BLACK TIGER--AN INDIAN SPY RAVINDER KAUSHIK, ALIAS NABI AHMAD SHAKIR, Served As Major In Pak Army Sarabjit Singh, an alleged Indian RAW agent, on death row in Paklistan, who was killed on April 26,2013 by some other inmates of the Pakistani Jail at KOT LAKHPAT in Lahore, was accorded MARTYR status by Government of India and a large number of political top brass of the country , attended his funeral at his village ,Bhikhi pind in Indian Punjab. A lot of monetary benefits were announced by state and central governments in return of his services rendered to the nation by late Sarabjit Singh. While Sarabjit got recognised, there are many such unknown heros of India who remain unheard and unsung. In fact some of them had carried out acts, which one only reads in SPY BOOKS or MOVIES. One such Indian HERO was RAVINDER KAUSHIK, alias NABI AHMAD SHAKIR. Bollywood movie, EK THAA TIGER was inspired by his life story. This man infiltrated Pakistan army; served as a Major for 10 years till his cover got blown off by overambitious goofy act of RAW, and he died unheard, uncared and unsung in a Pakistani jail. His is a very fascinating story. Story is quite fascinating------ Read this:- The world of spy consists of oblivion, betrayal and torture. Despite the threat of certain death, spies have never shied away from responsibility of putting their life in danger for the sake of their motherland. India intelligence agency is full of stories of such brave young men. Kashmir Singh, Sarabjit Singh and countless other unknown names who have laid their lives for their nation. However, not many are aware of the name Ravinder Kaushik. Ravinder Kaushik was born in Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan on April 11, 1952. He was a famous theater artist . He was spotted by the Indian intelligence agency, RAW. He was offered a job of an undercover agent of India in Pakistan. Ravinder Kaushik was recruited by RAW and was given extensive training for two years He was taught Urdu language, circumcision was performed. He was made familiar with the topography of Pakistan and was given religious education. Being from Punjab-speaking Sri Ganganager, he was well versed in the language which is spoken in major part of Pakistan. His father, JM Kaushik had served in Indian Air force and after his retirement, was employed with a local textile mill. The family use to live in the old city, close to the mill. After studying in a Government school, Ravinder went to a private college. He was a good actor and was known for his mono-acting and mimicry. “He was one of the most popular students during his school and college days,” says Sukhdev Singh, who had studied with him in the local SD college.“Some time in 1971, he told my nana (Ravinder’s father) that he had got a job in Delhi and had to join immediately” Vashisth says. But in reality, Ravinder was handpicked by intelligence agencies and was asked to come to Delhi for training. He was given extensive training in Delhi for two years. Sunnat was performed on him to show him as a Muslim. He was taught Urdu, given religious education and acquainted with the topography and other details about Pakistan. Being from Punjab-speaking Sri Ganganager, he was well versed in the language which is spoken in major part of Pakistan. According to Vashisth, Kaushik was sent to Pakistan in around 1974. He was given the alias Nabi Ahmed Shakir and was shown a resident of Islamabad. He successfully got admission in Karachi University and completed his LLB. Later, he was able to become a commissioned officer in Pakistan Army. He rose to become a Major. Soon after, he got married to one Amanat, who belong to a well off family. He also became father of a girl. He visited India three to four times. His recruiters would ask him to come to Dubai and from there, he would reach Delhi on his Indian passport. “In 1979, he carried out a major operation that won him accolades from his bosses. His code name was changed to “Black Tiger,” in recognition of his services” Vashisth says. But some time in 1983, the luck of this master spy ran out. Indian intelligence agencies had sent an agent to get in touch with Black Tiger. But the agent was caught by Pakistan’s intelligence agencies. During interrogation, he broke down and revealed his purpose. He identified Black Tiger and Kaushik was arrested immediately. He was awarded death sentence, which he contested in the Supreme Court there. It was converted into a life term. That was in 1990. He was kept in various jails, including Sialkot and Kot Lakhpat. During his imprisonment, he was able to secretly send out half a dozen letters to his father. “From these letters, we came to know the real life of Ravinder Kaushik. According to a letter received from Kot Lakhpat Superintendent, Kaushik died of TB some time in 2001. The family, during these years, had never received any communication from his handlers. “I want the producer of the film Ek Tha Tiger to acknowledge that the movie is based on the life of my mama. His story reaching the common man of the country is what would satisfy our family,” He was given the title of Black Tiger by Indias then home minister S.B. Chavan. Some testify that the title was conferred by then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi. He spent 26 years of his life away from his home and family in Pakistan in very unfavourable conditions. India thwarted many Pakistan attempts based on the information received from Kaushik. On many occasions Pakistan prepared to wage war across the borders of Rajasthan in India, but they were foiled due to the timely advance warning given by Ravinder Kaushik, as he was a senior military officer in Pakistan by now and had access to top secret information. Ravinder Kaushik defied the Pakistan Army and its top class intelligence service for 26-long-years. They say, if you live by the sword, you die by one. His cover was blown after Indian intelligence sent another agent Inyat Masiha, to get in touch with Black Tiger. But the agent was caught by Pakistan’s intelligence agencies and revealed Ravinder Kaushiks true identity. Kaushik was then captured, tortured for two years at an interrogation centre in Sialkot. Ravinder was awarded death sentence in the year 1985. His sentence was later commuted to a life term by the Pakistan Supreme court. Kaushik was kept in various jails, including Sialkot, Kot Lakhpat and in Mianwali jail for 16 years, where he contracted Asthma and TB. The brave spy managed to secretly send letters to his family in India, from inside the Pakistan jail, which revealed his poor health condition and the trauma faced by him in Pakistani jails. In one of his letters he wrote, Kya Bharat jaise bade desh ke liye kurbani dene waalon ko yahi milta hai? (Is this the reward a person gets for sacrificing his life for India?) On 21 November 2001, he succumbed to pulmonary tuberculosis and heart disease in New Central Jail Multan. He was buried behind that jail. Both Kaushik’s brother and ailing 72-year-old mother Amladevi --- his father died of shock and heart failure --- have a grouse against the government: all their pleas since 1987 to secure Kaushik’s release from Pakistan custody fell on deaf ears. They wrote several letters, but got no response apart from foreign ministry despatches that “his case has been taken up with Pakistan”. One such letter from Amladevi to Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee read: “Had he not been exposed, Kaushik would have been a senior army officer of the Pakistan government by now and (continued in) the coming years (serving India secretly).” Read the link:- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ravinder_Kaushik
Posted on: Mon, 06 Oct 2014 12:32:16 +0000
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