ABOUT ME


Born on 14-8-1936; Graduated in Chemistry from the Loyola College, University of Madras in 1955. Studied journalism in the Department of Journalism of the University of Madras in 1956-57. Joined the southern editions of the “Indian Express” as Sub-Editor in 1957.
Appeared for the All-India and Central Services competitive examinations of the Govt. of India in 1960 and got through. Joined the Indian Police Service in 1961 and allotted to Madhya Pradesh.
Joined the Government of India in New Delhi on deputation in 1967. Served in the Ministry of Home Affairs as an internal intelligence analyst in 1967-68. Moved over to the Cabinet Secretariat as an external intelligence analyst in September 1968; resigned from the Indian Police Service in 1984 after being permanently absorbed in the Cabinet Secretariat; and retired as Additional Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat, Govt. of India, on August 31,1994. Was the head of the Counter-terrorism division of the Research & Analysis Wing (R&AW), India’s external intelligence agency, from 1988 to 1994.
Have since settled down in Chennai (Madras).Director, Institute For Topical Studies,Chennai, since October,1994.
Was Convenor, Chennai Chapter, Observer Research Foundation (ORF) from December,2002 to November 14,2005 and Distinguished Fellow in charge of the International Terrorism Watch Programme of the ORF between December 12,2003, and November 14,2005. Was a Member of the Central Advisory Committee, ORF, New Delhi.
Was a member of the Special Task Force on the revamping of the intelligence apparatus of the Govt. of India in 2000 and served as a member of the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) of the Govt. of India from July,2000 to December,2002.
Write regularly on subjects of topical interest having a bearing on national security and terrorism in many Indian newspapers and journals and current affairs web sites as well as for Asia Times, Hong Kong. Regular columnist to the “Indian Defence Review” of New Delhi and serve on its board of honorary editorial consultants. Associated with the South Asia Analysis Group (SAAG),New Delhi, since October,1998. All my articles appear at the web site of the SAAG at www.saag.org and the “Outlook” online edition at www.outlookindia.com . Write occasionally for Rediff.com. Often interviewed on terrorism on English (24 * 7 , Sahara TV, AAj Tak and Door Darshan) and Tamil (Sun TV and Jaya TV) TV channels and on the Hindi programme of BBC radio.
Attended in November,1997, the Manila Forum jointly organised by the ASEAN and the European Union and was a member of its working group on Cultural Diversity and Regional Peace.
Have attended a number of seminars on terrorism in India and abroad. Represented India on the Working Group on Terrorism and Transnational Crime of the Council on Security Co-operation Asia-Pacific (CSCAP). Attended meetings of the Working Group at Kuala Lumpur (Feb,2002), Shanghai (May,2002),and Bangkok (November,2002). Attended a Workshop on Terrorism of the ASEAN Regional Forum at Vientiane in March,2003.
Invited by the Panel on Terrorism of the US House Armed Services Committee to testify in June,2002. Invited to speak on terrorism at the University of California, LA, (Feb,2002), Rice University, Houston (Feb.2002), Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies, Singapore (March, 2002), Atlanta University, Athens, USA, (November,2002), and Boston University, USA, (November,2002).Was invited on a lecture tour of the USA again from July 10 to 28,2003. Attended a seminar on terrorism organised by the Regional Centre For Strategic Studies, Colombo, in July,2003.
Was invited to attend the Jerusalem “summit” on “Building Peace On Truth” from October 12 to 14, 2003, organised by the Michael Cherney Foundation, the National Unity Coalition for Israel, the Israeli Ministry of Tourism and the Jerusalem Municipality.
Was invited by the House International Relations Committee of the US Congress to testify on cross-border terrorist challenges facing India and their implications for US counter-terrorism policy at a joint hearing of its sub-committees on Asia and the Pacific and on Terrorism, Non-Proliferation and Human Rights held at Washington DC on October 29,2003.
Attended the third India-China-Russia Non-Governmental Trialogue on Security-related issues at New Delhi on November 6 and 7,2003, at the invitation of the Indian Institute For Chinese Studies, New Delhi, and spoke on co-operation in counter-terrorism. Attended its fourth trialogue at Moscow on September 1 and 2,2004, and spoke on terrorism.
Was invited to speak on “Non-Military Approaches to Terrorism—the Indian Model” at the General Conference of the Council on Security Co-operation Asia & Pacific (CSCAP) held at Jakarta from December 7 to 9, 2003.
Attended an ORF—Rand Corporation strategic dialogue at New Delhi on December 10 and 11,2003, and led the discussion on terrorism.
Participated in a round table on “Iraq and the War on Terrorism” organised by the Indian Council of World Affairs, New Delhi, at New Delhi on December 16,2003.
Attended the Indo-US Workshop on the Use of Science & Technology in dealing with Terrorism held at Goa from January 12 to 15,2004 under the joint auspices of the National Institute for Advance Studies (NIAS), Bangalore, India, and the US Academy of Sciences and acted as one of the discussants.
