Ekta Diwas 2025: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s Vision of Unity Resonates in India–Gulf Relations
New Delhi/Dubai, October 31 (TheTrendingPeople.com): As India marked Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day) on Friday to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the “Iron Man of India,” a report published in the UAE’s leading daily Khaleej Times drew a powerful parallel between Patel’s legacy of unity and India’s modern partnerships — particularly with the Gulf nations.
The report, written by journalist Farheen M, highlighted that Patel’s dream of a confident, united India now finds reflection in the India–Gulf relationship, a partnership anchored in mutual trust, cultural empathy, and shared opportunity — and recognized as one of the world’s most enduring and stable collaborations.
Unity Beyond Borders: India and the Gulf Connection
The message of Ekta Diwas — unity in diversity — extended far beyond India’s borders this year, reaching the Gulf region, where millions of Indians live and work.
“For hundreds of years, the Gulf and India have been bound by faith, culture and trade. In the present time, this historic connection has evolved into a partnership of progress,” Farheen M wrote in her Khaleej Times article.
Today, more than nine million Indians reside in Gulf nations, contributing to various sectors — from healthcare and education to ports, start-ups, and boardrooms. This diaspora, she noted, “embodies the spirit of hard work, inclusivity, and loyalty that Patel envisioned for India.”
The Indian Diaspora: Stakeholders in Gulf Growth
The success of the Indian diaspora in the Gulf has transformed them from contributors to stakeholders in the region’s growth story.
Indian professionals, engineers, entrepreneurs, and workers have played key roles in the Gulf’s landmark projects — from the UAE’s futuristic skylines to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 megaprojects and Oman’s community initiatives.
The Khaleej Times report pointed out that this collaboration demonstrates a “unity in diversity” — an ideal both India and the Gulf have embraced.
The Gulf nations’ social and developmental reforms, such as Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, the UAE’s ‘Year of Tolerance’, and Oman’s interfaith outreach, reflect a shared belief that societies thrive when rooted in mutual respect, cohesion, and inclusion.
Modern India: Diversity as Strength
The report also lauded India’s pluralism as a defining element of its strength — a nation of 1.4 billion people, home to hundreds of languages and every major faith in the world.
“Modern India’s story is a living testament to the power of unity. Its diversity has not divided it — it has driven it forward,” the report stated.
It noted that India’s ability to turn differences into dynamism has made it the world’s fastest-growing major economy and one of its most stable democracies.
From flagship initiatives like Digital India and Make in India to the long-term vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, the same principle of inclusive growth continues to drive India’s development — a philosophy mirrored in the Gulf’s approach to modernization that balances progress with cultural continuity.
Global Celebration of Ekta Diwas
While the main celebrations were held at the Statue of Unity in Gujarat, community events also took place across the Gulf — in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Muscat — organized by Indian missions and diaspora associations.
The festivities included ‘Run for Unity’ campaigns, cultural programs, and public gatherings showcasing Indian art, music, and cuisine. These events reaffirmed that India’s unity transcends geography, living on in the values and actions of Indians abroad.
“India’s unity does not remain restricted by geography but lives in every Indian who carries the country's values like resilience, adaptability, and harmony in diversity to other nations,” the article noted.
Unity as a Shared Global Ethos
In her reflection, Farheen underscored that in an age of global polarization, the message of Ekta Diwas has universal resonance.
“Unity is not sameness — it is strength through diversity. India’s example shows that democracy and diversity can coexist, thrive, and even accelerate development.”
This ethos, the report argued, also drives the Gulf’s ongoing transformation, where multicultural workforces, economic diversification, and social reform coexist in balance.
Together, India and the Gulf are shaping what the report called a “new global model of cooperation” — one that is pragmatic, peaceful, and people-centric.
Patel’s Dream in the Modern World
Sardar Patel’s lifelong commitment to unity and national strength, the report said, is now reflected in India’s international diplomacy and partnerships, especially in regions like the Gulf where shared values continue to strengthen bilateral ties.
“As India celebrates Ekta Diwas, it also celebrates the values it shares with the Gulf: tolerance, progress, and unity of purpose,” it added.
Quoting Patel’s timeless words —
“Every citizen of India must remember that he is an Indian and he has every right in this country but with certain duties” —
the report emphasized that this sense of duty and civic responsibility now extends beyond borders, defining the Indian diaspora across the world.
From Ahmedabad to Abu Dhabi, New Delhi to Dubai, the message remains clear — unity is not just a part of India’s heritage; it is India’s greatest export.
Final Thoughts from TheTrendingPeople.com
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s legacy continues to guide not only India’s internal cohesion but also its growing role in global partnerships built on trust, inclusivity, and shared growth.
As the nation celebrates Ekta Diwas 2025, Patel’s dream of a united and confident India finds new expression in the vibrant relationship between India and the Gulf — a partnership rooted in centuries-old ties yet focused on a shared future.
Unity, as both regions exemplify, is more than a political principle — it is a moral force that transforms diversity into strength and progress into shared prosperity.