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Journalism of Courage
RECALLING THE border clashes of Galwan with China and Balakot airstrikes against Pakistan, former defence secretary and present chairman of the Union Public Service Commission Ajay Kumar on Saturday urged the passing-out cadets of the National Defence Academy to embody the timeless blend of intellect and valour, and to uphold the standards of disciplined messaging.
Ajay Kumar was the chief guest at the convocation ceremony of the 149th course of the NDA which was held at the iconic Habibullah Hall of the academy on Saturday. The chief guest was received by NDA Commandant Vice Admiral Anil Jaggi. Dr Vinay Deep, Officiating Principal, NDA, presented the academic report of the Autumn Term 2025, highlighting the academic achievements and milestones of the term.
Ajay Kumar in his convocation address said, “Those visionaries who founded this eminent institution conceived not merely a military academy, but a crucible of national character, a sanctuary where intellect, integrity and valour would unite to forge leaders capable of defending both our frontiers and our ideals. Today, their vision finds fulfilment in you. You embody India’s secular and pluralistic ethos. You are heirs to a noble legacy built on courage, sacrifice and service. Your achievement is more than academic. As you step forward from here, you do so in an age of profound transformation. The world is evolving, and evolving with unprecedented speed where revolutions in technology, geopolitics and thought are reshaping destinies.”
“During my years in the Ministry of Defence, I witnessed this transformation at close quarters. From the expansion of our indigenous defence capabilities to the emergence of new domains of warfare such as cyber, space and autonomous systems. The true measure of a nation’s greatness lies not in its wealth or power but in its resilience, the ability to adapt without losing its moral compass,” he said.
“Change demands not fear but fortitude. For adversity reveals the mettle of character. In this defining era, the timeless ideal of a scholar-warrior regains his force blending intellect with valour, reflection with action. I have seen this blend in the services during the Galwan crisis. Officers who, in moments of crisis, combined clarity of thought with steadiness of heart. Such balance alone distinguished the leader from the followers, the visionary from the ordinary. For when the moment of reckoning arrives, and it surely will, the world will look at you and may you stand as those officers once did,” Ajay Kumar added.
Speaking about the changing conflict, Ajay Kumar said, “Modern conflict is waged not by arms alone but by ideas, innovation and moral conviction. India’s response in Balakot demonstrated this with unmistakable clarity. A bold decision to strike deep inside Pakistan, executed with surgical precision, calibrated targeting and disciplined messaging that achieved the objective without triggering escalation. The decisive battles of this century will be fought as much in the realm of thought as on the field and victory will belong to those who lead with wisdom, empathy and integrity. And it is you, armed with knowledge, guided with purpose, who will chart the course India takes in a world of shifting power. In the years ahead, the mantle of command will rest upon your shoulders.”
