Learn from history, rebuild strong India: Ajit Doval to youth

Srinagar, Jan 10: National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval on Saturday urged the youth to learn from history and build a strong India in every sphere, recalling the immense sacrifices made to secure the nation’s freedom.
Speaking to a gathering of young delegates from across the country at the opening ceremony of the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue in New Delhi, Doval traced India’s historical journey, highlighting the contributions of its people and the ethos of Indian civilisation.
“You all are lucky that you were born in an independent India. The free India we see today was not always like that. Our ancestors fought for independence for generations; they went through so many trials and tribulations. People like Bhagat Singh were hanged, Subhash Chandra Bose struggled all his life and Mahatma Gandhi had to do satyagraha for us to gain independence and countless people had to give their lives,” he said.
Recalling painful chapters from the past, Doval added, “Our villages were burnt, civilisations finished, temples looted while we watched helplessly.”
Reflecting on history’s message to the younger generation, he said it poses a clear challenge. “Every youth should have a fire inside them,” he remarked, adding, “The word ‘vengeance’ is not a good word, but it can be a huge force. We have to avenge our history and take this country to a point where it can establish India as a great nation in terms of our rights, vision and belief.”
Speaking about India’s civilisational values, Doval noted that the country once had a highly developed society that “didn’t demolish any temples, nor loot any foreign land or attack any country”. However, he cautioned against complacency, saying, “India didn’t understand the dangers it had; remained indifferent towards threats and therefore history taught us a lesson,” before asking, “Did we learn that lesson?”
During his address, the NSA also explained why wars are fought and the centrality of leadership and national morale. On the nature of warfare, he said, “Why do we fight wars? We’re not psychopaths who get great satisfaction or pleasure from seeing enemy corpses or dead bodies. Wars are not fought for this. They are fought to break a country’s morale, so that it will surrender according to our wishes and accept our terms, allowing us to achieve what we want… The will of the nation is what wars are fought for.”
Pointing to current global conflicts, he added that some nations use force to impose their will on others. Stressing the importance of strength and resolve, Doval said a powerful nation remains independent, but power without morale is ineffective.
“If you are so powerful that no one can oppose you, then you will always remain independent. But if you have everything but without that morale, all your weapons and resources will be useless, and for that, you need leadership,” he said.
“Today, we are very fortunate to have such leadership in the country. A leadership that, in the last 10 years, has taken the country from where it was to where it is now, putting the nation into auto-mode. Their commitment, their hard work, and their total dedication are inspiration for all of us.” (KINS)