Ravindra Kaushik, India’s Greatest Spy Who Worked As A Major In The Pakistan Army

The late Ravindra Kaushik was one of India’s most prominent undercover spies. Sensitive information relayed by him from Pakistan eventually earned him the title ‘Black Tiger’. But the man had to spend the majority of the last 16 years of his life in jail. In a letter to his family from Central Jail Mianwali jail in Pakistan, he penned the words,

 “Kya Bharat jaise bade desh ke liye qurbani dene waalon ko yahi milta hai?” (Is this what lies in store for people who sacrifice their lives for a big country like India?)

The famous Bollywood movie Ek Tha Tiger storyline was claimed to be based on the life of Ravindra, according to his family. They asked for credit in the movie titles for Ravindra Kaushik. However, director Kabir Khan denied their claim. The movie features Bollywood superstar Salman Khan.

Romeo Akbar Walter, a 2019 Indian film written and directed by Robbie Grewal is loosely based on his activities in Pakistan. John Abraham plays the part of Ravindra Kaushik in the film. Though the character in the movie is named Rehamatullah Khan.

Who is Ravindra Kaushik?

Ravindra Kaushik was born in Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan on 11 April 1952. He was born into a Brahmin family. J. M. Kaushik, his father, was an Indian Air Force officer and his mother Amla Devi passed away in 2006. He is remembered as a good student and did his graduation from S. D. Bihani P. G. College, Sri Ganganagar.

He completed his B.Com and has a keen interest in mimicry and dramatics. He performed at a national theatrical festival in Lucknow when he was 21. He was involved with theatre acting while in college when he was recruited by the R&AW.

Rajeshwarnath Kaushik, Ravindra’s younger brother recalls,

“It was probably his mono-act in college, in which he played an Indian Army officer who refused to divulge information to China, that caught the attention of intelligence officers”

How did Ravindra Kaushik get recruited in R&AW?

After completing his BCom degree in 1973, Ravindra told his father that he was heading to Delhi to start a new job. In reality, he was about to start his two-year training period with RAW.

How Ravindra Kaushik became a resident agent?

Ravindra was already fluent in Punjabi. During his training, the officials taught him Urdu and familiarised him with Islamic scriptures. They also provided him with detailed lessons on Pakistan’s topography to help an authentic transition into a “resident agent”.

As circumcision is a common practice for males in the religious community in Pakistan, he reportedly also underwent a circumcision.

He headed to Pakistan and assumed the alias ‘Nabi Ahmed Shakir’, a resident of Islamabad. All of his official Indian records were destroyed by 1975. He completed an LLB degree from Karachi University. He joined the Pakistani Army as a commissioned officer in its Military Accounts Department. Later, he was promoted to the rank of Major.

Contributions of India’s greatest spy

Between 1979 and 1983, Ravindra passed on confidential information to Indian defense officials after he secured a well-respected position in Pakistan. His service to the nation offered the country a critical advantage in times of growing conflict.

Ravindra Kaushik wife

He married a local woman by the name of Amanat in Pakistan. Ravindra Kaushik love story with the Pakistani woman is intriguing. Amanat was the daughter of a tailor in an Army unit. The two fell in love, it is said that his wife was not aware of his real identity. Amanat and Ravindra Kaushik had a son, Areeb Ahmed Khan.

Ravindra Kaushik was tortured for two years, in jail, and imprisoned for 16 years

In September 1983, After eight years of working as a spy successfully his real identity came to light and everything fell apart.

Another undercover agent named Inyat Masiha was sent by RAW to get in touch with Ravindra. During an interrogation by the Pakistani forces, Inayat revealed the true nature of his work to Pakistani officials.

Pakistani intelligence officials instructed Masiha to meet Ravindra in a park. Ravindra Kaushik was 29 years old at that time, he was arrested in the park on charges of espionage. Reports suggest that he was tortured for information at an interrogation center in Sialkot for the next two years.

The Pakistani Supreme Court sentenced Ravindra to death in 1985. But his punishment was later changed to life imprisonment. He was held in numerous jails including Sialkot, Mianwali, and Kot Lakhpat. He still managed to secretly write at least half a dozen letters to his family, describing the traumatic events he encountered while serving his time.

Just three days before dying of pulmonary tuberculosis and heart disease in November 2001, Ravindra wrote,

“Had I been an American, I would have been out of this jail in three days”

Ravindra Kaushik died on 21st November 2001, he was 49 at the time of his death. He was buried at the New Central Multan Jail.

‘We don’t want money, we want recognition’

Ravindra’s family in Jaipur was informed of his death in a letter sent by the Kot Lakhpat Superintendent. Ravindra’s father, a retired Indian Air Force officer, died of heart failure after hearing the news of his son’s demise.

According to a report by The Telegraph, Ravindra’s brother Rajeshwarnath and mother Amladevi had written several letters to the Indian government to help with Ravindra’s release. However, their pleas went unanswered, and the only response they got from the Foreign Ministry was —

“His case has been taken up with Pakistan”

In a letter to then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, his mother Amladevi wrote,

“Had he not been exposed, Kaushik would have been a senior army officer of the Pakistan government by now and (continued in) the coming years (serving India secretly).”

Another read,

“The government never…sent medicines on time when Kaushik was dying, though a spy sitting in the right place…saves the life of at least 20,000 soldiers of his nation.”

Ravindra never received an official acknowledgment for his sacrifices. Ravindra Kaushik spent 26 years away from his homeland. His brother Rajeshwarnath said,

“What we want from the government is recognition of the contribution by agents as they are the real foundation of the security system”

Rajeshwarnath Kaushik added that the family initially received Rs 500 a month, then Rs 2,000 a month until 2006, when Amladevi passed away. He said,

“He will always remain important for me. But for the country, he was just another agent”

Ravindra Kaushik Movie (Biopic)

When asked about how Ravindra Kaushik family feels about the upcoming biopic, Ravindra’s sister Shashi Vashisth said,

“Many people have approached us to make a film, but it never felt right because it is very personal for us. When Raj Kumar Gupta approached us, we felt confident since…he is a sensible filmmaker, and the right person to tell my brother’s story for the first time.”

In 2015, her son and Ravindra’s nephew Vikram Vashisth had alleged similarities between his late uncle’s life and the storyline of Salman Khan starrer Ek Tha Tiger. They seeked credit from the film’s producers.

Filmmaker Raj Kumar Gupta was quoted saying,

“Shri Ravinder Kaushik was India’s greatest spy. [His] is an emotional and remarkable story. I am humbled and thankful to his family who trusted me and gave me the rights to turn this unbelievable story into a film”

Filmmaker Anurag Basu known for films such as Life in a… Metro, Gangster, Barfi! has announced his next directorial venture The Black Tiger, a biopic on Indian spy Ravindra Kaushik.

Ravindra’s family members have consented to the biopic and are lending their support. The Black Tiger is produced by Basu, R Vivek, Asvin Srivatsangam, and Divay Dhamija. Anurag Basu said in a statement,

“Ravindra Kaushik’s story is that of courage and valour. At the young age of 20 years, he played a pivotal role in many national and international security matters of the ’70s and ’80s that went on to define India’s as well as South Asia’s character. So much of our history is either hidden or forgotten. We ought to recognise and learn about this unsung hero”

What are your opinions on the remarkable undercover spy’s tragic end? Let us know in the comments.