Few saw Central government’s fervour to get schools in the city to commemorate Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s birth anniversary yesterday as a call for celebration.

The institutes, shut for Diwali vacations, were compelled by a late-arriving circular to send their students to a commemorative event at Hill Road, Bandra on Friday. The turnout, expectedly, was poor. The institutes could not get in touch with their students and teachers, as they are away on vacation.