Participated in a joint symposium organised by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), New Delhi, and the American and the Australian Jewish Committees(AJC) at New Delhi on February 3,2004, and presented a paper on Global Counter-Terrorism and the Role of Democracies.
Was invited to speak on co-operation against international terrorism at an Indo-Israeli-US conference on Strategic Co-operation held at Herzliya, Israel, on February 16 and 17,2004, under the joint auspices of the Jewish Institute For National Security Affairs (JINSA) of Washington DC and the Institute For Counter-terrorism Policy of Herzliya.
Participated in a round table on “Changing Trends in S.E.Asia” organised by the Indian Council of World Affairs, New Delhi, at New Delhi, on March 10,2004.
Spoke on Indo-US Co-operation in Counter-Terrorism at the conference on Indo-US Strategic Co-operation held on April 1 and 2,2004, at the Sigur Centre For Asian Studies of the George Washington University, Washington DC, USA.
Organised an International Workshop on International Terrorism in S.E.Asia and its Implications For South Asia on behalf of the ORF at New Delhi on April 28 and 29,2004.
Spoke on “Terrorism in S.E.Asia” at a seminar on S.E.Asia organised by the Indian Institute of Advanced Study at New Delhi on May 3,2004.
Spoke on May 30,1994, on the War On Narcotics at the annual dinner of the Rainbow Foundation, Colombo, a prestigious non-governmental organisation of Sri Lanka which holds a contributory dinner on May 30 of every year and contributes the proceeds to organisations which are active in the field of anti-narcotics.
Participated in a regional conference organised by the UN Foundation and the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies of New Delhi at New Delhi from July 1 to 3,2004, and spoke on Effective Action Against Terrorism. The conference was meant to make recommendations to the High Power UN Panel on ‘New Threats to Security’ set up by Mr.Kofi Annan, UN Secretary-General.
Presented a paper on “Muslim Separatism in India” at a conference on “Ethnic Minorities And Great Power Strategies in Asia” organised by the Asia-Pacific Centre For Security Studies, Honolulu, from October 12 to 14,2004.
Presented a paper on “Maritime Terrorism---An Indian Perspective” at a conference on National Security in a Changing Region organised by the Asia Pacific Conferences & Event Management of Singapore at Singapore on October 28 and 29,2004.
Organised three Workshops in October-November,2004, under the International Terrorism Watch Project of the Observer Research Foundation (ORF)--- on “the Recent Intelligence Failures in the USA, the UK and Russia and Their Lessons for India” in October,2004; “The North-East: the Problems & the Options” in November,2004; and “Maritime Counter-Terrorism” in ovember,2004.The first two were national Workshops attended by experts from India and the third was an international Workshop attended by experts from India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Australia, Japan, the USA and the International Maritime Bureau, London.
Organised a Workshop on Naxalite (Maoist) Violence in India at Chennai on January 28 and 29,2005.
Represented India at the International Summit on Terrorism, Democracy and Security held at Madrid from March 8 to 10, 2005. The summit had been jointly organised by the Club of Madrid, the Governments of Spain and Norway and the Municipality of Madrid.
Attended a seminar on terrorism organised by the Directorate of Net Assessment of the office of the Chief of the Integrated Defence Staff at New Delhi on March 22 and 23,2005, and spoke on Future Terrorism.
Attended a conference on Indo-US Security Co-operation organised by the Indiana University Bloomington,US, from April 21 to 23,2005, and spoke on Indo-US Co-operation in Counter-Terrorism.
A member of the Study Group on the Root Causes of International Terrorism set up by the Council on Security Co-operation Asia Pacific (CSCAP) and attended its first meeting at Bangkok on April 26 and 27,2005, and its second and final meeting at Kuala Lumpur on August 9 and 10,2005..
Was invited to address the plenary session of the Fifth International Conference on the Global Impact of Terrorism organised by the Institute of Counter-Terrorism (ICT), Herzliya, Israel, from Sept. 11 to 14,2005, on “International Terrorism: An Indian Perspective”. Was also a member of its Panels on Aviation Terrorism, State Involvement in Terrorism and the Implications of the London Explosions.
Attended a conference on terrorism jointly organised by the Islamic State University of Jakarta and the Institute of Defence Analysis (IDA) of Washington DC, which was held in Bali, Indonesia, from October 19 to 21,2005, and presented a paper on “From Internet to Islamnet: Net-centric Counter-terrorism”
Attended a conference on “Asia and Global Security” organised by the Orient Institute of the Lisbon University from November 14 to 16,2005, and presented a paper on “International Jihadi Terrorism And Europe: An Indian Perspective”.
Attended a Round Table on International Terrorism organised by the Globe Research of Rome at Rome on February 4 and 5,2006, and spoke on International Jihadi Terrorism in Central Asia.
Attended a conference on Terrorism organised by the Intelligence Summit of Washington DC at Washington DC from February 18 to 20,2006, and delivered a keynote address on ‘Progress in the War Against Terrorism: An Indian Perspective.”

