start at 7am and the run will start at 8 am," Agarwal said.
Bihar Military Police, Central Reserve Police Force, Sashastra Seema Bal, fire brigade and home guard personnel will participate in the run along with National Cadet Corps (NCC) scouts and from students from colleges and universities.
Agarwal, Patna senior superintendent of police Manu Maharaaj and superintendent of police (traffic) P.K. Das on Sunday inspected the start and end points of the run.
Agarwal asked the traffic SP to make necessary arrangements including diverting vehicles for the duration of the event.
