<span style="color: #222222;">Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat has emphasized the role of Sardar Patel in envisioning an Indian Nation that is united in diversity, resolute and determined to emerge as a power, capable of rising to any challenge based&nbsp;on intrinsic strength.<br />”<br />”While recounting India's great history and tracing the genesis of India as a federation of intricately linked smaller kingdoms under the aegis of the Mauryan Empire, General Rawat mentioned that India is a fascinating and complex amalgam of many cultures, 22 scheduled languages, over 200 dialects, a dozen ethnic groups, seven religious communities with several sects and sub-sects and 68 socio-cultural sub-regions.<br />”<br />”Praising Sardar Patel's mission and the herculean task of integrating 565 princely states into a sovereign India, Gen. Rawat said, the pillars of nation-building could be surmised as security, justice, economic development and democratic policy and acknowledged the tireless efforts of Sardar Patel in assembling a consensus with the princely states while judiciously employing strategem prevalent since the age of Chanakya.<br />”<br />”General Rawat said, the deployment of the Armed Forces in the remote areas through cantonments and military stations in inaccessible areas have contributed to the local economy through developmental projects. The contribution of Indian Armed Forces to UN Peace-Keeping Missions since the mid-50s till date and defence cooperation offered by India in the present world has emerged as an important diplomatic endeavour.<br />”<br />”Sardar Patel Memorial Lecture-2021 delivered by General Bipin Rawat was broadcast on All India Radio network yesterday at 9.30 P.M. The lecture is now available on All India Radio’s YouTube channel ‘akashvaniair’.</span><br />