For all the movie geeks seeking parallels between movie spies and real spies, we have just the thing for you. There once existed a real-life Indian super spy whose adventures are till this day depicted as legends.
Due to his extensive repertoire as a spy, he was given the name 'Black Tiger'. He was an operative of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), India's premier spy agency.
As per the stories, it is believed that Kaushik infiltrated and joined the Pakistani Army, and gaining such a position in the Pakistani Army helped him send important inputs back to India for years. But his courage and devotion to the country met a sad ending. As per media reports, errors back at the agency led to the revelation of his identity to the Pakistani Army.
Who was Ravindra Kaushik?
Ravindra was a resident of Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan and was recruited by RAW at a young age. He soon earned the moniker 'Black Tiger' for his extraordinary espionage capabilities. In the mid-70s, when espionage operations were still in their nascent stages, RAW required talented recruits to run the agency. It led to the recruitment of young men and women, including Ravindra, who was then trained rigorously and sent to infiltrate Pakistani authorities.
How he infiltrated the Pakistani Army
Reports suggest that Ravindra had a penchant for acting, and hence he was prepped by RAW to become a major asset before his ultimate mission. He received lessons in Islamic theology and basic tenets of the religion.
Kaushik was renamed as Nabi Ahmed Shakir, and his entire past in India was erased before being deployed in Pakistan. His cover was so impenetrable that he was able to get admission to Karachi University, from where he completed his degree. Beyond that, he also joined the Pakistani Army, got married, and fathered a child with a Pakistani woman.
He continued to send critical intelligence inputs back to the Indian Prime Minister at the time.
What led to Ravindra Kaushik's capture
For years, Ravindra kept sending critical information back to India, but in the spring of 1983, RAW suspected that their agent might have been compromised and deployed another young agent to get to Ravindra.
The new agent was captured and tortured. Under the pressure of such tribulations, he confessed that he was there to get insights upon Ravindra Kaushik. Kaushik was then captured by the Pakistani forces and court-martialed to death.
Why such stories remain hidden
Most of the time, such stories remain hidden due to national security and to ensure that these unsung heroes who operate in foreign lands can stay hidden and keep working undercover as necessary. Unlike the Indian Army and other armed forces, intelligence operatives are rarely honored with bravery medals and military honors, as their operations are often held as secrets by the state.