Need to avenge painful history of attacks: NSA

National Security Adviser Ajit Doval on Saturday urged the youth to draw inspiration from the freedom struggle and channel their energy into building a strong, secure and developed nation to "avenge" the painful history of attacks and subjugation.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders' Dialogue in the national capital, Doval told a gathering of around 3,000 delegates from across the country that they were “lucky” to have been born in an independent India, unlike his own generation.

“I was born in a colonised India. Our ancestors fought for Independence, they went through so many trials and tribulations,” he said, recalling the sacrifices of freedom fighters such as Bhagat Singh, Subhas Chandra Bose and Mahatma Gandhi.

“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 and every aspect,” the NSA said.

Calling the participants “leaders of the future”, Doval underlined the centrality of strong leadership, quoting Napoleon to emphasise that leadership, not numbers, determines outcomes. He said this quality had been demonstrated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Reflecting on India’s past, Doval said the country had been a progressive civilisation that did not attack others, but its lack of security consciousness had proved costly. “History taught us a lesson. Did we learn that lesson?” he asked, warning that forgetting it would be “tragic for the country”.

The NSA said security concerns lay at the root of all conflicts worldwide. “Conflicts do not happen because people enjoy violence. They happen because nations seek to protect themselves and impose their terms for security,” he said, adding that India too must remain inspired by the powerful sentiment of self-protection.

In a lighter moment, Doval quipped about the generational gap between him and the audience, but stressed timeless values of discipline and perseverance. “Dreams do not make a life; they merely give direction to it. Motivation is temporary, but discipline is enduring,” he said, urging the youth not to quit and to retain faith in themselves.

Emphasising innovation, particularly in science and technology, Doval said performance, not propaganda, conveyed the strongest message. “Innovate and achieve silently. What you do gets the message across,” he said, adding that patience was the hallmark of courage.