Sadbhavana Diwas 2023 - 78th Birth Anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi

By : Neha Dhyani

Updated : Aug 8, 2023, 17:19

The Sadbhavana Diwas or Harmony Day is celebrated every year on August 20, memorializing the birthday of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. He was born to Feroze and Indira Gandhi, and is India's sixth prime minister known for his contributions to the development of the country and the well-being of its citizens. Let us read more about Sadbhavana Diwas.

The Sadbhavana Diwas 2022 was launched to facilitate national integration, peace, respect, and public harmony among individuals of all Indian religions. In this article, you will learn about Sadbhavana Diwas 2023, the date, Rajiv Gandhi details, and the significance of the day.

Sadbhavana Diwas Date in 2023

The term comes from - "Sadbhavana" meaning "good faith" and "bonafide" in English. Rajiv Gandhi's thinking skill was modern and unique as the prime minister. August 20, 2023, marks the 79th anniversary of the birth of the former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi.

Rajiv Gandhi had observed developed countries through many national and international projects he promoted. The fundamental theme of Sadbhavana Diwas was the promotion of federal unity and communal harmony among people of all religions and languages.

Rajiv Gandhi Biography: Birth and Political Career

He was the most youthful Prime Minister of the country at age 40. He served from 1984-1989. He has made a great contribution to the development of the country. He declared a National Policy on Education to modernize higher education plans.

  • He founded a central government agency called the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya System in 1986 and empowered the rural areas of society by educating from class 6.
  • As a result of his efforts, MTNL was founded in 1986 and distributes telephone calls to rural areas.
  • Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister, was his grandfather.
  • Indira Gandhi, Prime Minister of India, was his mother. After her assassination, Rajiv Gandhi became the Prime Minister.
  • After 1990, he introduced criteria for diminishing Licence Raj that permitted individuals or businesses to purchase funds, consumer goods, and imports without administrative restrictions.
  • Rajiv Gandhi introduced voting rights at the age of 18 and also formed Panchayati Raj.
  • He strongly encouraged youth power and said that the country's development depends only on the awareness of the country's youth, and started Jawahar Rozgar Yojana to give employment to the youth.
  • Rajiv Gandhi was murdered in 1991 by a suicide bomber of the LTTE while participating in an election campaign.
  • After his death, he received the highest civilian award in India, which is the Bharat Ratna.

Significance of the Sadbhavana Diwas

Sadbhavana Diwas is celebrated annually to commemorate Rajiv Gandhi, who dreamed of making India a developed country. His numerous economic and social works underscore his dreams. Sadbhavana Diwas is celebrated to promote national unity, peace, empathy, and community harmony among Indians of all faiths. "Sadbhavana" means "good faith" in English.

The theme of Sadbhavana Diwa is the promotion of national unity and social goodwill among people of different beliefs and cultures. Rajiv Gandhi is honoured by his relatives and high-ranking parliamentary officials on his birthday. They dedicated a wreath to Veer Bhoomi, where he was cremated.

How is Sadbhavana Diwas celebrated?

Sadbhavana Diwas in India hosts numerous cultural events and conventions in all states. Sadhbhavna Diwas is also involved in green conservation, natural beauty, environmental protection, and biodiversity conservation.

Many events at Sadbhavana Diwas aim to raise public awareness of these important environmental issues. Planting saplings is a key celebration that has been followed on this day.

Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award

In 1992, the Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award was established by the All-Indian Parliamentary Commission of the Indian National Congress to commemorate former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. This award is given annually to those who have devoted their lives to understanding and promoting the harmony of society.

This award represents a prize of Rs.10 Lakh and a prize. Some Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Awards winners are Lata Mangeshkar, Shubha Mudgal, Sunil Dutt, Amjad Ali Khan, Mohammad Azharuddin, Gopalkrishna Gandhi, and many more. Below is the list of former Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award winners:

Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award winners

Contribution

Year

Jagan Nath Kaul

SOS Children’s Village of India Founder

1995

Lata Mangeshkar

Playback singer

1996

Sunil Dutt

Actor and Politician

1998

Kapila Vatsyayan

History and Art scholar

2000

S. N. Subba Rao

Founder of national youth project

2003

Swami Agnivesh

Founder of Arya Sabha, worked against bonded labour

2004

Nirmala Deshpande

Social activist, worked for the upliftment of women, and tribals

2006

Hem Dutta

Communal harmony activist

2007

N Radhakrishnan

Social worker and professor

2008

Gautam Bhai

Member of Paunar Ashram and Social activist

2009

Wahiduddin Khan

Peace Activist and Islamic Scholar

2010

Spic Macay

Promoted Classical Music and culture among youth

2011

D. R. Mehta

Founder of Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti, Jaipur and offers free limbs for the handicap

2012

Amjad Ali Khan

Musician

2013

Muzaffar Ali

Film Maker

2014

Shubha Mudgal

Singer

2016

Mohammad Azharuddin


M.Gopala Krishna

Former Cricketer


Retired IAS Officer

2017

Gopalkrishna Gandhi

Communal Harmony, Goodwill and Peace

2018

Sadbhavana Diwas Pledge in English

Sadbhavana Diwas is observed throughout the country, and citizens take the following pledge on this day:

"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."

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FAQs on Sadbhavana Diwas

Q.1. What is the literal meaning of Sadbhavana Diwas?

In English, "Sadbhavana Diwas" means "a day of good faith." The main theme of Sadbhavana Diwas is the promotion of national unity and social goodwill among people of different beliefs and cultures.

Q.2. What is the background of Rajiv Gandhi's family under Sadbhavana Diwas?

Rajiv Gandhi was the youngest prime minister (only 40 years old) in the country's history. He was the son of India's first female prime minister, Indira Gandhi, and the grandson of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India in the background of Rajiv Gandhi's family under Sadbhavana Diwas.

Q.3. Why does Sadbhavana Diwas commemorate Rajiv Gandhi?

Rajiv Gandhi became prime minister after his mother, Indira Gandhi, was assassinated. Rajiv Gandhi sought to promote harmony, national integrity, and peace in the Indian community and was considered a goodwill ambassador to other parts of the world. His thinking has been modern since he was young, and he pioneered the concept of developed countries through various domestic and international companies; this is why the Sadbhavana Diwas commemorates Rajiv Gandhi.

Q.4. What was Rajiv Gandhi's main contribution commemorating through Sadbhavana Diwas?

Rajiv Gandhi's main contribution commemorated through Sadbhavana Diwas to the country's progress:

  • In 1986, he introduced a national education policy to reform and improve higher education institutions across India.
  • In 1986, he founded the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya System. It is a centralized public school that improves rural societies by providing free education for grades 6-12.
  • His efforts led to the establishment of MTNL in 1986, the Public Telephone Office (PCO) for providing telephones to rural areas.

Q.5. When is the Sadbhavana Diwas celebrated?

Sadbhavana Diwas is observed nationwide on August 20 to commemorate the Birth Anniversary of the Late Shri Rajiv Gandhi, former Prime Minister of India. Sadbhavana Diwas 2023 will mark the 79th bird anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi. The main aim of launching this Diwas was to elevate nationwide unity, peace, kindness, and communal harmony amongst Indians of all beliefs.

Q6. What was Sadbhavana Diwas Shapath in Marathi?

The Sadbhavana Diwas Shapath in Marathi meant - तरुण पीएम सरकारचे ध्येय लोकांना इतरांबद्दल चांगल्या भावना असणे, बंधुता, समुदाय सौहार्द, ऐक्य, प्रेम आणि सर्व धर्मांच्या लोकांमध्ये आपलेपणा राखण्यासाठी प्रेरित करणे हे होते. या दिवशी देशाचा राष्ट्रीय पक्ष काँग्रेस राजीव गांधींच्या फोटोला ठिकठिकाणी फुले अर्पण करते.

Q.7. Who started Sadbhavna Diwas?

The Sadbhavna Diwas is celebrated on the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Additionally, the national Sadbhavna award was initiated by the All India Congress Committee of the Indian National Congress Party (INC) in 1992. The award carries a trophy and a cash reward of ten lakhs.

Q.8. What is on August 20 in India?

The Sadbhavana Diwas or Harmony Day is celebrated every year on August 20, honouring the birthday of the sixth Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi. A special National Sadbhavana Award is given yearly to those who have dedicated their lives to encourage the peace of society.