A.S. Dulat, former head of India's Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), is a man who has dedicated his life to serving the cause of our country. His career in the Indian defence spanned over three decades, during which he rose through the ranks to become one of the most trusted and respected intelligence officials in the country.
Born in the small town of Sialkot in northern India, Dulat had
always felt a deep sense of patriotism and a commitment to serving our great
country. As a young man, he joined the Indian army and quickly established
himself as an exceptional soldier, earning the respect of his peers and
superiors alike. However, it was his deep understanding of the complexities of
the Indo-Pak relations and the Kashmir issue that eventually led him to make a
mark in his career in intelligence.
As Dulat rose through the ranks, he became one of the most
respected intelligence officials in the country. His work took him to some of
the most dangerous and remote parts of the world, but he never wavered in his
dedication to the cause of India. Despite the risks, he continued to work
tirelessly, gathering vital information and providing insights that helped
shape India's response to the challenges it faced.
Dulat's deep knowledge of the region and its people, combined
with his unparalleled analytical skills, made him the perfect candidate for his
special job in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), where he was entrusted to
‘monitor, manage and direct’ the government of India’s peace initiative in
Kashmir. Lest we forget, this was under the able leadership of the then Indian
Prime Minister Late Sri Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Through his work, Dulat has become a symbol of the very best
of India's intelligence community. He is known for his patriotism, his deep
understanding of the Kashmir issue, and his unwavering commitment to the cause
of India. He is a Spymaster, who has dedicated his life to serving the cause
of our country and to helping bring peace and stability to the people of India
and the region.
Dulat's journey has been one of quiet determination, deep patriotism,
and a commitment to the cause of India. His work has helped to shape the course
of India's foreign policy, and his deep understanding of the region and its
people will continue to be used in India’s defence circuits for generations to
come. To those who know him, he is a hero, a patriot who is committed to
making the world a better place.
Check out his latest book A Life in the Shadows: A Memoir, published by HarperCollins India:
About the book:
No Indian spymaster has, until now, written a memoir. A.S.
Dulat is the first to do so, and in A Life in the Shadows he does it with
considerable elan.
He is one of India's most successful spymasters, his name synonymous with the Kashmir issue. His methods of engagement and accommodation with all people and perspectives from India's most conflicted state are legendary. The author of two bestselling books, Kashmir: The Vajpayee Years (2014) and The Spy Chronicles: R&AW, ISI and the Illusion of Peace (2018), Dulat's views on India, Pakistan and Kashmir are well-known and sought after.
Yet very little is known about him, primarily because the
former spymaster has been notoriously private about his personal life. In this
unusual and unique memoir, Dulat breaks that silence for the first time. This
is not a traditional, linear narrative as much as a selection of stories from
across space and time. Still bound by the rules of secrecy of his trade, he
tells a fascinating story of a life richly lived and insightfully observed.
From a Partition-bloodied childhood in Lahore and New Delhi to his early years
as a young intelligence officer; from meetings with international spymasters to
travels around the world; from his observations on Kashmir-political and
personal-post the abrogation of Article 370, to his encounters with world
leaders, politicians and celebrities; moving from Bhopal to Nepal and from
Kashmir to China, Dulat tells the story of his life with remarkable honesty,
verve and wit.
Read my 2018 Interview with him on The News Minute, here.
