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RAW: A History of India's Covert Operations
The Research and Analysis Wing, India’s shadowy external intelligence agency, is one of the country’s least understood institutions—at least in part by design. Perhaps fittingly for a spy agency, there is very little information about R&AW in the public domain. What is this organisation, its structure, its role and vision? Why was it set up? Who are the people that run it? Set up in 1968, as a reaction to India’s massive intelligence failure during the war with China, R&AW played a crucial role in the formation of Bangladesh. It has since carried out highly successful covert operations in Fiji, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, and has countered and foiled Pakistani spy agency ISI’s machinations in the subcontinent. R&AW has operations in other parts of the globe too; it played an important role during the Iran–Iraq war, for instance. No country can increase its global reach without intelligence support. That India has made enormous strides in its stature and influence is testimony to R&AW’s success. Yet, public accounts of its work exist only in highly romanticised fictional stories. Investigative journalist Yatish Yadav follows the lives of real agents and maps their actions in real situations. His conversations with Indian spies provide insight into how covert operations actually work. RAW: A History of India’s Covert Operations is the first comprehensive account of Indian spy networks and their intelligence gathering, and their role in securing and advancing Indian interests.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published August 3, 2020
242 people are currently reading
583 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
August 25, 2020
I picked up this book hoping to find details of some great covert operations performed by RAW but was disappointed that all it provided was a general outline of India's relationship with some countries written from RAW officer's perspective. The book is not really bad but it feels like it is a collection of MEA office memos and nothing else. Almost 60% of the book is wasted in telling the readers entire history of a country from 1947 and only a few pages are actually devoted to spy work or any covert operation. Disappointed.
September 29, 2020
I'm a big sucker for real life stories of the Indian heroes and reading about the unacknowledged heroes working for the safety of our nations being under-covered was a big yes for me.
The book is a collection of stories of different operations undertaken by the RAW agents in different countries. The author is an investigative journalist who has collected these stories first hand by personally talking to the agents. I had been expecting a good storyline with thrilling incidents but all it contained was reports and letters which were sometimes hard to understand. The stories were a bit dragged and it became boring at some point of time.I had to skim through some parts in order to finish the chapters. Though there were some parts that gave me chills because of the dangers the agents faced. But in the end it all felt like I was reading a history book with all the monologues.
Though descriptive and informative, I found it to be a bit dragged and boring, since I had great expectations from the book. Overall, It was an okeyish read for me.
I'll recommend this book to people who would love to know about the RAW and it's workings.
The book is a collection of stories of different operations undertaken by the RAW agents in different countries. The author is an investigative journalist who has collected these stories first hand by personally talking to the agents. I had been expecting a good storyline with thrilling incidents but all it contained was reports and letters which were sometimes hard to understand. The stories were a bit dragged and it became boring at some point of time.I had to skim through some parts in order to finish the chapters. Though there were some parts that gave me chills because of the dangers the agents faced. But in the end it all felt like I was reading a history book with all the monologues.
Though descriptive and informative, I found it to be a bit dragged and boring, since I had great expectations from the book. Overall, It was an okeyish read for me.
I'll recommend this book to people who would love to know about the RAW and it's workings.
September 18, 2020
The Research and Analysis Wing, India’s shadowy external intelligence agency, is one of the country’s least understood institutions—at least in part by design. Perhaps fittingly for a spy agency, there is very little information about R&AW in the public domain. What is this organisation, its structure, its role and vision? Why was it set up? Who are the people that run it? RAW: A History of India's Covert Operations by Yatish Yadav gives us an insight into what could be happening behind closed curtains in R&AW. We get to read about the numerous operations that have been executed successfuly by India.
The blurb and the title really intrigued me but when I started the book I was a little disappointed because I was hoping to read an action packed enthralling documentation but instead I got a monologue of what can only be called fantasized version of certain events. It's a documentation of India's Covert Operation is what the book promises but fails to offer. It surely gave me goosebumps at times and made me think what would I've done if I were in a certain situation but that's the only way I was engrossed in the book. The writing style detailed and a bit exaggerated making the book feel longer than it actually is. I finished the book in two sittings. I feel like the even though the concept is good and it'd certainly make a good documentary, it lacked the X factor that you often expect in a book that is based on such a mysterious premise.
Overall, I liked this book and would recommend it to people who like to read about our country and like watching similar shows on History TV and Discovery but if you're looking for some action packed thriller then you should read something else.
