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India’s journey towards becoming a developed nation is certain, but the quality of leadership that will guide it remains a crucial question. This message was at the heart of the address delivered at the opening ceremony of the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue.
Addressing young participants, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval stressed that while times have changed, one defining trait has remained constant across generations, the ability to take decisions.
“When I was young and even now, one thing always stays with you. That is your decision-making ability,” he said.
He noted that India is moving rapidly on the development path set in recent years. However, progress alone is not enough without capable leaders to sustain it.
“India will definitely develop. Even if it runs on autopilot, it will still be developed. But the question is: who will lead this developed India?” Doval said.
According to him, leadership is not about position or power, but about taking the right decisions at the right time and executing them with confidence.
“The greatest strength of a leader is making the right decisions and implementing them with faith and conviction,” he added.
Willpower Defines National Strength
Shifting focus to national security, Doval underlined that wars are not fought for destruction, but to impose will and break morale.
“Wars are not fought because we enjoy violence. They are fought to break a country’s morale so that it surrenders according to our terms,” he said.
He warned that weapons and resources mean little without national will.
“If you have everything but lack morale, all your power becomes useless,” Doval said, emphasising the need for strong leadership.
He praised the present leadership for steering the country towards rapid progress over the last decade, calling its commitment and dedication an inspiration.
History as a Warning, Not a Burden
Recalling India’s past, Doval spoke about the sacrifices made to secure independence and the humiliation endured during centuries of foreign domination.
“Our villages were burned, our civilisation was damaged, and our temples were looted. Many faced the gallows,” he said.
He urged young Indians to carry the lessons of history and rebuild national strength.
“The word ‘revenge’ may not sound ideal, but it is a powerful force,” Doval remarked, clarifying that it meant reclaiming India’s rightful place in the world.
He also pointed to a critical failure of earlier generations. “We were a highly developed civilisation, but we failed to understand threats to our security,” he said.
The NSA cautioned that ignoring these lessons would have serious consequences.
“If future generations forget this lesson, it will be the greatest tragedy for the country,” he warned.
Huma Siddiqui
