One of the architects of the Indian independence movement was Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Ji whose birth anniversary is being celebrated all across India today, on 31st October, 2024. Pre-independent India consisted of many princely states that used to rule over their kingdom. Sardar Patel Ji took on the task of uniting 565 semi-autonomous princely states and British-era colonial provinces into one nation. That Sardar Patel Ji was able to achieve this herculean task is a testament to his acumen, resourcefulness, and sagacity.
To honor this great freedom fighter, in 2013 PM Narendra Modi Ji, who was then the Chief Minister of Gujarat, announced the project of the Statue of Unity, featuring the statue of the great leader. With a height of 182 meters (597 feet) it is the world’s tallest statue and is a remarkable feat of Indian engineering skills. The way this statue was built was also unique. Sardar Patel Ji came from a farmer family so to honor his legacy, PM Modi Ji stared the ‘Iron Campaign’ where old iron instruments were collected from farmers all across India, amounting to 135 tons of iron that was used to build this statue. Soil from the fields all across India was used to build the Wall of Unity.
Sardar Patel Ji’s birth anniversary is celebrated as the National Unity Day, a fitting tribute to a leader whose relentless efforts made the dream of independent India possible.
India Women Cricket team wins one-day series against New Zealand
The India Women Cricket team played a 3 match one-day series against New Zealand. This was a difficult campaign for the Indian team for two reasons. First, they had an unfortunate setback in the recently concluded T20 Women World Cup and they needed to come back, always a difficult task. Second, they were playing against the New Zealand team that had just won the World Cup, so naturally they were going to be in high spirits and extra difficult to beat.
India won the first match convincingly, beating New Zealand by 59 runs but the visitors came back strongly in the second match, beating the hosts by 75 runs. With the series tied 1-1, the third match was the decider.
India did well to restrict New Zealand to 232, with Deepti Sharma taking 3-39 and Priya Mishra 2-41. India lost opener Shefali Verma quickly, and Yastika Bhatia made 35 before departing. This brought captain Harmanpreet Kaur to the crease to join vice-captain Smriti Mandana. The 102 run partnership that followed was exemplary in the patience and determination showed by both the players. Both the captain and the vice-captain knew that they needed to stay at the crease and were determined not to repeat the mistakes made in previous matches. Smriti made a brilliant 100, her 8th, thereby making most number of centuries by an Indian player in women’s one-day cricket. Harmanpreet played captain’s knock, remaining unbeaten on 59. India won by 6 wickets clinching the series.
The Indian team was also brilliant in the field. A direct-hit run-out by Smriti in the first match, a spectacular catch by Jemimah Rodrigues in the second and Radha Yadav pulling off two stunning catches in the same match. Deepti Sharma was the player of the series with 56 runs and 6 wickets.
India also had ODI debutantes, all rounder Tejal Hasabnis, pacer Saima Thakor and leg spinner Priya Mishra, who made their mark. After winning the trophy, Captain Harmanpreet handed it to the debutants, a touching gesture that they will remember forever.
The ICC Women One-day World Cup is going to be held in India in 2025 and the team looks in great shape for it.
Congratulations Team India, well done!
