Washington, D.C., USA: The Embassy of India in Washington, DC, organised a special program to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, also observed as National Unity Day. The event featured a photo exhibition and an engaging discussion with Mukesh Kashiwala, author of “Sardar – A Photobiography of Vallabhbhai Patel: The Architect of Modern India.”

During his talk, Kashiwala highlighted Sardar Patel’s monumental role in integrating India’s 565 princely states after Independence, describing him as “the man who made India one.” He emphasised that many people today fail to recognise the magnitude of Patel’s achievement. “If Sardar Patel had not united the nation, India might have faced divisions like those seen between Russia and Ukraine,” he remarked.

Kashiwala explained that his inspiration for creating a photo-based biography stemmed from noticing how younger generations often lack knowledge of India’s historical figures. “While studying fine arts in Bombay and later in New York, I realized how little people knew about India’s great leaders. That inspired me to merge visuals and storytelling to make history more captivating,” he said.

He also recalled an early discussion in 2005 with then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who encouraged him to revive Patel’s legacy through his work. The research for his book took him across India, gathering and restoring rare photographs from archives and heritage sites.

“My book opens with 26 pages covering 5,000 years of India’s history to give readers the context of the nation Sardar Patel united,” Kashiwala added, noting that his aim was to make history more engaging and accessible through design and imagery.

The event also featured a virtual presentation by renowned speaker Dr. Shobhana Radhakrishna. A public exhibition showcasing rare photographs of Sardar Patel is currently on display at the Indian Embassy and will continue through November 1.