"Remembering Loh Purush Sardar Patel on his Birth Anniversary"

Dear Friends,

I am sure you are enjoying the festive season and eagerly waiting for Diwali.

On 31st October, the nation would celebrate the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

This year, Sardar Patel's birth anniversary would be even more special because we are going to lay the foundation stone of the Statue of Unity. At a height of 182 metres, the State of Unity would be among the tallest statues in the world, celebrating and paying tributes to the Iron Man of India. The Statue of Unity would be situated at Sadhu Bet, which is close to the Sardar Sarovar Dam.

We are building the Statue through PPP model and with latest technology. A few months ago, I had appealed to my farmer sisters and brothers from all over India to contribute their iron tools they used in farming to build the statue. After all, Sardar Patel was not only a Loh Purush (Iron Man) but also a Kisan Putra (son of a farmer). I once again appeal to everyone to support us in this endeavour.

Sardar Patel is the architect of modern India. Overcoming various obstacles he integrated the entire nation and today, if we can celebrate our unity, it is due to the efforts of Sardar Patel. Yet, it is equally true that there are forces within our country that are threatened by this unity. They have used guns and bombs to scare and mislead the people. From the nation of Lord Buddha, Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel, let us send a strong message to these elements that their ways of violence will not work. They should alter their path, join the mainstream and work for the development of our nation so that the dreams of stalwarts like Sardar Patel are fulfilled.

During this festive season I have another request to make to you... in this age of text messages, WhatsApp, social media, Tweets and Emails, when was the last time you had written a hand written letter?

Let us give a unique Diwali gift to our family and friends- a hand written letter. Surprise them with the handwritten letter that would and talk about the importance of voter registration. If they have not registered as voters, urge them to register and urge them to spread the message to their family and friends! This is something where our NRI friends can help in a major way. Our nation is at a very critical juncture and it is the voters, the Bhagya Vidhatas of a democracy who steer the nation away from troubled times.

I am glad to see that www.India272.com is giving the opportunity to share your letter so that others can get inspired to write to their friends. I am sharing the link where you can do so:
http://volunteer.india272.com/letter

I am sharing a video on the Statue of Unity and my speech at the inauguration ceremony of the Sardar Patel memorial in Ahmedabad. With your support and blessings, we will build a grand statue for Sardar Patel that will be the cynosure of the world's eyes.

- Narendra Modi

Gujarat Chief Minister