Sadbhavana Diwas 2025: Birth Anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi

Sadbhavana Diwas is an annual event held on 20 th of August which happens to be the birth day of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. The day, which can also be referred to as Communal Harmony Day, speaks of the message of peace, goodwill, tolerance, and national unity. It reminds citizens of the necessity of promoting brotherhood and inclusivity of India, which has a diverse society. Marked by the government agencies, schools, and individuals, the day underlines collective responsibility in the realm of national integration. It also takes forth the vision of a progressive and harmonious India, of Rajiv Gandhi.

Context

• Sadbhavana Diwas is an annual event held on 20 th of August which happens to be the birth day of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

Objectives

• Peace and Tolerance among communities
• Having fostered national integration by being inclusive
• By communicating and understanding.
• Promoting Brotherhood and cooperative efforts toward development.

Significance & Impact

• Secularism & Social Unity:Reinstates equality in terms of respect to all religions and cultures.
• Deterring Communalism: Counters the schools of communalism.
• Legacy of Rajiv Gandhi: Spreads his beliefs of peace and progression, and harmony.
• Nation-Building: Evokes identity, multiple group development and strength.

Background

• Joined politics in 1981 and contested Amethi, and became an MP in 1982.
• Became Prime Minister on the assassination of Indira Gandhi on 31 October 1984.
• Youngest Indian PM, 40 years of age was the first to ever get a landslide victory during 1984 elections (414/533 seats).
• Signified a generational transformational wave- traditional socialism to a modernization, technology and liberalization.

Key Initiatives & Accomplishment

• Economic and Technological Modernization
  • The Fragmented out of the rigid protectionist economic model.
  • Telecom, defence, aviation: liberalised policies regarding imports.
  • Dropped high taxation on technology; promoted overseas investment.
  • Improved relations with the USA, IT & scientific cooperation also stressed.
• Telecom & IT Revolution
  • Entered into a partnership with Sam Pitroda; constituted 6 missions on technology (telecom, water, literacy, vaccination, dairy, oilseeds).
  • Independently set up C-DOT (1984) to undertake R&D work on telecom.
  • Started MTNL (1986) in Delhi and Mumbai telecom.
  • Started VSNL (1986) to do international communication.
  • Established the base of software industry development & exports of IT using sat.
• Anti-Defection Law (1985)
  • Amendment by the 52nd Amendment added a Tenth schedule.
  • Disqualification of MPs/MLAs who may change parties → put an end to the politics of ‘who came and who went’
  • Enhanced stability of parliamentary democracy.
• Education Reforms
  • 1986 New National Policy on Education:
  • Putaway of women, SCs and STs and eliminating inequalities.
  • Operation Blackboard (1987): Materials & educators in primary schools.
  • Indira Gandhi National Open University (1985) Act (1985): Indira Gandhi National Open University set up.
  • Increased access to education in both rural and urban India.
• Foreign Policy 
  • Intensification of relations with the USA- technology and defence.
  • Maldives Coup (1988): Rapid military action (Operation cactus) put an end to the coup, bringing back democracy.
  • Sri Lankan Civil War (1987):
  • signed the Indo Sri Lanka Accord; and contributed IPKF to disarm I T T E.
  • Caused high casualties, issues of human rights, eventual pull-out.
  • Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated (1991) because of the anger of TTE.

Conclusion 

Sadbhavana Diwas 2025 Doormat Reminds Indians Of Its Secular and Inclusive Nature, the Interplay of Its Unity in Diversity. It enhances democracy by advocating peace and harmony among people. The fact that it is followed makes the second generation continue with the vision of the unity and progressive India that was already envisioned by Rajiv Gandhi.