The blurb and the title really intrigued me but when I started the book I was a little disappointed because I was hoping to read an action packed enthralling documentation but instead I got a monologue of what can only be called fantasized version of certain events. It's a documentation of India's Covert Operation is what the book promises but fails to offer. It surely gave me goosebumps at times and made me think what would I've done if I were in a certain situation but that's the only way I was engrossed in the book. The writing style detailed and a bit exaggerated making the book feel longer than it actually is. I finished the book in two sittings. I feel like the even though the concept is good and it'd certainly make a good documentary, it lacked the X factor that you often expect in a book that is based on such a mysterious premise.
Overall, I liked this book and would recommend it to people who like to read about our country and like watching similar shows on History TV and Discovery but if you're looking for some action packed thriller then you should read something else.
March 2, 2021
It provides only a general outline and no details about the full mission. I got dissapointed after the half way through.
October 1, 2020
I love reading about secret missions even online so this read was on impulse! 🙈
•
RAW- The History of India's Covert Operations by Yatish Yadav talks about 11 such secret missions undertaken by the Research & Analysis Wing (R&AW or simply RAW) of India.
Starts of with a background on how RAW came into being, what kind of operations they were a part of, the team of RAW and the many challenges they face everyday.
The first operation is about the formation & freedom of Bangladesh. Goes onto missions in Fiji, Istanbul, The Tiger Liberation Movement in Srilanka, Washington, USSR, Paris....
The missions range from immense tactical operations to finding moles in RAW itself.
The conversations were a highlight. You actually get to see the kind of work that goes in handling such secretive operations.
•
It is a well researched book. All the details were shared between the author & his sources in RAW. Yatish Yadav is an investigative journalist and the book resonates his skills.
If you're looking for the most secret details of how these missions were executed, then this is not the book for you.
It will give you a glimpse in the hard work that goes on around a international secret agency.
If the genre intrigues you and you wish to know a bit more, then do pick it up.
I would give this book 3.25🌟
•
RAW- The History of India's Covert Operations by Yatish Yadav talks about 11 such secret missions undertaken by the Research & Analysis Wing (R&AW or simply RAW) of India.
Starts of with a background on how RAW came into being, what kind of operations they were a part of, the team of RAW and the many challenges they face everyday.
The first operation is about the formation & freedom of Bangladesh. Goes onto missions in Fiji, Istanbul, The Tiger Liberation Movement in Srilanka, Washington, USSR, Paris....
The missions range from immense tactical operations to finding moles in RAW itself.
The conversations were a highlight. You actually get to see the kind of work that goes in handling such secretive operations.
•
It is a well researched book. All the details were shared between the author & his sources in RAW. Yatish Yadav is an investigative journalist and the book resonates his skills.
If you're looking for the most secret details of how these missions were executed, then this is not the book for you.
It will give you a glimpse in the hard work that goes on around a international secret agency.
If the genre intrigues you and you wish to know a bit more, then do pick it up.
I would give this book 3.25🌟
September 2, 2021
After watching a lot of spy movies and series, I wanted to know about my own country's feats in the espionage world. This book has hands down made me so proud of the achievements. Recommended to every patriot.
August 11, 2020
Kind of history book. Don't expect to be of high quality as Ram Chandra Guha's India after Gandhi. Good read though. People who already read India after Gandhi will be able to follow the author for sure.
Except for the last two chapters, this book feels like a history lesson of threats faced by contemporary India. So do not expect high thrill.
Book starts with a covert operation in bangladesh which is becoming anti india day by day. RAW goes there, carries out operation to get that govt down and have a democratically elected govt.
then the author goes on to explain how RAW handled crisis in Fiji, Srilanka, Afganistan, Nepal.
Book also describes the role played by RAW to thwart khalistan movement in india. khalistan movement is started by sikhs demanding for separate country called khalistan for sikhs and this movement is strongly supported by ISI.
It also shows why we dont hear stories of RAW operations very often though they are playing a crucial role in protecting our nation. This point brought tears as these RAW agents work with zero credit for individuals. So, I appreciate author to bring RAW to public at least to some extent. This the reason for 5 stars.
Overall, it also gives an idea of current global situation from the view of India.
Except for the last two chapters, this book feels like a history lesson of threats faced by contemporary India. So do not expect high thrill.
Book starts with a covert operation in bangladesh which is becoming anti india day by day. RAW goes there, carries out operation to get that govt down and have a democratically elected govt.
then the author goes on to explain how RAW handled crisis in Fiji, Srilanka, Afganistan, Nepal.
Book also describes the role played by RAW to thwart khalistan movement in india. khalistan movement is started by sikhs demanding for separate country called khalistan for sikhs and this movement is strongly supported by ISI.
It also shows why we dont hear stories of RAW operations very often though they are playing a crucial role in protecting our nation. This point brought tears as these RAW agents work with zero credit for individuals. So, I appreciate author to bring RAW to public at least to some extent. This the reason for 5 stars.
