Sadbhavana Diwas or Harmony Day is observed on August 20 every year in India with the intention of promoting peace, unity, and harmony among the various religions and communities.
- The day also marks the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister(PM) Rajiv Gandhi.
- August 20, 2025 marks the 81st birth anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi.
Exam Hints:
- Event: Sadbhavana Diwas 2025
- When? August 20(annually)
- Significance: Marks the birth anniversary of former PM Rajiv Gandhi
- 2025 Highlight: 81st birth anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi
- PM: Became youngest PM in 1984, at 40
- First Observed: August 20, 1992
Background:
Observation:Sadbhavana Diwas was first observed on August 20, 1992, in memory of Rajiv Gandhi, who was assassinated in 1991.
Meaning: The word ‘Sadbhavana’ translates to ‘Goodwill and Bonafide’ in English.
About Rajiv Gandhi :
Birth: Rajiv Gandhi was born on August 20, 1944, in Bombay (now Mumbai, Maharashtra).
Career : Worked as a professional pilot with Indian Airlines before entering politics. Entered politics after the death of his younger brother Sanjay Gandhi in 1980.
PM: He became the youngest PM of India on October 31, 1984 at the age of 40, after Indira Gandhi’s assassination.
Major Contributions:
- Launched the New Education Policy (1986).
- Established IGNOU (Indira Gandhi National Open University) in New Delhi(Delhi) and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas.
- Signed the Punjab Accord (1985) and Assam Accord (1985).
- Focused on science, technology, and telecommunication reforms.
- After 1990, he introduced measures to significantly reduce the Licence Raj system in India.
Constitutional Reform: During his tenure, the 61st Constitutional Amendment Act of 1988 was passed by Parliament, lowering the voting age in India from 21 to 18 years by amending Article 326 of the Constitution.
Honours: He was known as the “Father of Information Technology and Telecom Revolution of India.”
- In 1991, Rajiv Gandhi was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, by the Government of India.
Death: Assassinated on May 21, 1991, at Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu(TN).
- The death anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi (May 21) is observed as Anti-Terrorism Day in India.
Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award :
Purpose: The Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award (also called Rajiv Gandhi National Communal Harmony Award) is conferred for outstanding contribution towards communal harmony, national integration, and peace.
Institution: The award was instituted in 1992 by the All India Congress Committee (AICC) to commemorate the lasting contribution of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
Award Details: Recipients receive a citation and a cash prize of Rs.10 Lakhs.
2024 Awardee: Veteran Congress leader and former Minister J. Geetha Reddy was honoured with the Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhavana Award 2024.