Attended a conference on “Globalisation And Security” organized by the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies of Singapore at Singapore from March 14 to 16,2006, and spoke on “Impact of Globalisation on Threat Perceptions in South Asia.”
Attended a conference on International Homeland Security organized by the Royal United Services Institute, London, on May 10,2006, and spoke on the “Evolution of India’s Counter-Terrorism Capabilities”.
Spoke on “Al Qaeda in South Asia---Emerging Trends” at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, London, on May11,2006.
Attended a conference on South Asian Security organized by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, London, at Muscat, in collaboration with the Sultanate of Muscat from April 20 to 22,2007.
Participated in the 21st Asia-Pacific Round Table at Kuala Lumpur from June 4 to 7, 2007, and spoke on “The Campaign Against Terrorism”.
Visited the University of Sichuan, Chengdu, China, from August 26 to 31,2007, at the invitation of the Centre for West China-South Asia Studies for discussions on security for the Beijing Olympics of August,2008.
Participated in discussions on “Terrorism & Media” at a seminar in Kuala Lumpur from November 5 to 7,2007, organized under the auspices of the Institute For Defence Analysis of Washington DC.
Regularly deliver talks on terrorism, Pakistan, internal security etc at the National Police Academy, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, National Defence College, New Delhi, Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, Tamil Nadu, and the Army War College , Mhow, Madhya Pradesh.
Author of three books: “Intelligence---Past, Present And Future” and “ A Terrorist State As A Frontline Ally”, both published in 2001 by the Lancer Publications, New Delhi and “The Kaoboys of R&AW---Down Memory Lane” published by the same publishers on July 30,2007. Listed No.5 in the List of Best-sellers of Non-Fiction by “India Today”. Summary of reviews given below.Have written over 1000 articles since 1994. Presently writing my fourth book “Terrorism: Old & New, Today and Tomorrow”. Expect to complete it by December 31,2007. Likely publishers: Lancer Publications.
Founding member of the Chennai Centre For China Studies, which was inaugurated by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Madras on March 14,2007. Its web site is at www.c3sindia.org
B.RAMAN,CHENNAI,INDIA. 27-11-07

The Kaoboys of R&AW: Down Memory Lane Rs.795/-
$27.00

"What is most interesting about this book, especially from the viewpoint of people who have an instinctive suspicion of intelligence agencies, is the openness with which the author discusses certain issues and the positions he takes on them." •- The Hindu

