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The Kaoboys of R&AW: Down Memory Lane

Research & Analysis Wing (India's External Intelligence Agency)

A rare and first-hand view into the workings of the most secretive government agency Research & Analysis Wing, India's external intelligence agency. 

The book written by a retired R&AW officer B Raman who spent more than 3 decades working for the agency right from its inception in 1968, provides a detailed insight into the workings of R&AW and its work and relations with the Intelligence Bureau, Ministry of External Affairs and other foreign intelligence agencies. The book derives its name from its first chief R.N. Kao and the officers under him who were the cause of its success and came to be known as "Kao boys of R&AW".


The book is in chronological order of the author's service in R&AW and the most outstanding thing about the book is how objectively it is written and by that, I mean the author has rightly praised but has also criticised various people right from the chief of Kao to various Prime Ministers during his tenure. The author never shies away from calling a spade a spade.




"Raman displayed an unwavering commitment to his work. This, along with his vast knowledge and the ability to recall details of events even after the passage of decades made him a near-ideal intelligence officer." 


While reading this book one is held in awe of the numerous people who have done so much for the country with little to no recognition and the general public being totally ignorant about it. Perhaps one of the occupational traits of working for an intelligence agency. Along with it, there are multiple incidents that illustrate the dilemma faced by intelligence officers while dealing with reports indicating a likely threat. If the information proves to be incorrect, they are accused of frivolous reporting without proper verification. If the information proves to be correct, but had not been reported on time since the verification process was incomplete, they are accused of tardy reporting.


All major security incidents have been covered by the author since R&AW inception. Some of the major intelligence breaches mentioned by the author like the one in the Prime Minister Office shed new light on the world of counterintelligence and India's lack of credible counterintelligence. 


In the final chapter Raman looks at his time in R&AW and tries to answer questions that one may have about its past and future. The book is recommended for anyone interested in the world of Intelligence and their working especially that of R&AW.

Book Details:

Title: The Kaoboys of R&AW: Down Memory Lane
Author: B. Raman
Genre: Non-Fiction, Spy Thriller, Espionage, History, Politics, Biography, War, Terrorism, India
Publisher: Lancer Publishers LLC
Number of pages: 294
ISBN-10: 097961743X
ISBN-13: 9780979617430

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Location: India

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