New Delhi [India], October 31: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday paid tributes to first deputy prime minister of India Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his birth anniversary and termed him as one of the architects of the 'idea' of the nation.

"An embodiment of integrity and strength, Sardar Patel was one of the architects of Idea of India. My tributes to him on his birth anniversary," Gandhi tweeted.

“An embodiment of integrity & strength, Sardar Patel was one of the architects of Idea of India. My tributes to him on his birth anniversary” Rahul Gandhi wrote on Twitter.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off 'Run for Unity' at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in Delhi, to mark the the142nd birth anniversary of Sardar Patel.

Born on October 31, 1875, in Nadiad, a poorer village in Gujarat,  Sardar Patel became the first deputy prime minister of India. He died on December 15, 1950.

Universally known as the Iron Man of India,  Sardar Patel was bestowed with the highest civilian honor, Bharat Ratna, in 1991 for his outstanding services to the nation.

The birth anniversary of Sardar Patel is being marked across the country as 'Rashtriya Ekta Diwas' (National Unity Day).