NEW DELHI, Jan 10: National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Friday emphasized that India’s independence came at an enormous price, marked by generations of suffering, humiliation, and destruction endured by its people.
Addressing the opening ceremony of Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue, the NSA called upon the youth to draw inspiration from history and channel their energy toward rebuilding a strong and prosperous India grounded in its own values and principles.
“This independent India wasn’t always as free as it appears today. Our forefathers made tremendous sacrifices for it. They bore immense humiliation and lived through periods of complete helplessness. Many were sent to the gallows… Our villages were razed. Our civilization was decimated. Our temples were plundered, and we stood as mute witnesses,” Doval said.
He stressed that this painful history should ignite a fire within every young Indian. “The word ‘revenge’ may not be perfect, but it represents a powerful driving force. We must avenge our history. We must restore this country to greatness, building it on our rights, our principles, and our convictions,” the NSA stated.
Reflecting on India’s heritage, Doval highlighted that the country once had a highly advanced and peaceful civilization that never sought to destroy others’ places of worship or invade foreign lands when much of the world remained underdeveloped.
However, he cautioned that India’s failure to recognize security threats in the past resulted in severe consequences. “History taught us a harsh lesson when we remained indifferent to these dangers. Did we learn that lesson? Will we remember it? If future generations forget this lesson, it will be the nation’s greatest tragedy,” he warned.
The three-day Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2.0 began Saturday at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi and will conclude on January 12. The inaugural edition of the dialogue was held at the same venue in January 2025.
