Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday presented the Lokmanya Tilak National Award 2026 to National Security Advisor Ajit Doval in Pune, describing him as a dedicated servant of the nation whose contributions to India’s internal and external security would be remembered as a “golden chapter” in the history of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tenure.

The award ceremony was attended by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Sunetra Pawar, Union Minister of State for Cooperation Murlidhar Mohol and several other dignitaries.

Addressing the gathering, HM Shah said the occasion coincided with the 106th death anniversary of Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, whom he described as a visionary leader, teacher, fearless journalist, profound thinker and Karmayogi. He recalled Lokmanya Tilak’s famous declaration, “Swaraj is my birthright, and I shall have it,” and said it gave a new direction and meaning to India’s freedom movement.

The Home Minister said Lokmanya Tilak introduced the idea of cultural nationalism into the freedom struggle and connected the masses with the movement for Swaraj. He asserted that India has now embarked on the path of cultural nationalism envisioned by Lokmanya Tilak and that this course cannot be stopped.