R. N. Kao: Gentleman Spymaster

by Nitin A. Gokhale

Somewhere deep in the archives of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) in the heart of New Delhi lies a set of papers that researchers and historians interested in recording the history of Indian intelligence, would love to get their hands on. Alas, those documents-transcripts of tape-recorded conversations with RN Kao, the legendary spy chief-are not going to be available until 2025, according to instructions left by him, months before he passed away in 2002. So until those tapes and papers are made public, any biography of Rameshwar Nath Kao or 'Ramji' to friends, colleagues and family would have to depend on personal memories of a vast array of individuals who knew him in different capacities and their interpretation of his personality and contribution.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, History, Espionage, India, Biography Memoir

240 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 18, 2019

About the author

Nitin A. Gokhale , one of South Asia’s leading Strategic Analysts, is a renowned author, media trainer and founder of a specialised defence-related website BharatShakti.in.

After working for 32 years as a media practitioner across print, web and broadcast mediums, during which he reported on India’s North-East, focusing on the different insurgencies there, the 1999 Kargil conflict between India and Pakistan and the Sri Lankan Eelam War IV to name a few, he is now a full-time author and part-time media entrepreneur since December 2014.

Author of five books so far on insurgencies, wars and conflicts, he is visiting faculty at all Indian Defence training institutions like the National Defence College, all the three war colleges, the College of Defence Management and the Defence Services Staff College, besides being a popular speaker at various seminars and symposiums on civil military relations, insurgency/terrorism, Asian security Affairs and military-media relations. His previous books include Beyond NJ 9842:The Siachen Saga, 1965 Turning the Tide: How India won the War and Sri Lanka: From War to Peace.

Gokhale also appears on News Channels as a commentator and writes regular columns for various publications besides hosting a television show—India First—for India’s national broadcaster, Doordarshan.

Reviews

[Chitra Ahanthem · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this book, as I love the world of espionage. After all, a profile on Rameshwar Nath Kao, the man credited with instituting India’s foreign intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) seemed too good to pass by for it would mean personal insights about the man and the workings of the organization he headed (what can be shared in public domain).

There are some select family voices talking about RN Kao and a brief about his family background. Additionally, there are behind the scenes anecdotes and cases on the professional front: notably, the merger of Sikkim to India that will surely remind one of the manner that the US uses subversion and propaganda to topple Governments or heads of state and out people they are friendly with in its place and the liberation of Bangladesh.

Unfortunately, the writing is bogged down with a heavy air and one cannot help feel a tad disappointed at the lost opportunity of making the life of a truly inspiring man more gripping and fascinating. The writing style comes across as devoid of any personal touch by the author and looks like a verbatim reproduction of interviews of sources and notes.

[Himanshu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Make no mistake R N Kao probably has the same place in Indian intelligence community as Hoover in US. He built the premier Indian Intelligence agency R&AW about which (quite rightfully) very little is known in public domain. While the book focusses on some vignettes of his life but I was left feeling bit high and dry. Maybe I was being a bit too dramatic and expecting some James Bond style spy caper. This book is more about his role as an organisation builder rather than a spy master. While it does show interesting facets of his personality, maybe this was not what I was expecting.

Let's put it this way, if I am reading about James Bond I would be keen to know about his escapades rather than say how he set up the Russian desk of MI-5 . This is where the book misses my expectation. But now were my expectations unjustified, is something which only the author can answer .

[Malick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent thoughts about what may happen near us . Fine writing and good reading.

[Ankit Patel · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was like reading a series of wikipedia articles. No thrill or excitement, just boring descriptions. How operations were conducted, How intelligence were gathered, How spy network was created, nothing of this sort in the book.

Avoidable book for sure. Nothing new to learn from this book.

[Ganesh V · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had purchased this book based on some series/movies about R. N. Kao, one of the founding fathers of R&AW, the Indian Intelligence wing. There was more mystery and intrigue built around this magnetic personality which piqued my interest to read more about him. When I read this book, the perspective that emerges is quite different from what I started out with.

The early life and rise of a Kashmiri Brahmin, tracing to his ancestors, is captured in lucid detail. The author also highlights the various facets of the mysterious Kao, including sculpting inspired by his early childhood days. The early life including the amazing bon-homie between brothers, their house which inspirationally is called “Saket” and their lives make for interesting reading. While quickly establishing the hand of fate in Kao joining the Indian Police, the author captures the mercurial journey from IP to IB.

