Raghuram Rajan, his father's son
June 20, 2016  14:10
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Not many know that RBI governor Raghuram Rajan's father was a spook with Indian intelligence, and was in fact one of the first 'Kaoboys' as they came to be known, when R N Kao set up India's premier external intelligence agency, RAW. 

R Govindarajan was Kao's most-trusted aide then, and had resigned from the IPS to join the new spy agency. A brilliant mind, Govindarajan was tipped to become RAW chief but then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi chose A K Verma over him. 

Baffled no doubt, but a loyal bureaucrat he accepted his new posting of chairman of joint intelligence committee and after retirement settled down in Chennai. 

His son Raghuram probably learnt his lessons well, blogs Pranab Dhal Samanta in Economic Times: 'Through his negotiations with the Manmohan Singh government, he was clear about his status of work with the Chicago Booth School of Business and has been on long leave. At various points through his term, absurd questions were raised on his national commitment and his willingness to be 'Indian' enough. Worse, they find voice till date.' 

But while the bureaucrats may have regarded Rajan with scepticism, the world of spooks his father inhabited embraced him with open arms. 'He was seen as extended family among them. He was one of the candidates to deliver the first Kao memorial lecture just as an eminent academic, but the family thought it best to remain low-profile.' 

We could tell you more about Rajan's recollections of Kao and his times, but it's best you read it here.
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