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R.N. Kao: Gentleman Spymaster

R.N. Kao: Gentleman Spymaster is a biography of Rameshwar Nath Kao, the founding chief of India's external intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW). Written by Nitin A. Gokhale, the book was published by Bloomsbury India in November 2019.[1][2] The book is being adapted into a movie by Karan Johar.

R.N. Kao: Gentleman Spymaster
AuthorNitin A. Gokhale
(Foreword by Ajit Doval)
CountryIndia
LanguageEnglish
GenreIntelligence Biography
Published18 November 2019
ISBN9789389449280

Background edit

Nitin A. Gokhale was informally approached to write a book on Kao.[3] Through interviews with people[a] who worked with Kao or were trained by him, Kao's declassified recordings and other official documents, meetings with his family, Gokhale managed to complete the book in 65 days.[3]

The National Security Advisor of India, Ajit Doval, has written the foreword of the book. The book is only one of two[b] books and the first-full-fledged book[3] to be written about RN Kao.[c][5] Through the life of RN Kao, the book is a view into how the people and organisations that protect India's national interests were built.[1]

Contents edit

Gokhale writes about Kao's early years including the early death of his father, his university years all the way to his entrance into the police world in 1940 to 1947 when he joined the Intelligence Bureau, where his responsibilities included the security of the Prime Minister and foreign leaders visiting India.[1] His major assignments such as the crash of Kashmir Princess are brought alive in the book, where Kao's interactions with the first Chinese premier Zhou Enlai are insightful.[1] Gokhale goes on to describe successful Indian – US cooperation in intelligence, where Kao was in charge of setting up the Aviation Research Centre with US assistance.[1]

Gokhale goes on to write about the causes that led up to the formation of R&AW and the circumstances under which Kao was made the first chief. It was here that Kao's abilities were fully visible, overseeing the merger of Sikkim and the partition of Pakistan, something which both the people of Sikkim and Bangladesh wanted respectively.[d][7] Gokhale also talks about how Kao had forewarned both Sheikh Mujib-ur-Rehman and Indira Gandhi before their assassinations.[1][8]

Publication edit

The book was published by Bloomsbury India in November 2019.[1][2]

The book was launched by Indian Army Chief Bipin Rawat and former R&AW Chief Vikram Sood on 13 December 2019.[9] A book discussion and launch also took place on 21 December 2019 in College of Engineering, Pune which was attended by Lt. Gen. Manoj Mukund Naravane[10] (the then Chief of Army-designate), Vappala Balachandran (former Special Secretary, R&AW who worked with Kao) and Jayant Umranikar (former DGP Maharashtra and R&AW officer).[11][12] Apart from directly talking about the book, Lt. Gen. Manoj Mukund Naravane said at the event that "military operations and intelligence go hand in hand" while Balachandran said the Official Secrets Act should be scrapped.[13][14][15]

Reception edit

Lt. Gen. Manoj Mukund Naravane said "its style of writing has captured the persona of the individual (Kao)" and "If given a chance, it (can be) made into a potboiler but that was not the intent. The character of the man (Kao) and the style in which the book is written actually complement each other."[16]

The book is being adapted into a movie by Karan Johar.[17][18]

See also edit

References edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Both Vikram Sood and Vappala Balachandran, who came to the book launch, had been recruited and worked with Kao.[4]
  2. ^ The other is "Kaoboys of R&AW" written by B Raman.[5]
  3. ^ R&AW does not declassify its records.[5]
  4. ^ Only when his (RN Kao's) record of the events is opened in 2025, as per his instructions, will the full extent of his role become public.[6]

Citations edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Katju, Vivek (10 December 2019). "The 'Kaoboy' who founded RAW". Tribune India. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  2. ^ a b Gokhale, Nitin A. (25 November 2019). "India's espionage agency RAW lifts the veil on its founder Rameshwar Nath Kao with this biography". Scroll.in. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  3. ^ a b c Deepak, Sukant (3 December 2019). "No cloak & dagger, 'but human intelligence indispensable'". Daily World. IANS. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  4. ^ Gokhale, Nitin (17 October 2019). "R N Kao, India's legendary Spymaster". Rediff. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  5. ^ a b c Unithan, Sandeep (8 December 2019). "The man who knew too much". India Today. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  6. ^ "R.N. Kao Gentleman Spymaster". Bloomsbury. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  7. ^ Chauhan, Neeraj (13 December 2019). "How RN Kao – India's top spymaster – helped integrate Sikkim into India". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  8. ^ "HT Picks: The most interesting books of the week". Hindustan Times. 29 November 2019. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  9. ^ "R. N. Kao Gentleman Spymaster book is a look into early years of RAW". Asian News International. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  10. ^ "Armed forces owe success to intel agencies: Lt. General Manoj Naravane". The Economic Times. 21 December 2019. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  11. ^ "Launch of a book 'R. N. KAO – GENTLEMAN SPYMASTER' authored by Shri. Nitin A. Gokhale". Pune International Centre. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  12. ^ "Gallery – Launch of a book 'R. N. KAO – GENTLEMAN SPYMASTER' authored by Shri. Nitin A Gokhale". Pune International Centre. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  13. ^ "Real spy world not like Bond, girls and guns: Lt. Gen Naravane". Business Standard India. Press Trust of India. 21 December 2019. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  14. ^ Balachandran, Vappala (26 December 2019). "Why Intelligence Support to Armed Combat Forces is Crucial". Outlook India. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  15. ^ "'No military operation would've been successful had it not been for support from our intelligence agencies,' says Army Chief-designate". The Indian Express. 22 December 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  16. ^ "Spy World Not Like "James Bond, Guns, Girls," Says Army Chief Designate". NDTV. 22 December 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  17. ^ "Karan Johar's next film is spy thriller based on RAW founder RN Kao". India Today. 9 January 2020. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  18. ^ Raghuvanshi, Aakanksha (9 January 2020). "Karan Johar Announces New Film On Research And Analysis Wing Founder Rameshwar Nath Kao". NDTV. Retrieved 9 January 2020.

Further reading edit

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