While one would expect a more lucid detail about Kao’s life, I can safely say that they are bound to be pleasantly surprised. What forms the rest of the book is perhaps an interesting slice or rather slices of world history across 4 decades from 50s to 80s. First, we are introduced to the investigation into the tragedy of Kashmir Princess with deep repercussions across China, Hong Kong & Taiwan. The author has presented quite a detailed, yet crisp account of Kao’s experiences in working and acting as a liaison between Governments & competing spy agencies. This experience sets up the deep relationships that chart the future course.

After this incident, Kao’s role in Ghana, 1962 war & the loss leading to the formation of the first set of agencies beyond IB are captured well. Kao’s role in building R&AW from scratch and the immense unwavering loyalty of his fellow officers makes for a very inspirational read. Perhaps, the best part of the book is about the detailed account of India’s role in Bangladesh creation, which is detailed quite extensively. Followed by this, the author also details the adventures of the intelligence community in the merger of Sikkim into India.

The final innings of Kao ends on a more sombre note, first with the removal by the Janata Govt after the Emergency & later, the final coffin in the nail i.e. Indira Gandhi’s assassination. Throughout the book, Kao’s leadership, people skills, organisational building skills are highlighted across multiple anecdotes without necessarily enforcing it. Kudos to the author for such a lucid flow.

If you are interested in reading about India’s days during 1950-80s, this is a book that must be read. Highly Recommended Read.

[Mohit Bhatia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Provides a good insight of india's intelligent

[sourabh · Rating 3 out of 5]

It wasn't what I expected it to be, when I set out to read this. Maybe Kao, was himself a legend but the writing of the book doesn't discern it so. The premise of the book, that helped me pick it up, didn't keep up with my keenness as I went through it. Maybe it was just the approach of the author and the way it was written, felt a bit tepid. Even the initial exploits of Kao, be it the Kashmir princess incident or the Ghana endeavour were written with no conclusion and was left me high and dry, wanting more. The later exploits, the Bangladesh & Sikkim sojurns, were more like, the efforts of R&AW rather than showcasing how Kao played a pivotal role.

Maybe it was just that there was too little about Kao, both personally & professionally available in the public domain. Nevertheless, the book didn't venture much into Kao, which I was looking forward to read

[Harikrishna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Explains the journey of the RAW and its founder and master Mr. R.N.Kao and his journey through the time.

[Abhishek Prakash · Rating 2 out of 5]

Right from the moment i came to know about this book, i have been wanting to read about it. And finally when i did, it was a washout.

Its more of a compilation of stories about RNK rather than a book which has no lucidity at all.
Some chapters have so much back story and so less of RNK, it feels like the author, in order to make the book of respectable volume to be called a book, was trying to stretch and just fill up the pages.
The most enjoyable part has been the last 2 chapters showing the machinations of RAW in the smooth integration of Sikkim and the final chapter which speaks about his final years.

What should have been a tribute to a legend, ended up being a book to be forgotten by time.

[Anjana · Rating 5 out of 5]

R. N. Kao: Gentleman SpymasterAre you a great fan of the spy-world? Want to know more about India's journey in the world of intelligence? Then this book is for you!
A biography of RN Kao, the founding chief of RAW, this book is a riveting account of his journey in the field of intelligence. It also gives its readers an insight into some of the historic missions of RAW, like the Sikkim merger and The Kashmiri Princess episode.
So, fasten your seat belts and get ready to go on an exiting journey into the world of espionage, unraveling the secrets of India's external Intelligence agency - R&AW.

[Anish · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is about India's intelligence gem R N Kao and provides very minimal is known about him,the book gives a well drawn picture about who the man was .

It is very interesting at some points and boring at some. So it can be an average read for public in general,but for intelligence enthusiasts like me it was a good one .

By the way this book also busts some popular myths of the intelligence world which people often imagine watching James Bond movies and reading spy novels.

Moreover it is written by Mr Nitin Gokhale who is also the editor in chief of strat news global, so you can expect a better and more balanced view of security issues mentioned in the book.

[Navdeep Pundhir · Rating 2 out of 5]

A large part of the book is hyperbole. Notwithstanding the contribution of Shri Kao, the author tries too hard to make him come across as a genius and a larger than life figure. The book fails to leave an impression for its obvious that the author is trying too hard to convince the reader of what he believes to be true. The book does shed some more lights on a few facts which are hitherto known, but does not significantly contribute to the understanding thereof. There is nothing "New" in this book. I am disappointed.

[Girish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just one word for this:

INSIGHTFUL!!!!!!

