FLAME University marks National Unity Day with the launch of landmark digital archives on India’s integration and state formation

Pune, October 31, 2025: The Centre for Legislative Education and Research (CLER) at FLAME University commemorated National Unity Day (Rashtriya Ekta Diwas) with a thought-provoking dialogue on India’s idea of unity amidst diverse regional identities, alongside the public release of a landmark set of digital archives chronicling India’s political integration and state reorganization. Rashtriya Ekta Diwas commemorates the birth anniversary of Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who is a pivotal figure in India’s struggle for independence and the first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of India. This day is a reminder of his efforts to unite the diverse princely states into a single nation and foster a spirit of solidarity among the people of India.

The newly released digital archive resources: Compendium of Independence and Integration, and Integration of India, are now freely accessible to the public through The India State Story digital platform. Based on the articles, Drawn and Redrawn: The Making of India’s Internal Boundaries, a multilingual podcast series (English, Hindi, Marathi and Kannada) has been recently launched on Spotify and YouTube. “The digital archives and podcasts, created by our team at India State Stories, are a groundbreaking initiative that chronicles how India’s territorial, political, administrative, and cultural unity were achieved and continually reimagined since Independence. These knowledge resources on India’s political integration and state reorganization journey since 1947 are now freely accessible digitally for the common citizen to further deepen their understanding of our nation and empower them,” said Prof. Shivakumar Jolad, Chair, Centre for Legislative Education and Research, FLAME University.

As the world navigates renewed debates on nationalism, identity, and federalism, India’s experience offers a compelling framework for reimagining collective belonging in the 21st century. The event’s discussions underscored how Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s vision continues to resonate in contemporary conversations about territorial governance, federalism, and inclusive development.

The event featured two lectures apart from the official release of the new digital knowledge series under The India State Story Initiative, CLER’s ongoing research and documentation project exploring the making and reorganization of India’s states.

Delivering the first talk titled “Integration to Reorganization: State Formation in India Since Independence,” Prof. Asha Sarangi, Centre for Political Studies, JNU, traced the historical trajectory of India’s political consolidation. Her address highlighted the tensions and negotiations between democratic participation and federal balance in shaping the Indian nation-state. The second address, “Unity in Separate Identity? The Paradoxes of Regionalism,” was delivered by Dr. Suhas Palshikar, Chief Editor, Studies in Indian Politics. Dr. Palshikar examined how regional aspirations and linguistic reorganization have both strengthened and tested India’s idea of unity, offering fresh insight into the paradoxes of regionalism within a democratic framework.

Reflecting on the occasion, Prof. M. A. Venkataramanan, Pro-Vice Chancellor, FLAME University, said, “At a time when global societies are confronting fragmentation and identity politics, revisiting India’s own experiments with integration offers profound lessons. Through initiatives like these, FLAME reaffirms its commitment to creating spaces where ideas of democracy, identity, and governance are examined in depth and dialogue.”

The event concluded with the unveiling of CLER’s digital archives, as listed below. Together, these works document and interpret India’s long journey of integration, linguistic reorganization, and the creation of internal boundaries, making critical scholarship accessible to citizens, educators, and policymakers alike. With such initiatives, FLAME continues to nurture rigorous inquiry into India’s constitutional and political evolution.

For more details, visit:

• Compendium of Independence and Integration
• Navigable map of Integration of India
• Podcast Series on Spotify I Drawn and Redrawn: The Making of India’s Internal Boundaries •India State Stories website