SHOCKER! Mohak Mangal UNCOVERS R.N. Kao: The Secretive RAW Founder Who Shaped Modern India!

The annals of Indian history are filled with heroes, but few remain as enigmatic and influential as Rameshwar Nath Kao, the legendary founder of India's Research & Analysis Wing (RAW). For decades, his name has been whispered in hushed tones, a ghost in the machine of national security. Now, in a groundbreaking exposé, YouTuber Mohak Mangal pulls back the curtain on the extraordinary, secretive life of the man Ajit Doval himself describes as the "originator of the Indian modern intelligence system." This isn't just a biography; it's a thrilling journey through covert operations, geopolitical chess games, and the untold story of the R N Kao RAW Founder who shaped the very destiny of modern India!

Mohak Mangal, known for his meticulous research and compelling storytelling, delves deep into Kao's life, revealing a man whose existence was more secretive than the agency he created. "He didn't give interviews, nor give speeches, nor write a memoir," Mohak Mangal emphasizes, highlighting the deliberate veil of anonymity Kao maintained. Yet, through extensive research, including articles and Nitin Gokhale's biography, Mohak Mangal sketches the portrait of a true legend, a man whose sharp instincts and unwavering dedication guided India through its most perilous moments.

The Kashmir Princess Bombing: Kao's First Test

Kao's brilliance was evident early in his career. On April 11, 1955, an Air India plane, the Kashmir Princess, took off from Hong Kong for Bandung, Indonesia, carrying prominent Asian political leaders. A few hours later, a huge explosion killed 16 people, including many important Chinese government officials. Prime Minister Nehru, seeing this as an attack on India's leadership in the post-colonial Asian world, delegated the investigation to the young and unknown Rameshwar Nath Kao.

This was Kao's first major test, a sensitive case involving China, British-controlled Hong Kong, and Indonesia. Kao immediately went to Hong Kong, interviewing the three surviving crew members. His investigation focused on the ground crew with access to the plane. Nehru's trust in Kao was so profound that he introduced him to Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai, who, in a testament to Kao's integrity, warned him not to share all details with British officials. Balancing these delicate diplomatic tightropes, Kao worked with local authorities, sharing interviews to win their trust. His hard work paid off. In late April, the investigation confirmed the bomb was planted by a Taiwanese aircraft engineer, paid Rs. 6 lakh, targeting Zhou Enlai. This early success showcased Kao's ability to conduct sensitive investigations and maintain crucial international relationships.

The 1962 War: A Wake-Up Call and the Birth of ARC

A few years later, Kao realized the fragility of India's intelligence apparatus. In 1962, China launched a massive attack on India, catching the country completely unprepared due to a lack of intelligence. This intelligence failure led to heavy losses and a psychological blow to the nation. The leadership realized the urgent need to increase intelligence capabilities, and this responsibility fell to Rameshwar Nath Kao.

On November 19, 1962, as Chinese forces advanced, Prime Minister Nehru sought help from US President John F. Kennedy. This led to an Intelligence Cooperation Agreement, under which the US deployed aircraft to a secret base in India (codenamed Oak Tree) for photographic intelligence from Tibet and Xinjiang. The head of this crucial Aviation Research Centre (ARC)? Rameshwar Kao. For two years, he worked with American intelligence officers to make the ARC an effective intelligence outfit.

Operation Gibraltar and the Need for RAW

Three years later, India faced another shock: Pakistan launched Operation Gibraltar, infiltrating thousands of soldiers into Kashmir. Again, a lack of intelligence meant Indian forces had to react at the last moment. These repeated intelligence failures highlighted the need for a big, independent institution.

Next year, Indira Gandhi became Prime Minister. Recognizing the need for a better intelligence agency for India's survival, she turned to her principal secretary P.N. Hasker and R.N. Kao. Kao created a blueprint for a CIA-like agency, proposing a team of 250 operatives and analysts, emphasizing precision, discipline, and intelligence. He insisted on keeping politics out, promising to handle political pressure himself. He and Indira Gandhi envisioned a multidisciplinary agency, recruiting the best from military, academia, and diplomacy, not just IPS officers. Kao's commitment to merit was absolute; he famously told an ex-colleague who had spread false rumors about him that he didn't care, "If you're a good officer, you'll join the team."

Kao suggested the organization be called the Research & Analysis Wing (RAW), a term designed to obscure the nature of their work. He also ensured RAW would report directly to the Prime Minister, bypassing red tape.

Running RAW: Battles and Triumphs

Making RAW was one thing, running it was another. Enemies were everywhere: the Intelligence Bureau, the Ministry of External Affairs, and bureaucrats, all angry about their turf being encroached upon. But R.N. Kao and his lieutenant K. Shankaran Nair fought these battles without disturbing their staff. In 1969, when bureaucratic pressure threatened RAW's independence, Kao went to a cabinet meeting, pointed to the cabinet secretary, and demanded that foreign intelligence remain independent, with RAW's budget in the hands of its chief.

Then came the mission he had waited for all his life: East Pakistan. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's Awami League won elections, but West Pakistan's generals refused to give them power, leading to calls for revolution in Dhaka. R.N. Kao immediately handed over a 25-page secret report to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, warning of a potential war between India and Pakistan and a possible infiltration campaign. His warning proved true.

In March 1971, Pakistan launched Operation Searchlight, leading to genocide in East Pakistan and a massive refugee crisis in India. Indira Gandhi, in secret meetings with Haskar and Kao, decided to send Indian soldiers to Bangladesh. RAW teams entered East Pakistan, training Mukti Bahaini fighters and supplying them with weapons. RAW's intelligence was so accurate that when war was declared in December 1971, Indian forces had all the information, even bombing the room where the Pakistani cabinet meeting was being held in East Pakistan. Three weeks later, Pakistan surrendered, and Bangladesh gained freedom. Along with Sam Manekshaw, credit for the victory went to R.N. Kao and his team.

Sikkim: A Bloodless Annexation

Kao's work didn't end with Bangladesh. In 1975, he was sent on a delicate mission to Dhaka, disguised as a trader, to warn President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman of a military coup. Rahman didn't believe him, and weeks later, was assassinated.

After Bangladesh, Kao faces another test: Sikkim. Indira Gandhi wanted to integrate Sikkim into India. Kao asked for two weeks and devised a plan. RAW encouraged opposition leaders to demand democratic reforms. When Chogyal's security forces fired on demonstrators in April 1973, Kao struck. With RAW's support, thousands protested, and Indian soldiers were deployed. Chogyal accepted a treaty, but later rescinded. In April 1975, Indian soldiers quietly entered Gangtok, took over the palace guards, and on May 16, the Indian Parliament made Sikkim India's 22nd state. Without firing a single bullet, Kao and his team secured Sikkim.

The Secretive Life of a Legend

Interestingly, R.N. Kao wasn't fond of the limelight. When Indira Gandhi's government fell in 1977, he went into hiding, refusing interviews and living a private life. He returned as her security advisor in 1980 but went underground again after her assassination in 1984. He never praised himself or allowed others to praise him. In 1996, on Bangladesh's 25th anniversary, a dignitary credited him for 1971, to which Kao simply replied, "I didn't do anything. They deserve all the praise." Even the Dalai Lama publicly praised him.

Kao's personal routine was strict: breakfast at 9, lunch at 1:30, dinner at 9. He didn't smoke or drink but bought expensive whiskeys for guests. He was a hero, passing away at 83 in 2002, leaving no memoirs. As documents for Bangladesh and Sikkim are declassified, more about this R N Kao RAW Founder emerges. His motto: "Don't give advice, become an example."

What do YOU think about the incredible, untold story of R.N. Kao? How do you think his secretive approach impacted India's intelligence capabilities? Share your reactions and theories with us!

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