Sadbhavana Diwas 2024: Date, History, and Significance

Harmony Day in India, also known as the Harmony Day, is celebrated on August 20 every year. The day is dedicated to promoting communal harmony, peace and national integration. In 2024, Harmony Day will continue to honor the legacy of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, who was a staunch advocate of these values. The 2024 Harmony Day will mark the 80th birth anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi.

Paying tribute to our former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his birth anniversary.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 20, 2024

history

Sadbhavana Diwas is celebrated in memory of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, who was assassinated on May 21, 1991. He served as the sixth Prime Minister of India from 1984 to 1989. Rajiv Gandhi was born on August 20, 1944. At the age of 40, he became the Prime Minister in Indian history. He became Prime Minister after the assassination of his mother, Indira Gandhi.

— Indian National Congress (@INCIndia) August 20, 2024

Rajiv Gandhi made significant contributions to India’s progress. In 1985, as Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi enacted the Anti-Defection Act. The Act prohibited elected members of the Congress and the Legislative Assembly from defecting to the opposition party before the next elections, aiming to stabilize political alliances and prevent speculative defections. In 1986, he launched a National Education Policy. In the same year, he established the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya system. During his five-year tenure, many other initiatives such as MTNL and PCO (Public Call Office) were established.

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significance

Peace Day is significant as it highlights the need for peace, harmony and tolerance in a multicultural society like India. The day is dedicated to promoting communal harmony, national integration and a sense of unity among all Indians. It encourages people to rise above regional, linguistic and religious differences and work together for national progress.

The significance of Sadbhavana Diwas stems from Rajiv Gandhi’s commitment to these ideals. During his tenure as Prime Minister, he worked to bridge divides and promote a more inclusive and harmonious society. The day is marked by various events, including seminars, discussions, and activities aimed at reinforcing the values ​​of unity and peace that Rajiv Gandhi promoted.

Rajiv Gandhi Memorial Award

A key part of Sadbhavana Diwas is the presentation of the Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhavana Award. Introduced in 1992, the award is given annually to an individual or organisation who has made a significant contribution to promoting communal harmony, national integration and peace.

Some of the famous Rajiv Gandhi Sadhbhawana Award recipients include Lata Mangeshkar, Sunil Dutt, Jagan Nath Kaul, Kapila Vatsyanan, SNSubba Rao, Nirmala Deshpande, Swami Agnivesh, Hem Dutta, N Radhakrishnan, DR Mehta, Amjad Ali Khan, Muzaffar Ali, Mohammad Azharuddin , M.Gopala Krishna, Gopalkrishna Gandhi, Shubha Mudgal, SPIC MACAY, Wahiddun Khan and Gautam Bhai.

The award recognizes the efforts of those who embody the vision of Rajiv Gandhi and work towards fostering a spirit of understanding and cooperation among different communities. It is a way of recognizing and encouraging those who work towards promoting the values ​​of peace and unity in society.

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