India’s independence did not come easily, and it did not arrive without deep suffering. On Saturday, 10th January, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval reminded young Indians that the freedom they enjoy today is the result of generations of sacrifice, humiliation, and loss. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue, Doval urged the country’s youth to understand this painful history and turn it into strength for rebuilding the nation.

He stressed that independence was not handed over peacefully but earned through immense hardship. According to him, many people today see freedom as something natural, forgetting what earlier generations had to endure. “This country was not always as free as it looks today. Our ancestors paid a huge price for it,” Doval said. He described how centuries of foreign rule brought unimaginable suffering, including executions, destruction of villages, and the loss of cultural and civilisational heritage that had been built over thousands of years.

History Must Awaken Today’s Youth

Doval explained that India’s past should not only be remembered with sorrow, but with purpose. He said history must push young people to act and to protect what was so painfully earned. “Many people were sent to the gallows. Villages were burned. Our civilisation was damaged. Temples were looted, and people could do nothing but watch,” he said, highlighting the helplessness faced by ordinary citizens during those times.

According to him, these memories should ignite a strong inner fire in today’s youth. While addressing the use of strong language, Doval spoke openly about the word “revenge.” He acknowledged that it may sound harsh but said its meaning in this context is different. “Revenge is not an ideal word, but it is a powerful force. We must take revenge for our history,” he said. He clarified that this does not mean violence or hatred. Instead, it means building India into a strong, confident, and self-reliant nation rooted in its own values, rights, and beliefs.

Lessons from a Peaceful Yet Exposed Civilisation

The NSA also reflected on India’s ancient civilisation, describing it as advanced, knowledgeable, and peaceful. He said India never invaded other countries, destroyed their religious places, or looted foreign lands, even during periods when many other parts of the world were still developing.

However, Doval pointed out that this peaceful nature came with a serious weakness. He warned that India’s greatest historical mistake was failing to recognise threats to its own security in time. “We failed to recognise dangers to ourselves. History punished us for that neglect,” he said. He added that ignoring these lessons today would be a grave mistake that future generations might pay for.

Raising serious questions, Doval urged people to reflect deeply on whether India has truly learned from its past. “Did we truly learn from history? Will we remember these lessons? If future generations forget them, it will cost the country dearly,” he warned, stressing that memory and awareness are essential for national survival.

India’s Economic Strength and the Cost of Decline

While speaking about India’s economic history, Doval referred to a major academic study. He said a professor from Cambridge University was asked to study global economic history and later wrote a book titled World History of Economy, covering the period from the 1st to the 19th century. According to that study, for nearly 1,700 years, India, and at times China, led the world economy. Together, they accounted for 55 to 60 percent of the global economy during that long period.

Doval reminded the audience that India once stood at the top in science, economy, and technology. However, he also cautioned that greatness does not last automatically. Decline can happen if effort stops. He explained that strength, success, and nationhood require constant work. Nothing is permanent, and progress must be protected every day. He added that building and protecting a nation is a continuous struggle, and that struggle never truly ends.

Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue

The Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2.0 began on Saturday, 10th January, at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi and will continue until 12th January. The first edition of this dialogue was also organised at the same venue in January 2025. The event aims to encourage young leaders from across the country to take part in shaping ideas and plans for a strong, self-dependent, and developed India.

Through this platform, young Indians are being reminded that the future of the country depends on how well they understand the past and how seriously they take the responsibility of nation-building today.