Event held to honour country’s first Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel; students express excitement to be ‘part of change’
Youths from across the valley, mostly associated with various schools and colleges, took centre stage in the ‘Run for Unity’ event on Tuesday flagged off by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. The run was held in honour of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel ahead of National Unity Day and his birth anniversary.
Sardar Patel was an Indian politician who served as the first Home Minister of India and the first Deputy Prime Minister of India. He was also an active member of the Indian National Congress. Notably, his actual date of birth was never formally recorded, while Wikipedia showed him as born on 31 October 1875 and died on 15 December 1950.
The ‘Run for Unity’, spanning from the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) to the Botanical Garden, drew students from various higher secondary schools and colleges, highlighting their hopes for unity and peace in Kashmir.
According to details obtained by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), with the involvement of VIPs and a large number of students, the event necessitated a previously issued traffic advisory by the Srinagar Traffic Police, adjusting routes from 7:00 am to 10:00 am to ensure smooth traffic flow.
To accommodate participants, designated parking areas were established, and emergency vehicles were prioritised.
Students expressed excitement about the event, saying that gathering with peers from diverse backgrounds served as a powerful reminder of their collective goals for a peaceful and united Kashmir. “This run makes us feel part of something larger, and unity isn’t just a word, but something we can achieve,” said Wahid, a college student.
Another participant, Ayesha Mir, said, “Participating in this run feels amazing, and today I am very happy to be here. I want to encourage everyone to join such events and be part of change because together we can achieve anything.”
