Ajit Doval: 11 Facts You Must Know About The ¡®James Bond Of India¡¯

The brain behind India's 'offensive defence' in response to Pakistan's terror strike, a Kerala Cadre IPS officer of the 1968 batch Ajit Kumar Doval is the fifth and current National Security Adviser (NSA) to the Indian Prime Minister of India. Ajit Doval is popularly known as the 'James Bond of India'. Ajit Doval is a retired Indian Police Services (IPS) officer of the Kerala cadre and a former Indian intelligence and law enforcement officer.

Ajit Doval had an active role in curbing terrorism and insurgency in various states of India like Punjab and Mizoram. He had been part of the negotiations in well over 15 Hijackings of Indian Airlines over a period spanning 28 years.

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In his outstanding service to date, he has several illustrious achievements and records to his name. As he turns 78 today, here are some interesting facts about Ajit Doval that you should know about.

1. Born in Pauri Garhwal

Ajit Kumar Doval was born on January 20, 1945, in Ghiri Banelsyun village in Pauri Garhwal in a Garhwali family. His father, Major Gunananda Doval, was an officer in the Indian Army.

2. Awarded an honorary doctorate in science

Ajit Doval did his schooling at King George's Royal Indian Military School (now as Ajmer Military School), in Ajmer, Rajasthan. In 1967, from Agra University, he graduated with a Master's degree in Economics. In December 2017, Doval was awarded an honorary doctorate in science from Agra University.

3. 'Indian James Bond'

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In 1968, Ajit Doval joined the Indian Police Service and was actively involved in the anti-insurgency operations in Punjab and Mizoram.

According to the police records, the IPS officer, who is considered the 'Indian James Bond', worked in Thalassery for a brief period from January 2, 1972, to June 9 1972.

A young officer with just three years of experience, Doval, who was then the ASP in Kottayam, was assigned the duty by the then home minister K Karunakaran, according to veteran police sources.

Though the Thalassery riot, in which the RSS was accused of targeting the Muslims and their mosques, and the CPM came to the rescue of the Muslim community, lasted for only a couple of days after it began on 28 December 1971, Karunakaran wanted to avert it escalating further, following which the young IPS officer was assigned the duty.

However, he worked in Thalassery for five months and he later joined the central service, which marked the beginning of his career as the 'Indian James Bond'.

5. Crucial role in Kandahar hijack

Ajit Doval played a crucial role as one of the three negotiators in the release of passengers from the hijacked Indian plane IC-814 in Kandhar in 1999.

6. Undercover operative in Pakistan

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Retired as the Director Intelligence Bureau in January 2005, Ajit Doval lived in Pakistan's Lahore, disguised as a Muslim for seven years. During his years in the country, he befriended the locals visiting mosques and lived among the predominantly Muslim population. Acknowledged as a master of psychological welfare, Ajit Doval, as a part of his job also spied on Pakistan's intelligence agency, ISI.

7. Operation Blue Star

Operation Blue Star¡¯ which was conducted in 1984 to choke the Khalistani insurgency is another instance where Doval showcased his excellence by gathering crucial intelligence for the operation.

8. Fifth National Security Advisor

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After his retirement, Doval was appointed as India's fifth National Security Advisor on May 30, 2014. In July 2014, he ensured the secure return of the 46 Indian nurses, trapped in a hospital in Tikrit, Iraq.

9. Brain behind Pakistan airstrike

He is popular for the doctrinal shift in Indian national security policy in relation to Pakistan. The Indian National Security policy changed from Defensive to Defensive Offensive to Double Squeeze Strategy. As per reports, the 2016 Indian Strikes in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir were his brainchild.

10. Youngest police officer

Ajit Doval was the youngest police officer to receive a Police Medal for his meritorious service. He received an award after completing 6 years of his service in the police.

11. First police officer to receive Kirti Chakra

Ajit Doval Facts | BCCL

In 1998, he was conferred with the highest gallantry award-- Kirti Chakra. He was the first police officer to receive this award, which was earlier given as a military honour.

Today, India's defence policy is more polished, sharper and powerful because of Ajit Doval's strategic vision and all these facts make him truly a great strategist as well as a well-deserving man to be the National Security Advisor of the nation.