Ajit Doval, widely referred to as India's 'spymaster' or 'James Bond', does not use a mobile phone or internet in his day-to-day work. The National Security Advisor (NSA) said he largely avoids phone or internet and instead relies on alternative means of communication not known to the common man, reports Times of India. He was speaking at the inauguration session of the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2026 and addressing the young participants, attended by around 3,000 young delegates from across the country. Ajit Doval was asked if he used mobile phone or internet for routine work. His reply was "It is true that I do not use internet. I also do not use a phone, except for family matters or for speaking to people in other countries, which is necessary. I manage my work that way. There are many other means of communication as well, and some additional methods have to be arranged that people are not aware of."
"Revenge is not a good word, but it can be a huge force. We have to avenge our history and take this country to the point where it is great again not just in terms of border security, but economy, social development, every aspect," he said.
The former IB director said it is important, especially for the youth, to take the right and farsighted decisions at the utmost time. He advised it is important to think about what "the next two steps will be before a person takes the first step". He said India needs to strengthen itself as "we had a painful history of attacks and subjugation". "We were a very advanced civilisation. We never broke anyone's temples. We did not attack any foreigners, even when the rest of the world was weak, we did not understand the threats to our security. And, so history taught us a lesson. It is important that we remember that lesson because if the youth forget it, then it would be tragic for the country," the NSA said.
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"One common thing between when I was young and how I am today is the ability to make decisions. Whether you realise it or not, decision-making always walks with you. Youth take small and big decisions in daily life, and as you grow, these small decisions add up to big ones," he said. "Napoleon once said, 'I am not afraid of 1,000 lions led by a sheep, but I am afraid of 1,000 sheep led by a lion'. That is how important leadership is," he explained.
Expressing confidence in India's future, Doval said, "India will be developed. The level to which our country has been brought under PM Modi, it will soon achieve the goal of being a developed nation. The real question is - who will lead the nation towards that development? If you want to be leaders on the path of Viksit Bharat, you must start making decisions now, and those decisions should be taken with a forward-looking vision, not just for today but for the future."
Who is Ajit Doval?
Ajit Doval has been India's National Security Advisor since 2014 and is the fifth person to hold the post. Appointed by and answerable only to the prime minister, he heads the National Security Council. Born in Uttarakhand in 1945, Ajit Doval is a retired Indian Police Services (IPS) officer of the Kerala cadre. A former Indian intelligence and law enforcement officer, Doval is said to have spent several years as an undercover operative in Pakistan gathering intelligence on active terrorist groups. After a one-year stint as a secret agent, he worked at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad for six years.
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Throughout his career, Ajit Doval has spent decades in intelligence, internal security and counter-terrorism roles. Doval joined the Indian Police Service in 1968 and went on to become the youngest police officer to be awarded the Kirti Chakra for gallantry. Throughout his career, he was deeply involved in counter-insurgency operations across Mizoram, Punjab, and the Northeast.
He later played a pivotal role in key national security decisions, including the 2016 surgical strikes and the 2019 Balakot airstrikes. Doval was also instrumental in handling the Doklam standoff and shaping India’s broader internal security strategy. In 1999, he served as one of the negotiators during the IC-814 hijacking crisis in Kandahar. Between 1971 and 1999, he dealt with multiple aircraft hijacking cases and spent several years operating undercover in Pakistan.
'Revenge can be a huge force', says Doval
Ajit Doval's response of not using a mobile phone or internet holds significance in era dominated by mobile phones and the internet. He revealed that he retorts to the use of mobile or internet when he has to contact people abroad. "Sometimes, when I have to contact people abroad, I do use them. There are other means of communication as well that are not known to the common man," the NSA said."Revenge is not a good word, but it can be a huge force. We have to avenge our history and take this country to the point where it is great again not just in terms of border security, but economy, social development, every aspect," he said.
The former IB director said it is important, especially for the youth, to take the right and farsighted decisions at the utmost time. He advised it is important to think about what "the next two steps will be before a person takes the first step". He said India needs to strengthen itself as "we had a painful history of attacks and subjugation". "We were a very advanced civilisation. We never broke anyone's temples. We did not attack any foreigners, even when the rest of the world was weak, we did not understand the threats to our security. And, so history taught us a lesson. It is important that we remember that lesson because if the youth forget it, then it would be tragic for the country," the NSA said.
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"One common thing between when I was young and how I am today is the ability to make decisions. Whether you realise it or not, decision-making always walks with you. Youth take small and big decisions in daily life, and as you grow, these small decisions add up to big ones," he said. "Napoleon once said, 'I am not afraid of 1,000 lions led by a sheep, but I am afraid of 1,000 sheep led by a lion'. That is how important leadership is," he explained.
Expressing confidence in India's future, Doval said, "India will be developed. The level to which our country has been brought under PM Modi, it will soon achieve the goal of being a developed nation. The real question is - who will lead the nation towards that development? If you want to be leaders on the path of Viksit Bharat, you must start making decisions now, and those decisions should be taken with a forward-looking vision, not just for today but for the future."
Who is Ajit Doval?
Ajit Doval has been India's National Security Advisor since 2014 and is the fifth person to hold the post. Appointed by and answerable only to the prime minister, he heads the National Security Council. Born in Uttarakhand in 1945, Ajit Doval is a retired Indian Police Services (IPS) officer of the Kerala cadre. A former Indian intelligence and law enforcement officer, Doval is said to have spent several years as an undercover operative in Pakistan gathering intelligence on active terrorist groups. After a one-year stint as a secret agent, he worked at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad for six years.ALSO READ: Pongal holidays 2026: Tamil Nadu schools to remain shut on these dates Check full list of holidays
Throughout his career, Ajit Doval has spent decades in intelligence, internal security and counter-terrorism roles. Doval joined the Indian Police Service in 1968 and went on to become the youngest police officer to be awarded the Kirti Chakra for gallantry. Throughout his career, he was deeply involved in counter-insurgency operations across Mizoram, Punjab, and the Northeast.
He later played a pivotal role in key national security decisions, including the 2016 surgical strikes and the 2019 Balakot airstrikes. Doval was also instrumental in handling the Doklam standoff and shaping India’s broader internal security strategy. In 1999, he served as one of the negotiators during the IC-814 hijacking crisis in Kandahar. Between 1971 and 1999, he dealt with multiple aircraft hijacking cases and spent several years operating undercover in Pakistan.
