Roorkee, September 2026 — National Security Advisor Ajit Doval recently walked down memory lane during an address at IIT Roorkee, recounting his early days as a young Indian Police Service (IPS) officer.

While his distinguished career is now defined by high-stakes national security decisions, Doval candidly revealed how a near-disastrous intelligence mission and a Chinese capture in his twenties left him convinced his career was over before it even truly began.

The Border Assignment and Disappearance

In his twenties and newly inducted into the intelligence profession, Doval was posted in Sikkim during its historical merger with India. Alongside managing integration processes, his charter included monitoring border movements and tracking Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) activities.

During an intelligence mission near the border opposite Bhutan, an operative team dispatched across the line went completely silent. Days passed without contact or reports of natural avalanches, creating immense anxiety at headquarters.

The tension broke when Doval received a direct call from superiors asking if he had sent personnel across. The chilling reality was soon confirmed: his men had fallen into Chinese custody, where they were detained and interrogated before being eventually released through diplomatic negotiations.

Map Errors and Career Despair

Although an official inquiry eventually cleared Doval of wrongdoing—revealing that the mishap stemmed from defective maps and sketches provided by headquarters rather than operational negligence—the psychological toll was profound.

Having recently received the Indian Police Medal for Meritorious Service as one of the country’s youngest officers, Doval felt his professional momentum had been shattered. Reflecting on the period, he recalled knowing that while he was young enough to start over, the professional dent felt catastrophic at the time.

Seeking perspective, he turned to an experienced colleague—an old Bhutanese Sherpa working within the intelligence network—who brushed off the panic with simple wisdom: some people simply get their maps right, while others get them wrong.

A Philosophical Shift: Understanding ‘State of Being’

Decades later, Doval used the youthful blunder to impart a deeper philosophical lesson to students on navigating life’s unexpected detours.

Drawing on ancient metaphysics and modern philosophy, he emphasized that resilience begins with self-awareness: knowing who you are, recognizing your capabilities, and understanding your position. Existence, he noted, is never a static point on a map, but a dynamic, evolving journey where setbacks serve as stepping stones rather than final verdicts.