The Silent Strength of Jawaharlal Nehru University: Contributions to India’s National Security

                                     

 

Background

Ever since I enrolled in JNU, I’ve been asked countless times, mostly by people who’ve never set foot in the campus, about the so-called “anti-national” image of the university. Questions like, “Why is JNU so political?” or “Why is JNU known for being leftist?” have been commonplace. After spending around two years here, I’ve come to understand this place more deeply, and it frustrates me to see how JNU is often misrepresented in the media. This portrayal has created a distorted perception, which overshadows the many positive aspects of the university. People tend to focus on the negative, but rarely hear about the good things happening here. In this article, I aim to shed light on the some less-known aspects of JNU and challenge the prevailing misconceptions, particularly when it comes to the constant accusations of being “anti-national”. Its very foundations are rooted in fostering the ideals that Pandit Nehru espoused: national integration, social justice, secularism, democracy, and scientific temper. Yet, JNU has often found itself mired in controversies that overshadow its immense contributions to the nation. This article seeks to highlight the multifaceted role of JNU in shaping India's intellectual, military, and security framework. It underscores how JNU, often misunderstood, is a university deeply aligned with the principles of nationalism, service, and excellence.

Introduction

Universities play a vital role in nation-building, reflecting the aspirations of society while shaping the future of the country. Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) exemplifies this ethos. A university stands for humanism, for tolerance, for reason, for the adventure of ideas and for the search of truth. It stands for the onward march of the human race towards ever higher objectives. If the universities discharge their duties adequately, then it is well with the Nation and the People. This visionary statement by the first Prime Minister of Independent India on the occasion of the diamond jubilee celebration of Allahabad University on 13 December, 1947, reflects the great importance that Jawaharlal Nehru attached to university education in India. He firmly believed that universities could play a crucial role in shaping and strengthening the life of a nation by inculcating in their students the cardinal values in which he believed. As a fitting tribute to his vision, Jawaharlal Nehru University was established in 1966 under the JNU Act,1966 (53 of 1966). As a further mark of respect, the University was formally inaugurated by the late Sh. V. V. Giri, the then President of India, on the birthday of Panditji on 14 November 1969, which also coincided with the birth centenary year of Mahatma Gandhi. Interestingly, the Special Frontier Force was also established on the same day, in 1962, by Nehru.

The University’s objectives are: to disseminate and advance knowledge wisdom and understanding, by teaching and research; and by the example and influence of its corporate life to promote the study of the principles for which Jawaharlal Nehru worked during his life-time, namely national integration, social justice, secularism, democratic way of life, international understanding and a scientific approach to the problems of society. The uniqueness of JNU is evident from its basic philosophy, policies and programmes which are spelt out and embodied in the University Act. Accordingly, the University has always striven to evolve such policies and programmes of study as would be a qualitative and distinct addition to the national resource base in higher education instead of reflecting mere quantitative expansions of the existing facilities. The University thus has been concentrating on programmes that are of relevance to national progress and development.

JNU: A Nature Lover’s Paradise

 

JNU’s sprawling 1,019 acre campus, carved out of the rocky Aravalli  range, is a sanctuary of biodiversity. JNU is part of the Southern Ridge of Aravali Hills and houses various species of wild fauna. These range from Common Palm Civets, Small Indian Civet, Indian Golden Jackal, Indian Crested Porcupine, Blue Bulls, Rufus Tailed Hare, various lizards & varieties of snakes, birds & butterflies etc. From lush green trees, shrubs, rare plants and herbs to beautiful birds and animals, the campus thrives as a harmonious blend of nature and academia. It demonstrates how human progress can coexist with environmental conservation, creating a unique learning environment. And yes, some faculties do conduct their lectures under the open sky – and once in a while our four legged friends do sneak in to see what are the homo sapiens discussing 😊

The Human Element: Students, Faculty, and Campus Life in JNU 

With around 10,000 students, including  4,500 Ph.D. scholars, and 1,000 faculty and staff, JNU is a vibrant intellectual hub. The campus is a self-sufficient ecosystem with parks, eateries, guest houses, and community spaces. Its infrastructure is old but expansive, often making it possible for one part of the campus to remain unaware of protests or events occurring elsewhere.