[Neena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though R&AW was started with the right intentions, and the founder R.N Kao, would insist on accuracy, at present, R&AW is ruthless in destroying the life of some citizens, especially single women with a good JEE rank from poorer communities, stealing their identity, correspondence after making fake allegations without any kind of valid proof. This book is worth reading, since it provides information which those whose life R&AW has destroyed will otherwise never get, since these citizens are completely isolated,
The founder of R&AW was a Kashmiri Brahmin, which explains why brahmins like nayanshree hathwar, riddhi nayak caro, mhow monster puneet, j srinivasan are preferred in raw/ntro. It also explains the relationship between R&AW and other agencies like CIA, French intelligence, the role of R&AW in the formation of Bangladesh. Indian domain investors, online publishers deal with customers worldwide are closely monitored by R&AW, which sometimes falsely claims that its risk averse employees own the websites, defaming the real publisher.
Unlike Mossad, which will quickly acknowledges it mistakes, and corrects them R&AW refuses to admit its mistakes. Since no one from R&AW or any agency which destroys the life of harmless innocent indian citizens has the humanity and honesty to contact them or compensate them for the great losses, this is book is worth reading for understanding one of the most powerful and unfortunately very incompetent agencies in India making fake allegations against some indian citizens without proof, wasting a huge amount of indian taxpayer money in the process

[Amogh Kulkarni · Rating 3 out of 5]

R.N. Kao: The Architect of Indian Intelligence R.N. Kao remains one of India’s most enigmatic and unsung legends, a status cultivated by both the secretive nature of his trade and his own intensely private character. Known for shunning interviews and photographs, Kao let his work speak for itself. This biography traces his remarkable journey from an overweight child raised by a single mother to the founding father of India’s intelligence infrastructure.

The narrative follows his early days joining the Indian Police under the British and his subsequent recruitment into the Intelligence Bureau. He earned the trust of Prime Minister Nehru, serving in his personal security detail and successfully investigating the ‘Kashmir Princess’ bombing in Hong Kong—a complex assassination attempt on the Chinese Premier that required Kao to collaborate with British and Chinese agents for six months.

Following the intelligence and policy failures of the 1962 war with China, Kao was instrumental in establishing the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) in 1968. His strategic vision proved pivotal in India’s 1971 victory over Pakistan, the creation of Bangladesh, and the accession of Sikkim in 1975. He even lent his expertise to help establish Ghana’s intelligence agency. However, the book drifts from the man to the machinery he built. Because Kao left few personal notes and avoided the limelight, the reader is left with a detailed history of events but a lingering curiosity about the inner thoughts of the man who orchestrated them.

[Jay Mehta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nitin A. Gokhale's "R.N. Kao: Gentleman Spymaster" explores one of India’s most enigmatic and impactful intelligence figures. The book meticulously chronicles the life and career of Rameshwar Nath Kao, the founder of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), India's premier external intelligence agency. It captures the essence of his understated brilliance and the indelible mark he left on India's security landscape. Gokhale delves into Kao’s early life, shedding light on his modest family background and the values instilled in him during his formative years. This upbringing laid the foundation for his strong moral compass and unwavering commitment to national service, which defined his illustrious career.
The book takes you across multiple journeys, from the Kashmir Princess investigation to the Ghana assignment, the 1965 & 1971 wars, and the Sikkim merger. By blending anecdotes, historical context, and analysis, the author brings Kao’s persona to life, making the book informative and inspirational. It is an essential read for anyone interested in intelligence, history, or leadership. Gokhale’s portrayal of Kao is both nuanced and reverential, offering a comprehensive look at a man whose legacy continues to shape India’s security apparatus. Kao emerges as a beacon of integrity, a master strategist, and a true gentleman, making this book a fitting tribute to his extraordinary life and career.

[Parish Vernekar · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book not only focuses on the life of The Gentleman Spymaster, but also sheds light on how R&AW was created, how it grew and what all challenges it faced, sharing experiences of several officers who worked with R. N. Kao. The initial life story of R. N. Kao sets up the premise, but the book kicks in post the 1968 events, getting the reader hooked to every page. The author provides a balance between politics and espionage not giving a feel of a show run by one man. Few points where I felt lost were, when the author got into too many details introducing too many people at a one point (sadly cannot disclose the details otherwise it might become a spoiler). Overall, a strong recommendation for any person who likes reading content related to politics and espionage.

[Sudhakar Gupta · Rating 2 out of 5]

Having heard of Mr Kao as the founding father of Indian intelligence services, I was curious to know more about him as a person as well as his work, and had picked this book with some enthusiasm at a book fair. But alas it doesn't seem to do justice to him at all. While the few behind-the-scenes snippets shared in the book might be worth reading for anyone interested in Indian history, especially the relatively lesser known episode of Kashmir Princess, the author and/or the editor have done a rather shoddy job of this book, with little structure, repititions, and ultimately coming out as more of an elongated drawing room conversation about an idol rather than a detailed objective look into a figure as important as RN Kao.

[Simple · Rating 3 out of 5]

The journey of RAW from its inception is mentioned without much weightage given to RNK and his fights and struggles . The operations mentioned here like the OAK TREE or 1971 war are mentioned in detail but more anecdotes particularly related to RNK would have given more glimpses of his persona . Such a towering figure deserves a better biography !!

Though the book gives good accounts of 1971, aftermath of 1962 and sikkim integration and giving due credit to all the actors and heroes involved . The author has not over glorified RNK anywhere and kept it real ,just the wish to read and understand RNK still remains the same even after reading the book.

[Naresh Chandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to read this book for a quite long time to get insights about R&AW, this book gives more information about the establishment of the intelligence agency, if you expect some kind of spy thriller please get yourself ready to disappoint. However, it will give a lot of information about the operations initiated by R&AW back in 1970 about the Bangladesh liberation war, the merging of Sikkim to Indian territory, and their strategies. On the other side biography of RNK (based on this book) is pretty interesting and his vision to future India made him establish friendly exchange cooperation of intelligence of other counterparts like CIA e.t.c.

[Manish Bhardwaj · Rating 3 out of 5]

An elegant illustration of RN Kao's achievements, a colossus;the creator of R&AW(foreign intelligence agency of India). Briefing the discreet critical operations as liberation of Bangladesh and Sikkim's merger. Book explains the importance of espionage in a Country like India and why intelligence plays a decisive role in it's stability and strategic preparedness. Huge respect for all unnamed and faceless R&AW sleuth

[Sagar Kale · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book every Indian should at least skim through, to begin to understand the man behind India’s foreign intelligence capabilities.

However, such an important topic seems to have been handled in a very callous way. The copy I had did not appear to have been proofread. The low rating is mainly for the publication, not the subject. Such irresponsible handling of a book on such an important topic is neither expected nor shall it ever be encountered.

[Bishal Banerjee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The major part of the book talks about 2 very important parts of Mr Kao, Hong Kong and 1971 war. This book definitely if not all brings out a lot more of history and character than just the name to Mr Kao. The kind of instrumental interventions done by him and the kind of institution set up by him, talks for the gentleman he is. I had hoped for a better closure to the book, but nevertheless quite informative and exhaustive to the capability of the author I feel.

[Anurag Singh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this RN Kao book, interesting anecdotes about his role in laying the foundations of RAW, 1971 war, Sikkim formation. Though language was simple and it was an easy read.

This led me however to explore other books of former ambassadors and officers on the Sikkim merger and Sikh violence. There is this book by KPS Gill on 1984 violence, and other authors I came across like GBS Sidhu, Srinath Raghvan, etc.

[Bhavana Nomula · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect peek into R&AW but this book doesn’t completely deal with RNK as a person or anything, instead it focuses on the missions he took up and it talks about some important tasks that R&AW carried out during its inception time. It’s not like a typical biography that u normally read. But an easy read especially for beginners to get an understanding into the functioning of the intelligence world. Worth it definitely!

[Sukrut Joshi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nitin Gokhale had in a detailed matter how R & AW which was India's external spy agency in the wake of the debacle of the 1962 war with China. The book also details how R.N. Kao the founder of R & AW started his career, how he entered the IPS. There were quite a lot of details apart from the 1971 war, which was R & AW's highlight such as the bombing of an Air India aircraft which was travelling from Hong Kong to Indonesia. All in all, a very good and detailed book about R & AW.

[Roysoumik · Rating 4 out of 5]

a good read of the person who founded RA&W. given the classified nature of the subject its quite informative. However its more about the person rather than the organization or its missions. If read together with Kaoboys of Raw and open secrets- one can get a meaning full insight into the working and events of India's own external intelligence agency

[Pramod Divedi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read like a smooth hot knife in butter. Most of incidents shared were touched upon before in other books but this was more detailed. The curiosity to know him made me by the boom while listening to Podcast by Vikram Sood. Finished in three sittings. Less than 24 hours.

If you have interest in this man and India's efforts in Intelligence rather prowess do read this book.

[Prithwish Chakrabarti · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a espionage storyline writer has been able to present the happenings keeping Mr. RN Kao in tge center. But if these stories could be well knitted with a little bit of thrill, then these would be more interesting. The end credit gallery is a special attraction of this book.

[Mayank Shekhar · Rating 3 out of 5]

An informative account of the life of RN Kao, the legendary spymaster. The book is well written, However, it leaves you wanting for more. It could have been longer. However the length is understandable as many of the files on his life are still classified. All in all an okay read.