Overall, it also gives an idea of current global situation from the view of India.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 3, 2021
Every war teaches us some big lessons. The breach in intelligence that occurred in the 1962 Indo-China war and then subsequent defeat called for the need for more specialized intelligence gathering. Later post 1965 Indo-Pak war which ended in a stalemate situation led to the establishment of the Research and Analysis Wing that we now as R&AW. Prior to that, the overseas missions were handled by IB, stretching out their officers. The major difference between IB (Intelligence Bureau) and R&AW was perhaps that the latter had their own dedicated cadres permanently joined into the institution.
Once Bangladesh was liberated from Pakistan in the 1971 war, it was expected to face some initial hiccups like every other newly independent state but as the country saw the assassination of its leader “Bangabandhu” and with this, the country entered into a new spiral of turmoil. Although Sheikh Mujibur Rahman led the revolution to free the country, he rapidly became unpopular due to widespread corruption, nepotism, violence, and lawlessness. The murder of Mujibur Rahman led to the coup which got rapid support from Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. This possessed a threat to India as she was surrounded by unfriendly neighbors from all sides given Pakistan and China were there already. It was later understood that the coup was being planned for a long time by the Bangladeshi ambassador in Kuwait.
Here, the country was under emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi. The first chapter "bloodbath in Bangladesh" went into detail about the development and faces behind the coup, often citing reports of other countries too. It is written in a textbook format of international politics, not enough to clear the role of the R&AW apart from backing student protests and pro-secular parties.
The crisis of Indian diaspora living in Fiji was due to a sudden coup by Sitiveni Rabuka, a Fijian ethnic who didn’t want Indians on “his” land. Indians, mostly indentured laborers from UP and Bihar went to work in the sugarcane plantations of the British colonial rulers. Post-independence, the Indian originated Fijians had almost 50% population and the rest were the ethnic groups, Chinese and Europeans. Rabuka who was known as someone who hated Indians and wanted them to be thrown out of the country thus generating the fear of genocide, persecution, property damage among many others. The world has already seen the Jewish holocaust during world war 2 (although was yet to see Rwanda!), the agency which was already well established for 18 years felt the pressure of intervention along with diplomatic pressure to ensure the reversal of the coup and safety of the diaspora.
The author delved deeper into the world views regarding the crisis, the demographic structure of the island country, the mounting evidence of human rights abuse, the view of Indian political leaders, and finally actions taken by the agency. The agents who operated from an undisclosed base in Australia launched a series of campaigns in Australia and New Zealand that supported the autocratic Fijian leader. The target was to publish the hidden news on the international level in order to develop pressure on Fiji and subsequently to revoke the military rule. The agents used the ancient method of “divide and rule” in order to dampen the power of Rabuka. It took a couple of hiccups and betrayal and ultimately the security of the Indian population was ensured and the general election was conducted in 1992.
Yatish Yadav, an investigative journalist sheds light on one of the biggest, yet mysterious intelligence agencies of the world. He focused on giving information along with detailed proofs. He mentioned the unfolding of incidents both within the institution and the political ones. Not much is known about RAW but the author’s efforts to unravel the truth are commendable.
The agents display Sherlock-like capabilities. The primary objective is to ensure the safety of both, the territory and its people. Again and again, he brought on the changing dynamics of other nations, mostly the USA, China, Russia, and the UN. I did expect the book to be in line with Mossad by Michael Bar-Zohar and Nissim Mishal which provokes nationalism but rather the author focused more on information, rather than dramatizing it, just how it is expected from a journalist.
Once Bangladesh was liberated from Pakistan in the 1971 war, it was expected to face some initial hiccups like every other newly independent state but as the country saw the assassination of its leader “Bangabandhu” and with this, the country entered into a new spiral of turmoil. Although Sheikh Mujibur Rahman led the revolution to free the country, he rapidly became unpopular due to widespread corruption, nepotism, violence, and lawlessness. The murder of Mujibur Rahman led to the coup which got rapid support from Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. This possessed a threat to India as she was surrounded by unfriendly neighbors from all sides given Pakistan and China were there already. It was later understood that the coup was being planned for a long time by the Bangladeshi ambassador in Kuwait.
Here, the country was under emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi. The first chapter "bloodbath in Bangladesh" went into detail about the development and faces behind the coup, often citing reports of other countries too. It is written in a textbook format of international politics, not enough to clear the role of the R&AW apart from backing student protests and pro-secular parties.
