Nation to observe Sadbhavna Diwas 2022 on this 20th August: Know its history, importance and awardees

Sadbhavana Diwas or Sadbhavna Day means a day dedicated to promotion of social peace and harmony. The day is observed on 20 August - birthday of our former PM Rajiv Gandhi - every year commemorating his contribution to society and the nation.

Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by a LTTE-sponsored suicide bomber during an election rally in Sriperumbudur (Tamil Nadu) on 21 May 1991. He was honoured with the Bharat Ratna - nation's highest civilian award - after his death.

Why do we celebrate Sadbhavana Diwas?

The celebration aims to encourage national integration through building long-lasting peace and communal harmony among people of various castes, sects and religions of India.

Important facts about Rajiv Gandhi:

He is so far the youngest Prime Minister of India becoming so at the age of just 40.
He is the third and so far the last PM from the politically significant Gandhi Family; the first two being his grandfather JL Nehru - and his mother Indira Gandhi.

Rajiv Gandhi Achievements:

Announced a National Policy on Education in 1986 to modernise and expand higher education programs
Founder of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya System - providing free, quality, and residential education across rural india from 6th till 12 class.
Played a key role in establishing MTNL in 1986.
For those of you who have seen PCOs (Telephone Booth) in their childhood, should know that it was Rajiv Gandhi behind this. It connected rural India with telephone service.
He brought down age of voting rights from 21 to 18 as a message to the nation that he believes in the power of the youth to change the nation for the better.
He pioneered Panchayati Raj System in India, decentralising power of decision making to villages across India.
It was he who launched the ambitious Jawahar Rozgar Yojana in 1989, giving employment opportunities to poor people across India.

Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award:

The Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana award was created in 1992 - an year after his death in 1991.
It was instituted by All India Congress Committee of the Indian National Congress Party (INC) as a tribute to their leader and his contribution to the party and the nation.
This award consist of a citation and cash Prize of Rs 10 Lakh.
It is awarded on Sadbhavna Diwas (August 20) to those who have promoted social peace and harmony through their works.

Recipients of Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award:

The First (1995): Jagan Nath Kaul
The Last (2018): Gopalkrishna Gandhi
2017 (the only year it was given to two recipients): Mohammad Azharuddin (Cricketer), and M.Gopala Krishna (Retired IAS Officer)

Be mindful of the fact that it has not been awarded every year since its inception. So you can expect a gap of few years between two consecutive recipient.

Other Awardees:
Lata Mangeshkar, Sunil Dutt, Kapila Vatsyanan, S.N.Subba Rao, Swami Agnivesh, Nirmala Deshpande, Hem Dutta, N Radhakrishnan, Gautam Bhai, Wahiduddin Khan, SPIC MACAY, D.R Mehta, Amjad Ali Khan, Muzaffar Ali, Shubha Mudgal,

Sadbhavana Diwas Pledge:

Indian citizens are expected to make the following pledge on every Sadbhavna Day, and Sadbhavna Day 2022 is no different:

"I take this solemn pledge that I will work for the emotional oneness and harmony of all the people of India regardless of caste, region, religion, or language. I further pledge that I shall resolve all differences among us through dialogue and constitutional means without resorting to violence."