Sadbhavana Diwas is annually celebrated across India on the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. The day aims to promote national integration and communal harmony among the people of all religions and Languages.
- The Sabhavana Diwas literally means “Harmony Day”.
- The Sadbhavana Diwas 2021 marks the 77th birth anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi. He was born on 20th August 1944.
His birth anniversary is also celebrated as Rajiv Gandhi Akshay Urja Diwas.
About Rajiv Gandhi:
i.Rajiv Gandhi, son of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Feroze Gandhi served as the 6th Prime Minister of India.
ii.At the age of 40, He took charge as the Prime Minister of India in 1984. He was the youngest Prime Minister of India.
iii.He was assassinated on 21st May 1991 at Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu.
- The day 21st may have been declared as the Anti-Terrorism Day.
Awards:
The government of India honoured him (posthumously) with India’s highest civilian award “Bharat Ratna” in 1991.
Reforms and revolutions:
i.He was known as the Father of Information Technology and Telecom Revolution of India” and “the Architect of Digital India”.
ii.Under his rule, The Centre for Development of Telematics(C-DOT) was established in 1984.
iii.The C-DOT develops state of the art telecommunication technology and fulfils the needs of the Indian telecommunication network.
iv.He played a major role in establishing the Public Call Office(PCO), which connected the rural areas to the world.
v.He announced the National Policy on Education (NPE) in 1986 to modernise and expand higher education programmes across India.
Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhavana Award:
i.The All India Congress Committee (AICC) of the Indian National Congress(INC) instituted the Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhavana Award in 1992, the year after his assassination.
ii.The award recognises the contribution towards the promotion of communal harmony, national integration and Peace.
iii.The award consists of a citation and a cash award of Rs 10 lakh.