The university’s political culture has evolved over decades, reflecting India’s socio-political currents. While leftist ideologies have historically dominated, JNU has always housed a diverse mix of viewpoints, including centrist, right-wing, and neutral perspectives – the intensity of which keeps changing as per the political mood of the nation. This ideological interplay enriches campus discourse and fosters critical thinking. So, yes, not all JNUites are pure leftists, rightists or opportunists.

JNU and the Indian Military: A Hub of Civil-Military Relations

Few know of JNU’s deep integration with India’s defence institutions. MP-IDSA - India's top defence think tank, fully funded by the Ministry of Defence, until around 2007-08 functioned from the Old JNU Campus.

JNU has granted recognition and accreditation to the following prestigious institutions across the country. This has added to the true national character of the University. Representatives of these institutions serve on various academic and statutory bodies of JNU. Similarly, JNU faculty also participate in the academic bodies of these institutions:

·         Army Cadet College, Dehradun

·         College of Military Engineering, Pune

·         Military College of Electronics and Mechanical Engineering, Secunderabad

·         Military College of Telecommunication Engineering, Mhow

·         National Defence Academy, Pune

·         Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala, Kerala   

 

 

Military cadets who complete courses from these institutions are awarded their degrees by JNU. That gives you around 1000 plus military personnel being affiliated with JNU every year! Some notable personalities associated with JNU and its contribution to defence include Nirmala Sitharaman, the former Defence Minister and current Finance Minister of India; Admiral R. Hari Kumar, the former Chief of Naval Staff of the Indian Navy; Satyajit Mohanty, the Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Defence etc. These individuals exemplify the significant role JNU has played in shaping key figures who have contributed to India's defence and military leadership.

JNU also has a dedicated centre for security studies -  Special Centre for National Security Studies (SCNSS). The Centre is dedicated to studying national security issues in a comprehensive and holistic manner. It has a prime focus on analysing, comparing and theorising all security issues that concern India. As a super speciality hub of national importance on the domestic and external security issues of India, the Centre’s core expertise revolves around examining, reflecting on and providing policy inputs and alternative policies to relevant government and security agencies of India. In dealing with national security issues, the Centre inclines towards examining them through the prism of Indian civilizational knowledge and its security traditions, with the sole objective of protecting India’s vital national security interests and its territorial integrity and promoting world peace. The Centre is an interdisciplinary body combining social sciences and civilizational/cultural insights of India with latest emerging technologies in cyber, space, chemical, biological, nuclear, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other related disciplines.

 

  

 

Recently, total of 19 Vice Chancellors from various universities across the country were recently conferred honorary rank of Colonel by the National Cadet Corps (NCC).

Among these distinguished individuals was also the VC of Jawaharlal Nehru University. In addition to receiving the rank, they were also presented with the official gazette notification and ceremonial baton. With this honour, they now hold the prestigious title of Colonel 'Commandant' of their respective university's NCC Wing. Previously, honorary ranks were conferred upon sports celebrities such as Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Indian Army), Sachin Tendulkar (Indian Air Force), Kapil Dev (Indian Army), and others. This new policy extends similar honours to academic leaders, recognising their contributions to nation-building. Bestowing honorary ranks upon Vice Chancellors highlights the significant role academia plays in nurturing disciplined, well-rounded, patriotic, and morally grounded youth.

JNU and Indian Intelligence Agencies: Excellence and Collaborative Growth

Before it moved to its current location, JNU operated from a very small-sized campus in Ber Sarai, now known as the Old JNU Campus. Back then, JNU shared the old campus space with some intelligence agencies. Today, the old campus houses offices for secretariat training, the finance ministry, and a paramilitary canteen. The university's diverse academic environment and location proved to be an ideal breeding ground for talent, with many students being directly recruited by intelligence agencies. Subject experts, students and analysts from both the sciences and humanities were discreetly recruited, who played a significant role in India's intelligence and security apparatus.

