About Sadbhavana Diwas
Sadbhavana Diwas, or Harmony Day, is observed on 20 August, the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, and is dedicated to communal harmony, national integration and non-violence. In 2027 it falls on Friday, 20 August 2027. Government offices mark it with a pledge to work for harmony across caste, region, religion and language.
Sadbhavana is a Hindi and Sanskrit word for goodwill or good feeling towards others. The day that carries the name is quieter than most national observances. There is no parade and no holiday, just a pledge read aloud in offices across the country.
Why is Sadbhavana Diwas observed on 20 August?
Sadbhavana Diwas falls on 20 August because Rajiv Gandhi was born on that day in 1944, in Bombay. He became Prime Minister on 31 October 1984, the day his mother Indira Gandhi was assassinated, and at 40 he remains the youngest person to hold the office. He served until 2 December 1989. On 21 May 1991 he was killed by a suicide bomber of the LTTE at an election rally in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, and he was awarded the Bharat Ratna posthumously that year.
His birth anniversary was first marked as Sadbhavana Diwas in 1992, the year after his death, with communal harmony and national integration as its theme.
What is the Sadbhavana Diwas pledge?
The Sadbhavana pledge is a short promise to work for the emotional unity of all Indians and to settle differences without violence. The central government asks ministries, departments and public bodies to hold a function on 20 August where all employees take it. A 2014 letter from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, for example, asked every ministry to administer the pledge and report back on what it organised.
In practice the senior officer present reads the pledge and staff repeat it. In 2018, for instance, the Director General of ICAR administered it at Krishi Bhavan in New Delhi, and in 2024 the Deputy Commissioner of Chamba in Himachal Pradesh led it for district staff.
I further pledge that I shall resolve all differences among us through dialogue and constitutional means without resorting to violence.
The first part of the pledge commits the speaker to the harmony of all people of India "regardless of caste, region, religion or language". The second part, quoted above, is the one worth remembering. It turns harmony from a feeling into a method: talk, use the Constitution, and do not use force.
What is the Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award?
The Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award is given on 20 August each year for work promoting communal harmony, national integration and peace. It was instituted in 1992 by the All India Congress Committee, so it is a party award rather than a government honour, and it carries a cash prize of ₹10 lakh.
| Year | Recipient | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Jagan Nath Kaul | Social work |
| 1996 | Lata Mangeshkar | Playback singing |
| 1998 | Sunil Dutt | Film and peace marches |
| 2000 | Kapila Vatsyayan | Scholarship of Indian arts |
| 2013 | Amjad Ali Khan | Sarod |
| 2018 | Gopalkrishna Gandhi | Public life and writing |
How should you mark Sadbhavana Diwas at work or school?
Sadbhavana Diwas is tied to a political figure, so the practical question is how to observe it without turning it into politics. The pledge itself is non-partisan, and that is the safest centre for any event.
Do
- Read the pledge together and keep the event short.
- Use the day for something that builds goodwill: a shared meal, a talk by someone from a different region, a story of neighbours helping each other.
- Let people who admire Rajiv Gandhi speak about him, and keep it to his life and work rather than party claims.
Avoid
- Don't use the day to argue about Rajiv Gandhi's record or any party's politics in an office group.
- Don't make harmony messages about a particular community "tolerating" another. The pledge speaks of all Indians equally.
- Don't send a "Happy" card to someone whose family remembers 1991 as a loss. A respectful note works better.
20 August is also Indian Akshay Urja Day, the renewable energy awareness day. For other days about unity, see National Integration Day on 19 November and National Unity Day on 31 October.
What to write on Sadbhavana Diwas
On Sadbhavana Diwas, here's to an office where everyone's festival, language and food is welcome at the same table.
Wishing you a peaceful Sadbhavana Diwas. Thank you for being the kind of neighbour who makes the whole building feel like one family.
Sadbhavana means goodwill. Today, make a friend from a different state or say sorry to someone you argued with. That's the pledge in practice.
Remembering Rajiv Gandhi on his birth anniversary. May the harmony he spoke of stay with us.
On Sadbhavana Diwas, a reminder we don't need often but should: we settle things by talking, not by shouting.
How to wish someone on Sadbhavana Diwas
Sadbhavana means goodwill, so a message for the day is about harmony between people of different faiths, languages and regions, not about any party. Keep it calm and inclusive. Mentioning Rajiv Gandhi is natural when writing to someone who admired him; in a mixed office, the idea of goodwill alone is enough.
Write a few lines in your own words, pick a design and share it as one link on WhatsApp, Instagram or anywhere else. They open an animated card made just for them, with no app and no sign-up.
Language tip: English, Hindi + recipient language.
When is Sadbhavana Diwas in 2026 and 2027?
Sadbhavana Diwas is on 20 Aug every year. Only the weekday changes.
- 2026
- 2027
Frequently asked questions
What does Sadbhavana mean?
Sadbhavana is a Hindi word, from Sanskrit, meaning goodwill or good feeling towards others. Sadbhavana Diwas is often translated as Harmony Day or Goodwill Day.
Who started the Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award?
The All India Congress Committee instituted the Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award in 1992. It is presented every year on 20 August for contributions to communal harmony, national integration and peace, and carries a prize of ₹10 lakh.
When was Sadbhavana Diwas first observed?
Sadbhavana Diwas was first observed on 20 August 1992, the first birth anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi after his assassination in May 1991.
Is Sadbhavana Diwas the same as Rajiv Gandhi Jayanti?
Yes. Sadbhavana Diwas and Rajiv Gandhi Jayanti are the same day, 20 August, Rajiv Gandhi's birth anniversary. The Sadbhavana name reflects the theme of communal harmony chosen for the observance.
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