The name is Bond, James Bond. I am a 007 fan. I love the way he never fails to make an everlasting impression on my mind with each movie. Whether it’s Daniel Craig in Skyfall or Pierce Brosnan in Die another Day; the undercover operations and the action sequences of James Bond always starts pumping adrenaline in my body whenever I watch those movies.
But last week when I watched a James Bond movie, it got me thinking that does India have any such legendary spies. I always underestimated the Indian intelligence services. Don’t blame me, blame Salman Khan for that. What am I supposed to think after watching movies like “Ek Tha Tiger”?
And just when I got to this thinking, I stumbled across an answer on Quora which had more than 1000 upvotes. It was about a man named “Ajit Doval”. Ajit Doval, I never heard that name before. Who is that guy, I thought. So, I started going through the answer.
As it turned out, he is currently the National Security Advisor of our country. But so what? Does that make him a James Bond, The James Bond?
Hold on! Don’t underestimate the Indian Intelligence officers like I did.
Let me tell you a bit about various operations that this man completed for our nation.
Mission Zone – North East
The Mizo uprising in 1966 for establishing a separate sovereign state of Mizos was led by Mizo National Front (MNF). Ajit Kumar Doval went undercover during this uprising and won over 6 of 7 commanders of the MNA (Mizo National Army). This squeezed out the life from Mizo insurgency.
During his next assignment in North East, at Sikkim, he again went undercover to facilitate the merger of Sikkim in India. Though, it was a highly secret mission and its details were not made available, but the merger of Sikkim in India is credited to his name.
Mission Zone – Kashmir
Kuka Parray who is the founder of J&K Awaami League is known to be a pioneer of counter insurgency movement in Kashmir. But did you know that Kuka Parray actually supported terrorists before? It was Doval who persuaded him to assist in Army’ counter insurgency efforts. This is how insider information was made available to the Army which led to the suppression of militant movement and finally elections took place in the state.
Mission Zone – Pakistan
Though very little is known about Doval’s work in Pakistan, but from what little is available, even that will not fail to amaze you. Ajit Doval stayed undercover in Pakistan for 7 years! 7 years, can you imagine that? 7 years of life in a foreign country living a fake life among alien people while following a different religion! And it’s not a movie we are talking about.
During his stay in Pakistan, he sent vital information about Pakistan’s nuclear development to India. Other details of his work in Pakistan remain classified.
Operation Black Thunder – Golden Temple, Amritsar
Let’s get ready for a movie scene now.
1989, Golden Temple, Amritsar
Unknown number of terrorists of Khalistani Militants has captured Golden Temple. Home Minister pressurizes the army to take actions. Top Army officials gather for a high level meeting. But how can they attack the temple without exactly knowing the number of enemy, their positions and strengths? The mission will be no less than a suicide mission for soldiers, but also for the civilian people inside the temple which includes Romanian Diplomat Liviu Radu.
Scene Changes. Camera zooms on the faces of innocent people and the militants with their heavy guns.
During this time, a vendor keeps loitering outside the temple. In this tensed scene, a man who wasn’t seen before surely gathers the attention of militants. Suspicious as it looked, militants took him inside. And guess what, he is an ISI agent who says that he is there to help them fight against Indian Government. Terrorists are overjoyed. A new sense of excitement flows among them. Victory is ensured.
This ISI agent now has access to the whole complex. He understands the full arrangement which is going on to help them fight against Indian Government. But suddenly the Army attacks the place even after ISIs help and kills the militants. And they leave the ISI agent.
But wait. Do you also actually buy the idea that this man is an ISI agent? And that this is just a story?
This my friend is Mr Ajit Kumar Doval, the man behind Operation Black Thunder who without even a trace of fear convinced terrorists that he was an ISI agent, and in turn provided all the required information to Indian Army.
IC814 Hijack
Doval was the main negotiator with the terrorists during IC814 hijack. Moreover, he has been involved in the termination of all 15 airplane hijacks that took place between 1971-1999.
Iraq Mission – Bringing back 46 Nurses from Iraq
When the situation for 46 nurses seemed bleak in the violence torn country Iraq, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked Doval to carry out a high level meeting for bringing back 46 nurses and if necessary to carry out a mass evacuation of Indians from Iraq.
Just the day after meeting, Mr Doval went on a secret mission to Iraq to complete the task as he always did.
Today, Mr. Doval is the National Security Advisor to Naredra Modi since 30 May, 2014. He was also the director of Intelligence Beaureau in 2004-2005 after heading its operation wing for a decade.
In 1988, he was awarded with Kirti Chakra, one of the highest gallantry awards that is only given to military men. But seeing his contribution to our country, an exception was made, and he became the first Police Officer to receive Kirti Chakra.
PS: So remember the next time you watch a spy movie, “The name is Doval, Ajit Doval.”
