R. N. Kao
Rameshwar Nath Kao (10 May 1918 – 20 January 2002) was an Indian spymaster and the first chief of India's external intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) from its founding in 1968 to 1977. Kao was one of India's foremost intelligence officers, and helped build R&AW.
Rameshwar Nath Kao | |
|---|---|
Portrait of Rameshwar Nath Kao | |
| 1st Chief & Founder of R&AW and 1st Secretary (Security) | |
| In office 1968–1977 | |
| Preceded by | Office created |
| Succeeded by | K. Sankaran Nair |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 May 1918 Benares, United Provinces, British India (present day Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India) |
| Died | 20 January 2002 (aged 83) Delhi, India |
| Spouse | Malini Kao |
| Children | 1 |
| Alma mater | University of Lucknow University of Allahabad |
| Profession | Spymaster |
Kao held the position of Secretary (Research) in the Cabinet Secretariat of the Government of India, which has been held by all R&AW directors since. He had also, during the course of his long career, served as the personal security chief to Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and as security adviser to Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. He also founded the Aviation Research Centre (ARC) and the Joint Intelligence Committee. An intensely private man, Kao was rarely seen in public post-retirement.