The crisis of Indian diaspora living in Fiji was due to a sudden coup by Sitiveni Rabuka, a Fijian ethnic who didn’t want Indians on “his” land. Indians, mostly indentured laborers from UP and Bihar went to work in the sugarcane plantations of the British colonial rulers. Post-independence, the Indian originated Fijians had almost 50% population and the rest were the ethnic groups, Chinese and Europeans. Rabuka who was known as someone who hated Indians and wanted them to be thrown out of the country thus generating the fear of genocide, persecution, property damage among many others. The world has already seen the Jewish holocaust during world war 2 (although was yet to see Rwanda!), the agency which was already well established for 18 years felt the pressure of intervention along with diplomatic pressure to ensure the reversal of the coup and safety of the diaspora.
The author delved deeper into the world views regarding the crisis, the demographic structure of the island country, the mounting evidence of human rights abuse, the view of Indian political leaders, and finally actions taken by the agency. The agents who operated from an undisclosed base in Australia launched a series of campaigns in Australia and New Zealand that supported the autocratic Fijian leader. The target was to publish the hidden news on the international level in order to develop pressure on Fiji and subsequently to revoke the military rule. The agents used the ancient method of “divide and rule” in order to dampen the power of Rabuka. It took a couple of hiccups and betrayal and ultimately the security of the Indian population was ensured and the general election was conducted in 1992.
Yatish Yadav, an investigative journalist sheds light on one of the biggest, yet mysterious intelligence agencies of the world. He focused on giving information along with detailed proofs. He mentioned the unfolding of incidents both within the institution and the political ones. Not much is known about RAW but the author’s efforts to unravel the truth are commendable.
The agents display Sherlock-like capabilities. The primary objective is to ensure the safety of both, the territory and its people. Again and again, he brought on the changing dynamics of other nations, mostly the USA, China, Russia, and the UN. I did expect the book to be in line with Mossad by Michael Bar-Zohar and Nissim Mishal which provokes nationalism but rather the author focused more on information, rather than dramatizing it, just how it is expected from a journalist.
October 4, 2020
RAW- The history of India's covert operations by Yatish Yadav.
This book is all about India's intelligence agency R&AW. From how the agency came into existence to some of the undercover operations, this book gives a lot of knowledge. It gives detailed insight into the whole organization, how it works, who runs it, and what does inside it. The author has tried to give as much information as allowed to him. Given that he is an investigative journalist, Yatish Yadav has given descriptive details and information about India's intelligence agency.
This book contains stories about some of the undercover operations carried out by the RAW. I've always been fascinated by spies and intelligence agencies after seeing them work in the movies but the reality is so different from that. This book will tell you how dangerous and difficult these missions become and they are nothing like what is shown to us in dramas.
As given in the title, this is more of a history book, and you might find it boring in some places but if you are interested in history and love reading about it, then go for this book. This book won't disappoint you.
This book is all about India's intelligence agency R&AW. From how the agency came into existence to some of the undercover operations, this book gives a lot of knowledge. It gives detailed insight into the whole organization, how it works, who runs it, and what does inside it. The author has tried to give as much information as allowed to him. Given that he is an investigative journalist, Yatish Yadav has given descriptive details and information about India's intelligence agency.
This book contains stories about some of the undercover operations carried out by the RAW. I've always been fascinated by spies and intelligence agencies after seeing them work in the movies but the reality is so different from that. This book will tell you how dangerous and difficult these missions become and they are nothing like what is shown to us in dramas.
As given in the title, this is more of a history book, and you might find it boring in some places but if you are interested in history and love reading about it, then go for this book. This book won't disappoint you.
January 28, 2026
The clandestine world of spies.
It's a fascinating world, one with a lot of room for subterfuge and acquiesce.
It's a world, we'd never know anything much about as there'll never be any records or any writings to prove much about anything that may be claimed.
Yatish ji does a great work at delivering the muffled and mystical world of spies, away from the classic james bond cliches, to just pure and hard intelegencia.
We may never know if every word written is true and at the same time we'd never know if the words written were barely scratching the surface with respect to R&AW but nonetheless, the results speak; and the results delivered by R&AW give much credence to the words of this book. It's a simple read but one that immures you into the world of spies. A world that is inhabited by shadows and the tradecraft of the shadows.
It's a fascinating world, one with a lot of room for subterfuge and acquiesce.
It's a world, we'd never know anything much about as there'll never be any records or any writings to prove much about anything that may be claimed.
Yatish ji does a great work at delivering the muffled and mystical world of spies, away from the classic james bond cliches, to just pure and hard intelegencia.
