National Security Advisor Ajit Doval said on Saturday that India not only has to strengthen its security on the borders, but also has to make the country economically and technologically strong enough to take revenge for its history of attacks and subjugation.
In his address as the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of ‘Developed India Youth Leadership Dialogue’, Doval mentioned the struggles for independence, the attacks on India’s civilization and the importance of strong leadership.
Our ancestors made sacrifices for freedom and endured humiliation: Doval
He told three thousand youth from across the country participating in this three-day event, ‘I was born in slave India. You are lucky to be born in independent India. For centuries our ancestors have endured many sacrifices and humiliations for this. Bhagat Singh was hanged, Subhash Chandra Bose had to struggle all his life, Mahatma Gandhi had to do Satyagraha and countless people had to sacrifice their lives.
81-year-old Doval, the former head of India’s Intelligence Bureau, said, ‘Our villages were burnt, our civilization was destroyed, our temples were looted and we watched helplessly like a silent spectator. This history gives us a challenge that there should be fire inside every youth of India.
He said, ‘Vengeance is not a good word, but it is a great power in itself. We have to take revenge of our history and we have to take this country back to the place where we can build a great India on the basis of our rights, our ideas and our beliefs. We have to make ourselves economically, defensively and technically strong in every way.
We did not demolish anyone’s temples, did not loot anywhere: NSA
Doval said, ‘We had a very developed civilization. We did not break anyone’s temples or loot them anywhere. If we did not attack other countries, but we remained indifferent to our security and the threats to it, then history taught us a lesson. Have we learned that lesson and will we remember it? If the coming generations forget that lesson, it will be the biggest tragedy of this country.
Calling the youth participating in the program as ‘future leaders’ and calling upon them to develop their willpower and ability to take right decisions, he gave the example of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He said, ‘Today we are very fortunate that there is such a leadership in the country, which has taken the country from where it is in ten years. Prime Minister Modi’s commitment, hard work, discipline and dedication is an ideal for everyone. Modiji has so many new ideas, which come from willpower and dedication. You are lucky to see the India we can imagine.
NSA explained to the youth by giving the example of Napoleon Bonaparte.
Doval said, ‘Napoleon Bonaparte was a great warrior, who used to say that I am not afraid of an army of a thousand lions, if it is led by a lamb, but if there is a lion leading the army of sheep, then I am very afraid of it. Leadership skills are so important.
He said that wars are fought all over the world only because of security concerns. NSA said, ‘Why do fights happen? People are not psychopaths or just enjoy looking at dead bodies. Battles are fought so that the enemy’s morale can be weakened and he can be forced to enter into a treaty on his own terms. At present, any war in the world is taking place so that other countries can be forced to accept our conditions for security.
Doval said, ‘We also have to protect ourselves. This is a very powerful sentiment and inspiration should be taken from it.
Take decisions not for today, but for the future and stick to them: Doval
He cited the example of disabled mountaineer Arunima Sinha, who climbed Mount Everest, for willpower. Based on its 81 years of experience, NSA advised the youth to take the right decision and once the decision is taken, they must develop the will to stick to it.
Doval said, ‘Many times even after taking the right decision, a person is not able to follow it. Youth have to take small and big decisions in their everyday life. When you take a decision, take it not for today but for the future with a visionary attitude and when you take a decision, stick to it.
He said, ‘Remember that dreams do not create life, but give it direction and dreams are not fulfilled in a day.’
