Latest news with #Doval
News18
15-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
60 Lakh Died But We Don't Read About It In History Books: Ajit Doval On 1943 Bengal Famine
Last Updated: Despite the staggering death toll, estimated at around 3-6 million, the Bengal Famine remains largely absent from history textbooks and public discourse National Security Advisor Ajit Doval has raised a sharp question about one of the deadliest yet often ignored chapters of history – the Bengal Famine of 1943. Speaking at the convocation of IIT Madras on Friday, July 11, Doval pointed to the staggering scale of the disaster and asked why it finds so little space in the country's collective memory. 'In 1947, our GDP was just $20 million. Millions died of starvation during the Bengal famine. If five lakh people were to die of hunger today, the entination would rise," he said, asking why we don't talk about the Bengal incident. 'The road ahead is just as demanding. You must dedicate yourself to these next 22 years," he further said. Doval's remarks dragged into the light a tragedy that saw people reduced to eating grass, mud, and animal waste just to stay alive. In some cases, they sold their children for a handful of rice. Within months, lakhs were dead. It wasn't a natural disaster, it was man-made. The year was 1943. India was still under British rule, and World War II was raging. Japan had just invaded Burma, and the British feared that Bengal would be next. What followed was a series of policy decisions that turned fear into famine. The British colonial administration seized thousands of boats in the coastal districts of Bengal to prevent their use by the Japanese military. They also emptied grain warehouses in the villages and destroyed standing crops, effectively choking off food supply lines to vast rural populations. Prices skyrocketed. Food disappeared. The people starved. Despite the staggering death toll, estimated at around 3-6 million, the Bengal Famine remains largely absent from history textbooks and public discourse. There are no national memorials. No annual remembrance. No reckoning. Doval underscored this erasure. 'History should not be just the story of those who won," he said, adding that it must also remember those who suffered and had no voice. For him, the famine is not just a historical footnote but a cautionary tale about the deadly consequences of political apathy and policy failure. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! view comments First Published: July 15, 2025, 13:03 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Business Recorder
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
India's proxy war of terrorism
EDITORIAL: The Corps Commanders' Conference on Thursday once again underscored Pakistan's growing concerns over India's role in fomenting terrorism within this country. In the wake of the Pahalgam incident, and what was described as India's 'manifest defeat in direct aggression against Pakistan', the military leadership called for 'decisive and holistic actions at all levels' against Indian-backed and -sponsored proxies. The use of proxies by India reflects a well-documented pattern of behaviour in recent years, particularly since the rise to power of ultra-Hindu nationalist Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, in 2014. Pakistan has consistently highlighted India's support for separatist and militant elements, most notably Baloch insurgent groups and the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorist outfit, both of which have been involved in high-profile terrorist attacks. The urgency of the matter was underscored by events on the very day of the conference in the Sur Dukai area of Baluchistan, where armed men stopped two buses, checked passengers' identity cards, and dragged out nine of them with Punjab addresses to be shot dead in cold blood. The so-called Balochistan Liberation Front later claimed responsibility for the heinous act. Pakistan has submitted multiple dossiers to the United Nations and other international bodies, detailing Indian financial and logistical support for these terrorist groups, often operating from Afghan soil or via clandestine regional networks. The issue gained significant traction following the 2016 arrest of a serving Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav in Baluchistan. Found in possession of a passport under a fictitious Muslim name, Jadhav later confessed on video to orchestrating subversive activities in that restive province on behalf of India's intelligence agency, RAW. A striking element of the top brass' assertions is the pointed reference to India's National Security Adviser, Ajit Doval. Just a day before the Corps Commanders' meeting, Director General of ISPR, Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, had also named Doval as the 'chief architect of terrorism in Pakistan.' This, of course, did not come as a surprise. Doval has, on multiple public platforms and in think-tank discussions, outlined his 'offensive defence' doctrine – a Pakistan-centric strategy that advocates taking the fight to adversary through covert means. This doctrine has come to symbolize India's use of violent proxies to destabilise this country. The military's call for 'holistic' action reflects the evolving nature of modern security challenges, which requires a multi-dimensional approach. In addition to military readiness it demands greater political alignment and economic resilience—especially at a time when Pakistan is grappling with political uncertainty and grim economic challenges. Meanwhile, India's attempts to offset its military setbacks through proxy warfare leave limited space for diplomatic engagement in an already fragile regional environment. Common sense suggests that both nuclear-armed neighbours work to de-escalate tensions. Unfortunately, however, India's interference via proxies continues, adding to the tensions between two nuclear-armed countries. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Time of India
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Nepal Flags Terrorist Infiltration Risk From Pak LeT, JeM, Warns India of Open Border Challenge
