Ravindra Kaushik: The RAW Agent Who Became Pakistan’s ‘Black Tiger’ And Paid With His Life

Ravindra

Kaushik remains one of the most extraordinary and least acknowledged figures in India’s intelligence history. Known by his codename, The Black Tiger, he was an undercover operative of India’s external intelligence agency who lived for years inside Pakistan, passing on sensitive military information at immense personal cost. His story is not one of medals or public honours, but of anonymity, sacrifice, and silence. While nations celebrate visible heroes, Kaushik belonged to a darker, quieter world where success meant never being known.

Where Did Ravindra Kaushik Come From, and What Was His Early Life Like?

Ravindra Kaushik was born on 11 April 1952 in Rajasthan's Sri Ganganagar. The region sits close to the Indo-Pakistan frontier. Growing up around a place that was shaped by the wars of 1965 and 1971 was not an abstract idea for Ravindra Kaushik but a lived reality. His father served in the Indian Air Force, and discipline was part of daily life. At S D Bihani P G College in Sri Ganganagar, Kaushik studied commerce and earned a B.Com. degree. Outside textbooks, he found his real strength on stage. He was deeply involved in theatre, debates and mono acts, becoming popular for his mimicry and ability to slip convincingly into different roles. This rare combination of intellect, performance and confidence would later define his destiny.

How Did A College Theatre Act Lead To A Life In Espionage?

According to several accounts, it was a mono act in which Kaushik portrayed an Indian Army officer refusing to betray his country that drew the attention of intelligence scouts. During the early 1970s, India’s intelligence agencies were actively searching for young individuals who could blend creativity with discipline. After graduation in 1973, Kaushik told his family he was moving to Delhi for work. In reality, he had been recruited by the Research and Analysis Wing, commonly known as RAW. What followed was not a job but a complete dismantling of his former life.

What Kind Of Training Did RAW Give Ravindra Kaushik?

Kaushik underwent nearly two years of intense and secretive training. This included studying Islamic theology, mastering Urdu, understanding Pakistani geography and learning social customs in microscopic detail. To ensure his cover was not blown, Ravindra Kaushik converted to Islam and underwent circumcision. By 1975, all official records linking him to India were erased. Ravindra Kaushik, the Indian citizen, ceased to exist on paper. In his place emerged Nabi Ahmed Shakir, a Muslim resident of Islamabad with no visible ties across the border.

When and how did he enter Pakistan under a new identity?

In 1975, at the age of just twenty-three, Kaushik crossed into Pakistan as Nabi Ahmed Shakir. He went to the Karachi University and completed a degree in law. He blended seamlessly into Pakistani society.After completing studies, Ravindra Kaushik got a job within the Pakistan Army’s Military Accounts Department. Contrary to popular belief, he was not a frontline officer but worked as a clerk.

Why Was His Role So Valuable To India Between 1979 And 1983?

From 1979 to 1983, Ravindra Kaushik shared sensitive information related to Pakistani military movements and internal assessments. During that time, there was constant mistrust and tension between India and Pakistan, making accurate intelligence invaluable. His reports were said to reach the highest levels of Indian leadership. So significant was his contribution that then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi reportedly bestowed upon him the codename The Black Tiger. Within intelligence circles, his work earned quiet respect, though his name could never be spoken publicly.

How Did He Maintain His Cover In Pakistan For So Long?

To make his identity more believable, he married a local woman called Amaanat, the daughter of a tailor associated with an army unit. As per several reports, even his wife never knew his true identity. Living a double life was not easy, and it demanded relentless vigilance. One wrong word or forgotten habit could have exposed him. Ravindra Kaushik's success lay in total immersion, where the line between performance and reality grew dangerously thin.

What Led To His Exposure And Arrest In 1983?

In September 1983, RAW grew concerned after years of limited contact and decided to send another operative to reconnect with Kaushik. The agent, Inyat Masih, was captured by Pakistan’s intelligence service, the Inter-Services Intelligence. Under torture, Masih revealed Kaushik’s identity. A meeting was arranged as a trap, and Kaushik was arrested in a public park. After eight years of flawless infiltration, his cover collapsed in a single moment.

Where Was Ravindra Kaushik Imprisoned And What Did He Endure?

Following his arrest, Kaushik was taken to an interrogation centre in Sialkot, where he was brutally tortured for nearly two years. In 1985, a Pakistani court sentenced him to death, a punishment later commuted to life imprisonment by the Supreme Court of Pakistan. He spent the next sixteen years moving between prisons in Sialkot, Kot Lakhpat and Mianwali. During this time, Ravindra Kaushik's health deteriorated rapidly. Despite strict surveillance, he used to send secret letters to his family in India, describing isolation and physical abuse.

What Do His Letters Reveal About His State Of Mind?

In one of his most haunting letters, Kaushik wrote that if he had been an American agent, he would have been freed within days. The statement reflected not bitterness alone, but a painful awareness of how disposable covert operatives often become once exposed. His words carried pride, anger and resignation. He knew his service might never be acknowledged, yet he never renounced his loyalty to India.

When And How Did Ravindra Kaushik Die?

On 21 November 2001, Ravindra Kaushik died in Central Jail Mianwali due to pulmonary tuberculosis and heart disease. He was forty-nine years old. There were no state funerals, no flags, and no public tributes. When news reached India, his father died shortly after from a heart attack. His mother and brother spent years writing to government offices, seeking recognition rather than compensation. Financial assistance was minimal and eventually discontinued.

Why Is Ravindra Kaushik Still Largely Forgotten Today?

From a strategic standpoint, nations often distance themselves from compromised agents to avoid diplomatic fallout. For intelligence agencies, silence is policy. For families, that silence becomes lifelong grief. Kaushik’s story later inspired popular culture. His family claimed that the film Ek Tha Tiger drew from his life, though this was denied. The film Romeo Akbar Walter was more openly influenced by his journey, with his character renamed and fictionalised. Yet beyond cinema, the real man remains unknown to many.