4 min readNew DelhiJan 12, 2026 05:12 AM IST
First published on: Jan 11, 2026 at 03:59 PM IST
Calling for avenging India’s painful history of attacks and subjugation, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval said that the country has to be strong not only at the borders, but in every other aspect, including economically.
Invoking the sacrifices of freedom fighters like Mahatma Gandhi, Subhas Chandra Bose and Bhagat Singh, he told the gathering at the opening ceremony of Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue in New Delhi on Saturday, “You are lucky that you were born in an independent India. I was born in a colonised India. Our ancestors fought for independence and went through so many trials and tribulations.”
“People like Bhagat Singh were hanged, Subhas Chandra Bose struggled all his life and Mahatma Gandhi had to do satyagraha for us to gain independence,” he said. “Revenge is not a good word, but it can be a huge force. We have to avenge our history and take this country to the point where it is great again not just in terms of border security, but economy, social development, every aspect.”
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval speaks during the opening ceremony of the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue at Bharat Mandapam, in New Delhi on Saturday. (Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports/ANI Video Grab)
At a time when the country marks Somnath Swabhiman Parv, to mark the resilience of India’s heritage in the face of attacks from external forces, including the Mughals and the Britishers, Doval said, “We were a progressive society. We did not attack other civilisations or their temples, but since we were not self-aware when it came to security, history taught us a lesson. Did we learn that lesson?”
“It is important that we remember that lesson because if the youth forget it, then it would be tragic for the country,” he said.
The NSA also weighed in on wars and conflicts around the world, saying, “Why do conflicts happen? It is not that people are psychopaths and enjoy seeing dead bodies. It is because you want to subjugate the enemy nation to protect yourself and make it agree to your terms,” he said.
“Even today, look at all the wars and conflicts that are happening; some countries want to impose their will on others, and for that, they are using force,” he said. “So, we also have to protect ourselves. It is a powerful sentiment; we should be inspired by it.”
Saying that India is on track to become a developed nation at the pace set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, even if the country runs on “autopilot”, he called those present at the event as leaders of the future. He urged young people to strengthen their decision-making skills, adding that the ability to take strong and timely decisions is essential for leadership in every field.
For a country to remain powerful, it requires leadership, said Doval, 81. “Napoleon once said, ‘I am not afraid of 1,000 lions led by a sheep, but I am afraid of 1,000 sheep led by a lion’. That is how important leadership is,” he said.
He said the youth should focus on innovation in technology and science. “No message is more powerful than performance. Innovate and achieve silently. Propaganda cannot deliver the message, only what you do gets it across. Remember that all courageous people are patient, all cowards are impatient and noisy.”
Doval said revenge is not a good word, but it can be a huge force. (PTI Photo) 
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval speaks during the opening ceremony of the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue at Bharat Mandapam, in New Delhi on Saturday. (Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports/ANI Video Grab)
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