We may never know if every word written is true and at the same time we'd never know if the words written were barely scratching the surface with respect to R&AW but nonetheless, the results speak; and the results delivered by R&AW give much credence to the words of this book. It's a simple read but one that immures you into the world of spies. A world that is inhabited by shadows and the tradecraft of the shadows.
July 4, 2021
A thoroughly unreadable book on a very interesting subject
The book deals with very interesting materials and had very interesting content. But the method of narration made is extremely tedious to read. It reads like a impersonal burocratic document with lots of fact and completely devoid of narration. It felt like old school history text books which we were forced to read in our school and very very unlike a spy story or current affairs story which we come across in current domain, which are hard to put down. This had all the materials to become one such, but failed miserably.
The book deals with very interesting materials and had very interesting content. But the method of narration made is extremely tedious to read. It reads like a impersonal burocratic document with lots of fact and completely devoid of narration. It felt like old school history text books which we were forced to read in our school and very very unlike a spy story or current affairs story which we come across in current domain, which are hard to put down. This had all the materials to become one such, but failed miserably.
September 22, 2020
Its just a history book. I expected to get real thrills like reading a fiction book. But this was dissapointing. The countless number of history excerpts and documents make it even more boring. The book has it's times when a chapter end reaches where last few pages of it gives a good sense of excitement. But thats it. There is no development of story. Chances are that the readers will get carried away easily and just want to finish it because they had to buy it for an extravagant price.
September 17, 2021
A very good book to understand the world of espionage 🤘
A completely different book for me yet sometime change is not actually not that horrified. It completely change the my way of looking to the world I am glad that I read this book. Go and immerse yourself in the world of espionage and you find heroes that you never knew that was existed there to protect our country.............🤘🤘
Cheers to them 🍾🥃
A completely different book for me yet sometime change is not actually not that horrified. It completely change the my way of looking to the world I am glad that I read this book. Go and immerse yourself in the world of espionage and you find heroes that you never knew that was existed there to protect our country.............🤘🤘
Cheers to them 🍾🥃
October 9, 2020
Things we need to know about R&aw
For the first i am getting to know that apart from Mossad and CIA, R&aw is also equally capable of conducting complex and daring covert ops. After reading this book, i feel their is need for diclassification of covert ops by the government after a few years just like in USA and israel.
For the first i am getting to know that apart from Mossad and CIA, R&aw is also equally capable of conducting complex and daring covert ops. After reading this book, i feel their is need for diclassification of covert ops by the government after a few years just like in USA and israel.
July 29, 2023
This book is certainly inquisitive. The chapters on Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and the double agent Rabinder Singh were exciting to follow. The writing style felt more like a formal report at times, which made it difficult to get through the pages. Overall, definitely something new to learn about R&AW and its operations for those interested.
June 26, 2021
Exciting
These agents are undecorated sdiers.of the country. Working under adverse conditions and environments. Need guts of steel and thinking g on the feet.
Wish I could be one Raw agent
These agents are undecorated sdiers.of the country. Working under adverse conditions and environments. Need guts of steel and thinking g on the feet.
Wish I could be one Raw agent
October 14, 2021
Not much is available to corroborate what’s said about RAW. And that becomes a problem in reviewing it. Also, it’s an unsophisticated writing style which ruined the subject that’d have been really interesting.
November 16, 2022
Fascinating book. It helped me connect a lot of dots with respect to the contemporary history of India. I was in awe of certain operations, the way they were described. Having said that, the flow of some chapters could have been better.
September 2, 2020
Promised too much, delivered too little. Disappointing, self-aggrandized attempt to portray itself as the next Mossad( title of an eponymous book on Israel's spy agency).
September 4, 2020
So so read. The stories are good but the interest is dampened by insipid story telling. Barely got three stars.
September 13, 2020
It's Not spicy it's not Well Written. But its a well a historical Collection of internal Notes and documents that gives a lot of insight into the administration and its principle foreign relations.
April 20, 2021
A good reading in unknown territory
It is a good read and gives a fleeting insight on the indian intelligence agency whose operations are otherwise unknown.
It is a good read and gives a fleeting insight on the indian intelligence agency whose operations are otherwise unknown.
July 25, 2021
An excellent reference book for authentic information about the different covert operations conducted by RAW.
September 3, 2021
Extremely predictable and at times can be boring of expanding details
October 27, 2021
Well researched book.
May 17, 2022
An insightful read giving an unseen side to India's external intelligence agency.
September 25, 2022
Well written in a factual manner. It's not a thriller as much as documented history of some marvellous exploits
January 26, 2023
Brilliant work on RAW workings
July 30, 2024
A detailed account of handpicked RA&W operations. Excellent insight on geopolitical relations, especially with operations in Sri Lanka.
October 15, 2024
Informative.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews