· Rameshwar Nath Kao better known as RN Kao was born on 10 May 1918 in Varanasi, British India.
· RN Kao was a Kashmiri Pandit who joined Indian Imperial police predecessor to present Indian Police service in 1940.
· Kao did Post Graduation in English Literature at Allahabad University.
After indian independence; Kao joined Intelligence bureau in 1947.
Kao served as a Security adviser to Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi & Rajiv Gandhi during their Prime Ministership.
• Kao never got any distinguished Police medal or civilian award during his life time.
RN Kao established Research and Analysis Wing - Indian external intelligence agency in 1968.
Kao personally selected personnel for covert operations which were called 'KaoBoys'.
• Kao was an Institution builder, He also built NSG - a specialized Armed Force and Special Frontier Force. He also helped in building ARC previously.
He played a crucial role in liberation of Bangladesh and merger of Sikkim into Union of India.
. Kao approached Mossad in 70's, resulting in great relations between the two Intel agencies - R&AW and Mossad (of Israel).
. The French intelligence chief once called him 'one of the most able spymasters of his era'.
Kao left R&AW for the blunder committed by then PM Moraji Desai by leaking details about RAW agents penetrating into Pak which eventually resulted in their death. Saddened by this, Kao left RAW and never returned!
. R.N. Kao retired in 1989. He was active for the cause of Kashmiri Pandit and met many diplomats and politicians for it. He lived a very private life post-retirement, it was so private that he was only photographed twice after that
Kao in his hour-long meeting with President Sheikh Mujibur Rehman, failed to convince Rehman that he was in danger, despite providing him with the names of the suspected military plotters. A few weeks later, in August, these same officers launched their coup, slaughtering Rehman and 40 of his family in a bloodbath lasting less than three minutes.
An intensely private man, Kao was rarely seen in public post-retirement, and was photographed only twice throughout his life.
RN Kao died on January 20, 2002 at the age of 84 years. His death was natural, because of old age according to his family. Kao is survived by his Daughter & wife.
RN Kao Memorial Lecture was inaugrated in 2007 on the death anniversary of RN Kao, held in the high security area of R&AW headquarters at Lodhi Road. This high status lecture is attended by KaoBoys & retired R&AW agents, along with other high profile person related with national security
During the Queen’s first visit to independent India in the early 1950s, Kao was assigned to head her security detail. At a reception in Bombay, Kao dived and caught a bouquet he saw being flung at the Queen from the corner of his eye, fearing it might be a bomb. In good humour, Queen drolly remarked “Good cricket.”
Sikkim was previously a monarchy but had protection from India. In 1973, riots broke out in Sikkim against the rule and in 1975 the Prime Minister of Sikkim requested India to make Sikkim it's part. The Army, however, faced resistance from the royal guards of Sikkim. The Chinese were also closed but it was the operations of Kaoboys that helped the Indian Army to make Sikkim a state of India.
In Ghana, RN Kao helped setup Intelligence agency of Ghana on the request of President Kwane Nkrumah and his Indian Friend and then Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru, The Ghana President was so happy with the Kao that he offered him the citizenship of his country!
The following note by the Chairman of Joint Intelligence Committee K.N Daruwala sums up the man R.N Kao was –
“His contacts the world over, particularly in Asia—Afghanistan, Iran, China, you name it—were something else. He could move things with just one phone call. He was a team leader who rode out notorious inter-departmental and inter-service rivalries, which is commonplace in India.”
A shy and private man who shunned publicity, Kao was rarely seen in public. He didn’t pose for photographs even during wedding ceremonies of friends or relatives. Though asked many times, he refused to write his memoirs, he knew too much to make a public statement or write a book.
While much has been said about his keen and sharp intellect, few know the fact that India’s first intelligence chief was also an accomplished sculptor, who produced some magnificent sculptures of horses in keeping with his passion for wildlife. He was also known for his fine collection of Gandhara paintings.
R N Kao passed away in 2002, robbing the country of one whose contribution to building the nation a safe and secure India is immeasurable and yet little known by most Indians. The legendary spymaster laid the foundations of modern intelligence in India, an edifice that protects the nation to this day.
These are just a few of many interesting facts about 'Ramji' Kao - The Spy Master Of India!
Jai Hind!
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