"It has an extremely good flow and is non-put-downable." •- U.S.I. Journal

“The book is replete with material that should force a re-assessment of the operations of intelligence services by our policy-makers and political leaders. Whether that will happen is difficult to tell. While many would like to see the deficiencies noted in the book disappear, still others would merely like to see them disappear from the public discourse. Raman's anguish, so evident in the book, appears partly the despair of one who holds very little hope that things will change, even while arguing that much is needed. ?" •- India Together

“It is a pity that we are yet to imbibe the culture of recording intelligence operations for posterity.” •- www.ajitweekly.com

“While the CIA was assisting R&AW against China, it was aiding Pakistan against India to ensure that where was no further division of Pakistan; R&AW was getting some cooperation from the French SDECE but it did not prevent the French from running a mole in India’s PMO; R&AW was working with the Soviet KGB and the Afghan KHAD and at the same time it had links with the Israeli Mossad. R&AW had a liaison with the Chinese MSS (Ministry of State Security) too.” •- Freedom First

"The book can appropriately be described as an insider's account of the functioning of the R & AW during 1968-1994...Raman’s book is a timely and valuable contribution which deserves the attention of decision makers at the high levels of the government ." •- Deccan Chronicle

"Three things make this book remarkable, candour and honesty, fair judgement, and moral courage...The book is a tribute to RN Kao, ...But it is much more than that. It is a mirror of how we excelled and faltered as a nation and the role played by the R&AW in it. And it is worth reading for this single reason." •- South Asia Analysis Group

“The book underlines the fact that an emerging power aspiring to take its place by 2020 among the leading powers of the world has to have an external intelligence agency with the ability "to see, hear, smell and feel far and near". Such an agency has to have the ability to operate imaginatively and daringly, analyse lucidly, anticipate unfailingly and manage unanticipated crises effectively.Above all the agency should have the courage to tell the truth as it needs to be told without worrying about the consequences.” •- The New Strait Times

"Flushed with a discretionary fund of some Rs 1,500 crore, RAW has been conferred spectacular operational freedom. But as former RAW operative B Raman has revealed in The Kaoboys of R&AW, most of these privileges have been flagrantly , sometimes criminally, misused." •-
Times of India

“Raman's book could not have come at a better time…Raman's book is candid in many respects. He says the R and AW has only partly fulfilled the purposes for which it was set up by Indira Gandhi and Kao.” •- www.dailyindia.com

"...they have also printed it - gadzooks - on art paper! Ever heard of such a thing?" •- Business Standard

" A very honest book!" •- www.indiandefencereview.com

" A stinging critique of India's most exclusive private club by an ex-high priest...Once you are able to look beyond the masala stuff that is de rigueur for any book by a spymaster, there is a very dark and daunting message. And its in black and white." •- Hindustan Times

Touching a raw nerve. •- The Tribune

The book conveys a sense of the Intelligence world as it really is mostly shades of gray, instead of black and white. •- Deccan Herald

B. Raman, a former R&AW spy, ... points out that one of R&AW’s major drawbacks has been “a lack of man management…especially in the later years, where R&AW should have been blended into a team, there’s a clear absence of an esprit de corps.’’ •- The Telegraph

There are two ways to look at this book. One is to pick up a few ‘scoopy’ details and highlight them, the other is to look at it as a textbook and learn from “memory lane” about intelligence collection and analysis and even covert operations. •- www.newindpress.com

"...insider account of the rot within are always a good read." •- Outlook

"Raman is fair to the legacy — he was himself a Kaoboy — and chronicles both the achievements and failures of RAW in a reasonably objective manner." •- DNA

In a new offering from India's premier publishing house on strategic affairs, B Raman, …pries open the black box with hard-hitting scrutiny… A treasure trove of unknown information and incidents that mark a much misunderstood and maligned agency, this book is a frank account… •- Asia Times Online

"Raman’s work is exceptional because for the first time we get an insider’s analysis of the success and failures of the secretive Indian external intelligence agency…Raman’s book, apart from being full of juicy stories will remain a textbook for those interested to study and understand the first years of India’s external intelligence agency." •- rediff.com

"A startling glimpse into the working of India’s External Intelligence Agency." •- India Today

"B. Raman’s book on RAW is peppered with stunning, and sometimes amusing, anecdotes." •- The Indian Express


Author: B Raman
ISBN: 0-9796174-3-X
Pages: 304
Features: Size 6x9in