Ravindra Kaushik
| Ravindra Kaushik | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
Ravindra Kaushik 11 April 1952 Karnal, Haryana, India |
| Died |
26 July 1999 (aged 47) New Central Jail Multan, Multan, Pakistan |
| Nationality | Indian |
Ravindra Kaushik (1952–1999) was a former RAW agent who was caught and jailed in Pakistan where he eventually died.[1][2][3][4][5]
Early life
Ravinder Kaushik was born in Karnal, Haryana on April 11, 1952. He was a famous theater artist and displayed his talent at the national level dramatic meet in Lucknow, which was witnessed by some officials of the Indian Intelligence Agency RAW. He was contacted and offered a job of being an undercover agent of India in Pakistan. At the age of 23,[1] he was sent to Pakistan on a mission.[6][7]
In Pakistan
Ravinder Kaushik was recruited by RAW and was given extensive training in Delhi for two years. He underwent Circumcision so he could pass as a Muslim. He was taught Urdu, given religious education and acquainted with the topography and other details about Pakistan. Being from Sri Ganganager, he was well versed in the Punjabi language which is spoken in major parts of Pakistan.[4]
In 1975[1] he was sent to Pakistan and given the name Nabi Ahmed Shakir. He got into the Pakistan Army as a civilian clerk and later on in Military Accounts Department. He converted to Islam,[8] married a local girl Amanat, daughter of a tailor in one of the army units, and became father of a son who died in 2012-2013.[4]
From 1979 to 1983, while in jobs associated with the military, he passed on valuable information to RAW which was of great help to the Indian defense forces.[5]
He was disowned by RAW and the Indian authorities after being caught, as is the norm with under cover agents, and died a miserable death. However Indian Media started a campaign to have his efforts acknowledged after his death.
Death and aftermath
In September 1983, Indian intelligence agencies had sent a low level operative, Inyat Masih, to get in touch with Kaushik. But the agent was caught by Pakistan’s intelligence agencies and revealed Kaushik's true identity.[1] His cover was blown due to no fault of his own. He was caught only because Indian intelligence agencies did not maintain proper cut offs which are normally exercised by intelligence agencies.
Kaushik was then captured, and tortured for two years at an interrogation centre in Sialkot. He was given the death sentence in the year 1985. His sentence was later commuted to a life term by the Pakistan Supreme court.[4]
Kaushik was kept in various jails, including Sialkot, Kot Lakhpat and in Mianwali jail for 16 years, where he contracted Asthma and TB. He managed to secretly send letters to his family in India, which revealed his poor health condition and the trauma faced by him in Pakistani jails.[3]
On 26 July 1999, he succumbed to Pulmonary Tuberculosis and heart disease in New Central Jail Multan. He was buried behind that jail.[1]
Kaushik's family claimed that the story line of the famous Bollywood flick "Ek Tha Tiger" released in 2012 was based on the life of Kaushik & asked Kaushik be credited in the movie titles.[9]
See also
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 "India’s forgotten spy - Agent’s family fights an impossible battle". Retrieved 17 Aug 2012.
- ↑ "Ek Tha Tiger: Not Salman Khan, meet the real Indian Tiger!". Retrieved 17 Aug 2012.
- 1 2 "Ek Tha Black Tiger: Real life tale of a true patriot". Retrieved 17 Aug 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 "Late spy’s kin fight for reel life credit". Retrieved 17 Aug 2012.
- 1 2 "Story of a RAW agent spent his life in Pakistan". Retrieved 10 Jun 2015.
- ↑ "Salman Khan's new movie in controversy again". Retrieved 17 Aug 2012.
- ↑ "Dead RAW agent's nephew takes Salman's Ek Tha Tiger producers to court". Retrieved 17 Aug 2012.
- ↑ "The real life behind a 2002 spy thriller". Hindustan Times. 6 December 2009. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
- ↑ "Real Patriot Son of Mother India Ravindra Kaushik". Retrieved 17 Aug 2012.