Recruitment was highly selective and conducted with thorough background checks. Counter-intelligence was initially provided by the IB, while background verification was done by the local police. Since technology was not so common, everything had to be done manually – from spotting the talent, to drafting their profiles, interviews and other stuff. Salaries were not so high back then, and most people joined for the sake of thrill and patriotism. While students used to get full salaries, faculty members would get a task-based honorarium. Even those who were deeply involved in political activities, whether left-wing or right-wing, became apolitical when they joined these agencies, ensuring that national interests were never compromised. In fact it actually helped to blend into different settings for collecting on ground information. The selection process was so discreet that only the concerned individual was told about it – if selected finally, thus keeping it hidden from public knowledge. Recruitment happened for a temporary period initially; those found fit continued in service while others moved out. The job profiles included field as well as desk assignments, and almost all of those who served have never discussed what they did, publicly. The first chief of R&AW, Shri R.N. Kao was favourable to the idea of selecting staff from the open market which helped new ideas germinate. Kao’s post retirement home is in Vasant Vihar, some distance away from the current JNU campus. The forty-year period from 1970-2000 was an interesting time to serve as an Indian intelligence professional, and JNU contributed whatever it could. Once the new campus came up fully, JNU was shifted to the current location and the old campus was handed over to other govt. offices. The last known high level appointment from JNU happened sometime after the NTRO was setup when a few JNU alumni were recruited for some special tasks. The new millenium saw changes in recruitment patterns in Indian intelligence, and thus the old bonhomie with JNU dried up. Unfortunately, the IB as well as R&AW came to be dominated by the IPS cadres, thus pushing aside those recruited from other government departments as well as from the open market. Selecting human resources from the open market became unacceptable to certain vested interests and this side of JNU is now history. Lack of intelligence reforms in India has ensured that this unfortunate situation continues.

JNU graduates in both the sciences and humanities who did not join the intelligence services went on to serve in pivotal roles across various sectors, through the civil services and other exams. Many joined the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of External Affairs, and the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS). NSCS has seen scores of subject matter experts, desk officers, researchers, analysts, directors etc. hired from JNU in the period from 2000 to 2018. After this, the NSCS stopped recruiting talent not just from JNU, but in general, from the open market. The decision came from the top and was not disputed by others in the system. The ones who got a chance to work in NSCS, directly from JNU, were lucky enough to have permanent careers in the NSCS while some served on contractual and deputation basis. Even today ex-NSCS employees stay low-profile, and do not discuss about their work – and rightfully so. They did what was asked of them, and once out of the system, have maintained professionalism and anonymity. As on date the only intelligence agency remaining in the Old JNU Campus, as per the agency's  official website, is the NCIIPC - National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Agency. NCIIPC is a unit of the NTRO, created under Section 70 A of the Information Technology Act 2000.

Such prominent alumni highlight JNU's silent yet significant contributions to nation-building. Popular names include, but are not limited to:

Alok Joshi: He has been the chief of R&AW from 2012 to 2014 and then the Chairman of NTRO from 2015 to 2017. In April 2025, Joshi was appointed as the Chairman of a reconstituted NSAB - National Security Advisory Board.

·    Syed Asif Ibrahim: A former Director of the Intelligence Bureau, who made history as the first Muslim in India to hold this prestigious position. In June 2015, he was appointed as the Indian Prime Minister’s special envoy on "Countering Terrorism and Extremism," tasked with liaising with governments in West Asia, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Ibrahim had earlier served as personal secretary to India’s first Muslim home minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, during a tumultuous period in 1989, when Mufti’s daughter Rubaiyya was kidnapped by militants in Kashmir. Known for his first-class intelligence skills, Ibrahim is respected for his grace and discretion under pressure.

·    Jyotindra Dixit: Popularly known as JN Mani Dixit, was the second National Security Adviser to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is remembered for his diplomatic acumen. He had a pivotal role in negotiating disputes with Pakistan and China. His contributions to India’s national security policy during his tenure were critical in shaping the country’s strategic approach to neighbouring nations.

