Who was Ravinder Kaushik AKA The Black Tiger and why is Salman Khan interested in his life?

On his deathbed in Pakistan, Ravinder Kaushik ensured a secret passage of the last letter he wrote to his mother in India. The task wasn't difficult for him even in that state. 30 years before his death, he was trained in India to send secret documents across the border. 

In one of his letters to his family, Ravindra wrote, “Kya Bharat jaise bade desh ke liye kurbani dene waalon ko yahi milta hai?" In his letters, he spoke about the trauma he faced in Pakistani jails and his poor health. Today, his remains lie buried in the New Central Multan Jail.

The tragic end of India’s finest spy officer whose cover got blown in the most unexpected way, will now come to life in a Bollywood movie. Reports say Salman Khan will be doing his first biopic, based on the life of Indian spy Ravinder Kaushik. The movie is set to be directed by Raj Kumar Gupta.

THE MOST AWAITED MOVIE EVER !!! ❤ Cant wait to watch Bhai @BeingSalmanKhan as "BLACK TIGER" Ravindra Kaushik in this Blockbuster Biopic. ❤❤❤ @atulreellife @SKFilmsOfficial ❤❤❤ pic.twitter.com/sOOeU0NVUg

— Maniish LL.B (@Maniesh_9211) December 1, 2021

But before we get to Salman, who was Ravinder Kaushik and why is his story memorable for India?

Here's a lowdown.

A THEATRE ARTIST-TURNED-SPY

Ravinder Kaushik was born in Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan in 1952 in a Punjabi family. He loved theatre and did stage shows. He never knew that his theatrics on stage would get him noticed in the eyes of the national intelligence agency. Not much is known about his first days at the theatre or how he met the R&AW officials. But at the age of 23 in 1975, after his graduation, Ravinder Kaushik was formally inducted into the R&AW.

A MARRIED ARMY MAJOR KAUSHIK IN PAKISTAN

During his training, Ravinder Kaushik learned Urdu and read Islamic scriptures to fully acquaint himself with the culture, thought and persona of a Muslim man. He was also made to understand the topography of Pakistan, and also underwent circumcision. Soon after, his records in Indian books were destroyed and he was sent on a mission to Pakistan with a new identity.

Ravinder Kaushik became Nabi Ahmed Shakir, a law student who completed his LLB from Karachi University, and who would go on to join as a commissioner in the Pakistan Army. His brilliance made him a Major in the Army, and soon he married a girl, Amanat, with whom he had a daughter.

THE BLACK TIGER

During his stint with the Pakistan Army, Nabi Ahmed sent valuable inputs to the Indian defence forces from 1979 to 1983, which were of immense help. Due to his good work, he was conferred with the title ‘The Black Tiger’ by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

THE COVER BLOW-UP

Another Indian spy, Inyat Masiha was reportedly sent to Pakistan to get in touch with Major Nabi Ahmed Shakir. His cover was blown by the Pakistani authorities and he was tortured untill he spilled the beans about his mission.

THE INCARCERATION

Ravinder Kaushik was arrested by the Pakistani authorities and tortured for two years at an interrogation centre in Sialkot. He was sentenced to death in 1985 but the sentence was later converted to life imprisonment by the Supreme Court. For the next 16 years, Ravinder Kaushik spent his days in the jails of Mianwali and Sialkot. Due to the poor living conditions in Pakistani jails, he contracted asthma and tuberculosis, which later turned fatal. He succumbed to pulmonary tuberculosis and heart disease at the New Central Multan Jail in 2001. According to a Telegraph report from 2002, Ravinder's family said he was not recognised by the Indian government. He was buried at the New Central Multan Jail.

LEGACY STAYS FOREVER

The story of Ravinder Kaushik inspires many R&AW officers and he is revered in the defence circles. The movie Ek Tha Tiger starring Salman Khan was said to be loosely based on Ravinder Kaushik's life. Now, Salman will be starring in his first ever biopic, on Ravinder Kaushik.

It is hard to believe but Salman Khan has never played a real life character in the entire length of his 23year career.Speaking to PTI,#SalmanKhan ?confirmed that he will playing Indian spy agent #BlackTiger movie biopic Ravindra Kaushik??Black Tiger ?? pic.twitter.com/DInlEBBrKk

— ❀?????? ?? ??? ?? (@SalmanJyo) December 1, 2021