Every year 20th August is celebrated as the Sadbhavana Diwas which is also known as Communal Harmony Day, to commemorate the Birth Anniversary of former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi.
20th August 2020, marks the 76th Birth anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi.
About Rajiv Gandhi:
i.Rajiv Gandhi was born on 20th August 1944 in Bombay, as Rajiv Ratna Gandhi.
ii.He was the son of former prime minister Indira Gandhi and Feroze Gandhi.
iii.After the assasination of Indira Gandhi on 31 October 1984, at the age of 40 Rajiv Gandhi became the sixth and youngest prime minister of India and served from 1984 to 1989.
iv.He was known as the “Father of Information Technology and Telecom Revolution in India”.
v.At the age of 46 he was assassinated in Sriperumbudur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu on May 21, 1991.
Awards:
The Government of India posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award to Rajiv Gandhi in 1991.
Policies and Reforms:
i.The Rajiv Gandhi government introduced the National Education Policy 1986, a child centred approach in primary education.
ii.The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) was established in August 1984 during his rule.
iii.Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas(JNV), residential schools under the central government were established to support and provide free residential education for the rural students from class 6 to 12.
Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award:
i.The All India Congress Committee (AICC) instituted the annual Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award (RGNSA) in 1992 in memory of Rajiv Gandhi.
ii.The award will be presented for outstanding contribution in promoting peace, communal harmony and combating violence and terrorism.
iii.The award includes a citation and a cash award of Rs.10 lakh