·   Arvind Gupta: He served as the Deputy National Security Advisor of India, who, during his tenure at the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), handled a broad range of international and national security issues. He also contributed to various working groups and task forces established by the NSCS and played an instrumental role in the Kargil Review Committee.

 

JNU and International Relations

The schools of international relations, social sciences etc. have contributed significantly to the armed forces, diplomacy, and defence research.  Many JNU alumni and faculty have worked on important government projects, trained military personnel, conducted diplomatic engagements with embassies and foreign countries etc. demonstrating the University’s pivotal role in India’s strategic framework. Today, many JNU alumni work at reputed public policy institutions and think tanks in India and abroad. Many alumni from the schools of languages, international studies and social sciences have gone on to become faculties and researchers at top universities in India and abroad. JNU also conducts regular educational and training courses for police, civil servants, diplomats, and other professionals. In addition, the university organizes numerous events and conferences throughout the year, involving both Indian and foreign entities. These initiatives provide valuable opportunities for networking, learning, and career development, all within the dynamic environment of Delhi. 

Some prominent personalities associated with JNU in the realm of diplomacy and governance include Baburam Bhattarai, the 36th Prime Minister of Nepal; Ali Zeidan, the 24th Prime Minister of Libya; Ajit Seth, the 30th Cabinet Secretary of India; Amitabh Kant, the CEO of Niti Aayog; Lê Lương Minh, the 13th Secretary General of ASEAN; Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, the 30th Foreign Secretary of India and current Minister of External Affairs; and Abhijit Banerjee, Nobel laureate and Ford Foundation Professor at MIT. These individuals highlight the significant impact JNU has had in shaping leaders in the fields of diplomacy, governance, and international relations.

 

Beyond Controversies: A Silent Service to the Nation

JNU has not been immune to controversies, often amplified by media coverage seeking TRPs. However, these incidents represent a minuscule fraction of dirty acts done by some fringe elements. Those have been taken care of by the law enforcement and the judiciary. The vast majority of students and faculty are dedicated to academic excellence and national service. JNU’s reputation as a protest hub is often misunderstood. Many students, witnessing campus protests for the first time, participate out of curiosity or peer pressure rather than ideological alignment. However, the University remains a crucible for leadership, producing civil servants, military officers, and policymakers who shape India’s future. Today a JNU student is not limited to aspiring for a permanent government job. They are thriving in research, activism, policy making even entrepreneurship. Many have settled abroad in the last 15 years thus giving JNU a global presence and an excellent alumni network. While those who served in the security agencies and forces would have been an excellent pool of people to engage with the current students, it’s a professional sacrifice they made long back – to not come out in public. That sacrifice and patriotism deserves our deepest respects. We will never know fully about them.

JNU’s contributions extend beyond academia. It conducts training programs for police, diplomats, and civil servants, fostering interdisciplinary understanding and collaboration. Its partnerships with defence and research institutions enhance India’s capacity to address complex challenges in governance, security, and technology. JNU’s legacy is one of silent service and profound contributions to India’s intellectual, strategic, and administrative framework. Its commitment to Nehru’s vision of fostering a scientific temper, promoting national integration, and advancing knowledge remains unwavering.

The narrative that paints JNU as a hotbed of anti-nationalism is far from the truth. In reality, the University has always been a microcosm of India—a diverse, dynamic, and democratic space where ideas are debated, and the nation’s future leaders are nurtured. 

To those who question JNU’s nationalistic credentials, the University’s achievements speak for themselves: serving the military, intelligence, governance, and diplomacy with quiet determination.  If silent service to the nation is considered unpatriotic, then JNU stands proudly as the bastion of this “anti-national” ethos.

 

Today JNU coninues to serve the nation  in different ways than what was done in the past - details of which I will not mention here for obvious reasons. In conclusion, JNU stands as a true Jewel of National Unity, fostering the growth of leaders and professionals who contribute significantly to India's progress and security.

Jawaharlal’s Nation-Building University, will continue to support the growth of Bharat – without caring about agendas that seek to demean this place.

This article was thus my own personal tribute to the place that helped me grow and broaden my life experiences.

Jai Hind!