Pune: Ajit Doval Urges Youth to Put Nation First After Receiving Lokmanya Tilak Award
Pune, 1st August 2026: National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Saturday urged the country’s youth to put national interest above personal gains, saying India is passing through a “window of opportunity” in its history that must not be missed.
Speaking after receiving the Lokmanya Tilak National Award in Pune, Doval said freedom should not be viewed as the liberty to do anything one wishes, but as a responsibility towards nation-building.
“Today’s youth should dedicate themselves to the national interest and be willing to sacrifice personal interests whenever necessary,” he said.
Doval said India was at a decisive moment and called for collective efforts to build a stronger nation. “We cannot afford to lose this opportunity. Our priority today is nation-building,” he said, expressing confidence that India would create a new chapter in its history.
Paying tribute to Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak on his death anniversary, Doval described him as more than a freedom fighter, calling him a social reformer and philosopher who inspired people with a sense of national consciousness. He said Tilak’s message of “Swaraj is my birthright” was aimed at instilling patriotism and responsibility among every citizen.
Drawing from strategic planning, Doval referred to the “VED” framework — Vital, Essential and Desirable — saying national interest must always remain the “vital” priority. “If strengthening the nation is vital, everything else becomes secondary,” he said.
He also said India continues to face both internal and external challenges, and stressed that unity and clarity of purpose were essential to overcoming them.
Doval praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for their leadership, saying the country currently has a favourable environment to accelerate its growth and strengthen national security.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah presented the Lokmanya Tilak National Award to Doval at a ceremony organised by the Lokmanya Tilak Smarak Trust. Instituted in 1983, the award is conferred annually on August 1 to individuals for their outstanding contribution to the nation’s progress.
