National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval was honored with the prestigious Lokmanya Tilak National Award at a function held in Pune, Maharashtra, on Saturday (August 1). Union Home Minister Amit Shah presented the award to Doval for his outstanding contributions to the country’s internal and external security. During the ceremony, Doval appealed to the country’s youth to rise above self-interest and dedicate themselves to the national interest.
According to news agency PTI, Doval said during the ceremony following the Lokmanya Tilak National Award 2026, “India should fully capitalize on the ‘period of opportunity’ for nation-building.” He said that today’s young generation probably believes that India has always been like this. It’s possible that young people think that freedom means doing whatever they want, but that’s not what freedom really meant.
He further said that among those who sacrificed their lives for independence and fought for it, Lokmanya Tilak was one. People were suffering, they wanted to express themselves. Tilak gave them the courage to speak out and instilled a new consciousness in them. He said that nowadays people talk about their rights, but they don’t realize how much pain those who sacrificed everything to secure them would feel if these rights are misused.
Doval said that young people should resolve to work only in the national interest and not think only about immediate benefits, but prioritize larger and long-term benefits. Furthermore, if such thoughts even come to mind, they should be ignored.
He said that this is a very special moment in the country’s history, and it should not be missed. Nation-building should be the priority at this time. He further stated, “I am confident that we will succeed in this endeavor and create new history.” Doval said that the country is fortunate to have the guidance of leadership like Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
81-year-old Ajit Doval is currently India’s National Security Advisor and is India’s longest-serving security advisor. During his long career, he has worked in sensitive areas such as Mizoram, Sikkim, Punjab, and Jammu and Kashmir. He also played a key role in the Indian missions in Islamabad and London. Doval has also served as India’s Special Representative for the India-China border talks. His role in diplomatically resolving the Doklam standoff in 2017 was particularly recognized. He was awarded this honor for his strategic decisions on the national security front and counter-terrorism operations.