Ajit Doval Exposes Foreign Media, Reveals Misinformation on Operation Sindoor in IIT Madras Speech National Security Advisor Ajit Doval dropped a truth bomb during his address at IIT Madras, calling out Western media's distorted coverage of Operation Sindoor. Doval proudly revealed that the precision strike executed by Indian forces hit 9 terrorist targets deep inside Pakistan in just 23 minutes, with zero collateral damage on the Indian side. In a scathing rebuke to the New York Times and others, Doval challenged them to present even a single image showing damage in India. 'Not even a glass pane was broken,' he said. He pointed to before-and-after satellite imagery of 13 Pakistani airbases including Sargodha, Chaklala, and Rahim Yar Khan. 'Only damage was on their side, and it was surgical,' he asserted. Highlighting the indigenous capability of the mission, Doval said India's confidence stems from its homegrown technology and precision intelligence. This wasn't border skirmish. It was deep, calculated, and decisive.#operationsindoor #ajitdoval #iitspeech #newyorktimes #pakistanairbase #indianstrike #foreignmediaexposed #surgicalstrike #indiandefence #makeinindia #toi #toibharat #bharat #trending #breakingnews #indianews 87.6K views | 1 day ago
Time of India
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Putin's ‘Zombie' T-72 Tank ‘Survives' Kyiv's 60 Drone Bombs
Ajit Doval Exposes Foreign Media, Reveals Misinformation on Operation Sindoor in IIT Madras Speech National Security Advisor Ajit Doval dropped a truth bomb during his address at IIT Madras, calling out Western media's distorted coverage of Operation Sindoor. Doval proudly revealed that the precision strike executed by Indian forces hit 9 terrorist targets deep inside Pakistan in just 23 minutes, with zero collateral damage on the Indian side. In a scathing rebuke to the New York Times and others, Doval challenged them to present even a single image showing damage in India. 'Not even a glass pane was broken,' he said. He pointed to before-and-after satellite imagery of 13 Pakistani airbases including Sargodha, Chaklala, and Rahim Yar Khan. 'Only damage was on their side, and it was surgical,' he asserted. Highlighting the indigenous capability of the mission, Doval said India's confidence stems from its homegrown technology and precision intelligence. This wasn't border skirmish. It was deep, calculated, and decisive.#operationsindoor #ajitdoval #iitspeech #newyorktimes #pakistanairbase #indianstrike #foreignmediaexposed #surgicalstrike #indiandefence #makeinindia #toi #toibharat #bharat #trending #breakingnews #indianews 87.6K views | 1 day ago
Hans India
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Op Sindoor: India hit 9 terror targets in 23 mins: Ajit Doval
Chennai: Indian military's precision hitting capabilities were on display during Operation Sindoor where nine terror targets crisscrossing Pakistan were smashed, "we knew who was where," while back home not even a glass pane was broken, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval said here on Friday. In what was seen as India's retribution to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 persons dead, none of the intended targets in Pakistan was missed during the military offensive, Doval said while also taking pride in India's capability and technological prowess in neutralising the threats from across the border. The precision was to the point where India knew who was where, and the entire operation lasted hardly 23 minutes past 1 am on May 7, he said. "Thereafter, they said Pakistan did this and so on. You tell me one image or photograph which shows any damage to India being done. Not even a glass pane was broken," Doval said while speaking at the 62nd convocation ceremony of IIT, Madras. "They (international media) wrote these things and put out things. The images only showed 13 air bases in Pakistan before and after May 10, whether it was in Sargodha, Rahim Yar Khan, Chaklala. I am only telling you what the foreign media put out on the basis of images. We are capable of doing that (damage to Pakistani air bases)." Addressing the students, Doval also said the link between technology and warfare was very important, and that the country should develop indigenous technology to meet its requirements. Referring to the earlier speaker, Padma Subrahmanyam—Padma Vibhushan awardee and legendary danseuse—congratulating him for the success of Operation Sindoor and evoking thunderous applause from the students and graduates, the NSA said, "I am really proud of it (Operation Sindoor). Much of it was driven by indigenous content." "We are proud of it—that some of our best systems worked, whether it was BrahMos (missiles), the integrated air control and command system, or battlefield surveillance. We decided on nine terrorist targets, not in the border areas but in the crisscross of Pakistan, and we missed none." No unintended site was struck, and the strike was precise to the point where "we knew who was where. And the entire operation lasted for 23 minutes," he said. In a subtle rebuttal to coverage of international media, including the New York Times, questioning the operation's effectiveness, the NSA said, "They wrote what they wanted. But satellite images tell the real story—that 13 Pakistan airbases, before and after May 10, show exactly what happened." Earlier, speaking at the convocation, Padma Subrahmanyam said the historic victory of Operation Sindoor was a manifestation of adherence to the valour that the Bhagavad Gita preaches. "As a proud Indian, I have always offered my salutations to our jawans, who are our national guardian angels," she said, congratulating Doval for his role in the operation. At the event, Doval said the country could not afford to lose the technology battle and remain behind or fall decades behind others. He acknowledged the role of IIT, Madras and the private sector in developing 5G in two-and-a-half years' time, whereas the Chinese took over 12 years and spent 300 billion dollars to develop 5G technology. "Even a screw that deals with anything related to data or security protection must come from a trusted source. It is either made in India or by somebody who is very close to India," he added, emphasising the need to totally insulate our system from the enemy. A total of 3,227 students graduated. As many as 3,661 Degrees (including Joint and Dual Degrees) were awarded to the students on the occasion. A total of 529 PhDs were also awarded, which included PhDs, Joint Degree with foreign institutions and Dual Degree PhDs, the institute said. The precision was to the point where India knew who was where, and the entire operation lasted hardly 23 minutes past 1 am on May 7, he said. "Thereafter, they said Pakistan did this and so on. You tell me one image or photograph which shows any damage to India being done. Not even a glass pane was broken," Doval said.
