National Security Advisor Ajit Doval

Every country strives to keep its citizens and national property safe, and for this, it depends on the police, military forces, and intelligence department. As they are the one who discovers the upcoming threats, take steps of security, and to defeat the enemies. In this procedure, a very vital role is played by a spy and Security Advisor as one gathers information, and the other helps to make the correct decision. We appreciate some of them, and others go unnoticed, but this does not distract their determination, and we live peacefully in our homes because of the real-life heroes. Our existence and prosperity is a gift from these fighters who dedicate their life for our safety.

There are only a few people who have been able to serve the motherland by taking up different roles for countrymen’s safety and never stop doing the duty. Ajit Doval is the man with the vision to dedicate his life to protect his homeland, and he became an IPS officer, spy, director at the intelligence bureau, and National Security Advisor. His story is an example of patriotism and sacrifice for the youth and upcoming generations, which motivates them to do something for the nation’s welfare. 

Inheriting Patriotism

“Patriotism is religion and religion is love for India”.-Bankim Chandra Chatterjee

On 20 January 1945, a baby boy was born in the family of Major G. N Doval in a small village Ghiri Banelsyun of Uttarakhand, which was then a United Provision. The child was named Ajit, and that meant unconquered, and his life journey proved why the name was the best fit for him. As the young one grew in free India, he was impressed by the stories of the freedom fighters, and his father’s dedication towards serving the nation inspired the young boy. Thus the lad also started dreaming of doing the same. Moreover, he could see the growth of newly independent India and the need for securing the people in the motherland, and this also gave wings to his desire.

Ajit Doval joined the Ajmer Military School which was formerly known as King George's Royal Indian Military School of Rajasthan for his early education and this helped him to learn discipline, adaptability, and persistence.  Later, he graduated with a master’s degree in Economics from Agra University. Subsequently, the educated man decided to appear for the civil service exam, and fortunately, he cleared the exam after working hard for several days and nights. It became the first step of his desire to serve the nation.

Serving as IPS Officer

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” -Mahatma Gandhi

The first posting of the aspirant succeeding all the procedures of civil service was at the Kollam district of Kerala in 1968. During this time, he actively participated in anti-insurgency operations in Mizoram and Punjab which included undercover operations and gathered many vital pieces of information. The officer did his duty efficiently adapting both roles of police and secret agent. 

The public servant also played a vital role in the recovery of the loots caused in the Thalassery Riot in 1972, and in the course of time, the state government appointed him as SI of Kannur Town Police Station. The intelligent man not only brought the criminals in custody but also carried out a handy plan to stop the violence, and it worked successfully. His service days in the town were for five months, yet it was a constructive time for welfare. 

In a short period of 6 years, Ajit Doval was appreciated with a Police medal by the Indian Government for his outstanding service, and this made him the youngest officer to receive the award. Usually, it takes almost a decade to receive the award, whereas Ajit Doval made himself capable of the reward in a short time. The dedicated man never stepped back from doing his duty and glorified the honour of the towns wherever he worked in the passing year.

Working as Undercover

“Soldiers who always remain faithful to their nation, who are always prepared to sacrifice their lives, are invincible.” -Subhas Chandra Bose

In 1988 during the operation black thunder II, Ajit Doval was present in the Golden Temple of Amritsar while Khalistani militants barricaded themselves in the complex. Even though he was inside the temple, the secret agent successfully gave every detail of the action taking place in the house-of-worship. The wise man entered the religious site pretending to be a rickshaw puller and also convinced the hijackers of being an ISI operative and had come to fight against the government. It helped him to understand the plans of terrorists and eventually was able to assist the military forces in taking the terror group down. The brave man risked his life to reduce casualty and protect the pilgrimage. 

The mastermind worked as undercover for almost seven years in Pakistan, where he played the role of a Muslim citizen. The intelligence officer was so accurate with his work that nobody was able to recognise him. It was only once when a man with a long beard identified him and asked if he was Hindu.  Ajit Doval tried to hide the truth initially, saying that he comes from a Hindu family and then converted to Islam, but the stranger was not convinced. The unknown man said that he was a Hindu and showed the Idol of Lord Shiva at home, and the unfamiliar elderly was also living as a Muslim citizen in the country. Even after this incident, Ajit Doval continued his operation after the success of which he worked in the Indian Commission of Pakistan.

The undercover agent has also completed missions in North East and Jammu Kashmir, which helped stop many terrible attacks and to run elections peacefully in several sensitive areas. The spy also played an essential part in the merger of Sikkim in India. Throughout his journey as an intelligent agent, he never feared losing his life and was promoted as Director of Intelligence bureau in 2004.

A short break

“Remember, no one is stopping you from lighting a lamp in a dark night.” – Harivansh Rai Bacchan

In January 2005, the dedicated citizen retired from the duty of the Intelligence Bureau and began spending valuable time with his family. But the gentleman was born to devote his life to assisting people around him and so started charity work and became the founding director of the Vivekananda International Foundation, which was set up by Vivekananda Kendra. Even after retiring, Ajit Doval was always involved in the discourse of National security in India. 

He began writing editorials for popular newspapers and journals, which were the source of learning for aspiring students and people working with National security. The ex-Intelligent agent gave lectures on India’s security challenges and foreign policies at different government and non-government institutes and even abroad. His speech offered a clear vision of safety and had a significant impact on the listeners. Moreover, he accompanied other writers in 2009 and 2011 on two reports, which were Indian Black Money Abroad In Secret Banks and Tax Havens. Ajit Doval was leading the group of writers as he was a part of the task force constituted by BJP. Thus, the retired officer contributed his precious time in educating the youth and also showed the problems that affect the countrymen.

Restarting with Pride

“Do not lower your goals to the level of your abilities. Instead, raise your abilities to the height of your goals.” - Swami Vivekananda

On 24th May 2014, when BJP became the ruling party and elected Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister of India,  then Ajit Doval was appointed as 5th National Security Advisor due to his outstanding experience. Soon after his joining in June 2014, a very critical problem arose in Iraq, where 46 nurses were trapped in a hospital. ISIL captured them, and so they lost contact with their families, and soon the situation reached the ears of the central Government.  The Advisor himself took the task, and in a short time, he flew to Iraq for a secret mission. The officer consulted his contacts in the country and made all arrangements to rescue the nurses. All of his efforts paid off, and ISIL militants handed them to Kurdish authorities at Erbil city, then they were brought back to their homes in Kerala.

Ajit Doval took up many other missions, and challenges were solved by him that included the Myanmar strike,  which was denied by their government. But the strike of September 2016 in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir(POK) was the talk of the world, and this idea came out of the mind of the intelligent man. The mastermind convinced the Indian government to take this step as an answer to the terrorist who attacked the military camp of URI. 

Because of the impressive attempts made by him for India’s security, the clever man was again appointed as National Security Advisor on June 3 and also got the rank of Union Cabinet Minister. 

Conclusion

“Life is like a game of cards. The hand you are dealt is determinism; the way you play it is free will.” – Jawaharlal Nehru

Ajit Doval has proved his determination in serving the nation and for which he not only developed the skill but also worked with the presence of mind. People like him are born to dedicate their lives to the country and its citizens. His life teaches the youth to never resist themself from contributing to India, even without being a part of the military force.  The enlightened individual in all his professions performed the duty effortlessly without any failure or distraction. Any job we as countrymen take should be done selflessly for the progress and prosperity of our country as nothing can stop us, not even our birthplace. The only thing all of us need to do is to make a path for ourselves to grow and grab the opportunity as soon as you find one. Lastly, Salute the son of mother India, who also played a part in protecting us.