Life in the Shadows: Shaurya Doval on Growing Up with India's Top Spymaster

Shaurya Doval, son of National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, shared insights about his father's covert career, revealing he was unaware of his father's role as an IPS officer during his childhood. He discussed the secrecy surrounding Ajit Doval’s work and highlighted the India Foundation's distinctive approach.

Shaurya Doval, son of National Security Advisor and distinguished spymaster Ajit Doval, revealed that he was unaware of his father's role as an IPS officer during his childhood. In an interaction with PTI editors, Shaurya, a BJP leader and founder of India Foundation, shared that the covert nature of his father's operations became known to him much later in life.

Shaurya humorously recounted questioning one of his father's colleagues about the lack of public information on the Intelligence Bureau compared to Pakistan's ISI. The response highlighted the secretive operations of the IB, corroborating the clandestine nature of Ajit Doval's work.

Ajit Doval, who is currently serving his third term as NSA, has had a career marked by intelligence successes, including pivotal roles in operations like Black Thunder and during the Indian Airlines Flight 814 hijacking. Shaurya's remarks shed light on the complexities of balancing national security and family life, while also discussing the unique approach of his think-tank, India Foundation.

(With inputs from agencies.)