Source: Wikipedia
Since independence, the two countries India and Pakistan have fought several wars. There have been many soldiers and agents from both sides who have devoted their lives to their country. One of them was Ravindra Kaushik.
Here is the story of that RAW Agent who worked as a Pakistan Army major and gave his life while serving for his country but doesn’t get the recognition as much he deserved.
Early Life of Ravindra Kaushik
Ravindra Kaushik was born on 11 April 1952 in Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan. He was from a Brahmin family. As his father JM Kaushik had served in the Indian Air force and he grew up as a teenager from 1965 to 1971 when India was at war against Pakistan, he always had patriotism in his blood.
He did his schooling at a government school in Sri Ganganagar and went to the private college SD Bihani College where he developed an interest in dramas and theatres.
Induction in RAW
Ravindra Kaushik was famous in his college for his mono-acting and mimicry. He displayed his talent at a national-level dramatic meet in Lucknow where Ravindra played a role of an Indian army officer who refused to give information to China. This was witnessed by an official from the Research and Analysis Wing who offered him a job as Undercover Indian Agent in Pakistan.
After completing his bachelor's in commerce, Ravindra left for Delhi to join RAW. There he undergo extensive training for 2 years so he could pass as a Muslim. He was taught Urdu, given education on Islamic religion, and acquainted with the topography and other information about Pakistan.
When he was ready, knowing both Punjabi and Urdu language and all his Indian records destroyed, Kaushik was sent to Pakistan in 1975 at the age of 23.
New Life in Pakistan
In Pakistan, Ravindra Kaushik lived a life as Nabi Ahmed Shakir and was shown as a resident of Islamabad. He was successfully admitted to Karachi University where he completed his LLB.
After that, he joined the Pakistan Army as a commissioned officer and was eventually promoted to the rank of major. While serving in the Pakistan army, Kaushik met a Muslim girl named Amanat who belongs to a well-off family, and got married. He also became the father of their child.
Between 1979 and 1983, Ravindra passed on several valuable information to RAW which helped India a lot. During his tenure as an undercover agent in Pak, he even visited India 3-4 times via Dubai. Late S. B. Chavan give him the title of ‘Black Tiger’ as he was the greatest spy of India.
Cover Blow-up
It was going well until September 1983 when Kaushik’s cover was blown up by another low-level Indian agent Inyat Masih. He was sent to get in touch with Kaushik but he was caught by Pakistan officials at the border. When Inyat was being investigated, he spilled all the beans and revealed Ravindra’s identity.
Then he was arrested by Pakistan authorities and was tortured for 2 years at an interrogation center in Sialkot. In 1985, Kaushik was sentenced to death but later in 1990, it was converted to life imprisonment. He was kept in many jails including Sialkot, Kot Lakhpat, and Mianwali for 16 years.
Death and Aftermath
Ravindra Kaushik had spent 26 years of his life away from his family in unfavorable conditions. During his imprisonment, he secretly sent half a dozen letters to his family where he once said “kya Bharat jaise bade desh ke liye kurbani dene waalon ko yahi milta hai?” and he also mentioned that if he had been from America, he would have been out of his jail in 3 days.
Even his mother Amaladevi wrote several letters to the Indian government but never get a response. In November 2001, he died of pulmonary tuberculosis and heart disease in Central Jail Mianwali. He was buried behind that jail.
According to Ravindra’s brother, Rajeshwarnath Kaushik, the only thing government did after his death was given Rs.500 a month and a few months Rs.2000 a month until 2006 when his mother died.
He said that they never wanted the money but recognition that his brother never received while adding that Ravindra was always important to him but for the country, he was just another agent.
Movies
Ravindra’s family also claimed that the plot of the 2012 Bollywood film ‘ Ek Tha Tiger ’ starring Salman Khan was based on the life of Ravindra Kaushik.
Not only this movie but also the 2019 Bollywood film ‘Romeo Akbar Walter’ starring John Abraham was slightly related to his life.
Written by – Vipasha
Edited by - Kritika Sharma
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