The evening started on a lighter note when A.S. Dulat, former head of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) sat with Jawhar Sircar, MP, Rajya Sabha, at Oxford Bookstore to give a peek into his new book A Life In The Shadows on February 24. Sharing his affection for Calcutta, Dulat went down memory lane and shared what he missed on Park Street in 2023 — the jam sessions, AngloIndians and women wearing skirts!
The spymaster who is known for his method of engagement in conflict-ridden states and whose views on Kashmir and Pakistan are sought after, has already written two books — Kashmir: The Vajpayee Years (2014) and The Spy Chronicles: R&AW, ISI and the Illusion of Peace (2018). The latest book, a memoir, lays open his life and talks about a partitionbloodied childhood in Lahore and New Delhi, his early years as a young intelligence officer, meeting international spymasters, working with Vajpayee and MK Narayanan; his observations on Kashmir and more. “The first book happened deliberately because my head was stuffed with Kashmir and I had to get it out. The publishers suggested calling it Vajpayee Years because I had the privilege of working with Atalji closely for over five years. He was a poet and philosopher and there was a Chanakya in him. When I saw him as a finance minister in 1978 I thought instead of Morarji Desai if he was the PM what a fantastic PM he would make. But he had become more cautious and that is why he allowed Gujarat to happen, he suffered those moments of weakness. This book happened as an accident. It’s vignettes from my life, arbitrarily picked, talking about people I remember more fondly,” said Dulat.
Describing his writing style and the book, Sircar said, “He writes in a racy manner, exciting manner so that it almost reads like a thriller. This book is extremely endearing.” The evening was also marked by some fun moments with Dulat sharing anecdotes from his life, through which he also passed on important values of life. The session grew intense from here with the author touching on the subject of Kashmir, a topic that’s close to his heart. “I was there for little less than two years but Kashmir doesn’t let you go; it’s an obsession, and I follow it closely. I spoke and wrote against the abrogation of Article 370. In the course of time, I can say the Kashmiris have reconciliated. The issue is now of statehood, which the government of India has promised in the Parliament. Now we have been using strong-armed muscular policy and militancy has come down for many reasons but how long will it last, time will tell. I think what is being lost in Kashmir is the idea of India, in fact, we lost it long back after the demise of Nehru,” said the former top intelligence officer with a tone of sadness. Moving on, he talked about working closely with MK Narayanan, working in Naxal-inflicted areas in India, and engaging in a dialogue with extremists. “I believe no insurgency can be put down by force, talking is the only way out.”
Readers get their copies signed by A.S. Dulat