Delhi, Prime Minister's Office, South Block - March 8th, 1949
The sun rose over Arjun Mehra's office, throwing light over his desk full of the various papers, which mainly included Ashoka Group's progress, financial policies that he had just put forwards recently. And while he was reviewing them, hard knock broke his reverie.
Intelligence Bureau Director Sharma walked in, with his calm face. But Arjun saw something else in his demeanor, satisfaction, restrained but undeniably present.
"Prime Minister," Sharma started, "I have an important report. And if I might add, an extremely good one."
Arjun leaned back in his leather chair, slightly surprised. Sharma won't be happy unless something significant has been accomplished. "Oh? Speak freely, Director. What has happened?"
Sharma moved forward, his shoulders squaring with patent pride. "Sir, the Research & Analysis Wing (RAW) has been formally established. Our very first operational unit, comprising of handpicked and well-trained agents, is now fully ready to be deployed. They are waiting for your orders."
Arjun paused after hearing this.
'Finally!', He slowly smiled as a sense of fierce pride ran through him. RAW was vital piece in his planning. After all, they would be the main tools for him to manipulate the geopolitics from the shadows.
"Excellent job, Director. Who's in charge of it now?"
"Sir, it's T.G Sanjeevi Sahib, who was the former head of Intelligence Bureau. He is in charge of RAW operations for now. He has executed each directive as per your directions."
Arjun eyes widened a bit. 'T.G Sanjeevi? T. G. Sanjeevi Pillai? Right, I forgot about him when I assigned Colonel Sharma as the new head of IB. He should be the one leading IB before him.'
When Pillai's name was mentioned, something changed in Arjun's attitude. He knew of this man, no, not just knew him, but also had deep respect for the figure as legendary as him. He was one of the few person who helped in the evolution of intelligence work in India's security system.
He is a man whose services in gathering intelligence during the period of violent partition had been priceless. Even in this timeline, during the early days of when he became the Prime Minister, he was in charge of IB while the riots were happening due to partition.
And naturally, as a historian in his past life, Arjun had spent hours poring over Pillai's biography, and his skill at establishing networks that stood for decades.
"Great decision," Arjun remarked, but his tone meant something far more than Sharma could possibly grasp. "Please invite him to meet me at once. I need a proper briefing."
Sharma gave a crisp salute and left, leaving Arjun by himself. He rose and made his way to the large window with a view of the sprawling capital.
The wait was short. In minutes, Sanjeevi Pillai walked in, and Arjun experienced a real thrill of recognition and respect. Here was a man whose reputation went ahead of him, whose actions during the turmoil of partition had already entered the realm of myth.
Pillai moved with the quiet self-assurance of a person who had spent his most of his life till now working behind the scenes, taking key decisions that impacted millions without ever being noticed by history.
For Pillai, the moment carried an odd gravity. At 51, he had seen the best and worst of men in power, Governors, viceroys, ministers, and idealists who claimed to speak for the nation. He thought he knew what leadership looked like.
But the man before him was barely into his thirties, two decades younger, and yet carried himself as though he had already lived through lifetime.
This young Prime Minister radiated control in a way he had never really encountered in Delhi's corridors of power. There was no hesitation, no polite veil, only the certainty of someone who acted as if history bent to his will. It was the kind of authority that could either shape a nation into something lethal, or ruin it completely.
"Pillai-ji," Arjun replied, standing up from his chair more warmly than he usually greeted officials. "Sit down, please. Congratulations are in order, I suppose. RAW is up and running."
Pillai sat down in the chair facing Arjun's desk, setting a fat, unlabelled dossier in front of him. His weathered face had the look of a man who'd lived and spoken little, but his eyes sparkled with a quick intelligence that noticed everything.
"Thank you, Prime Minister. I am happy to inform you that our first functional unit is ready. Two hundred agents, handpicked from the best available."
"Tell me about them," Arjun asked, leaning forward with real interest. "What is so special about this group? How have they been prepared for the work in front of them?"
Pillai unfolded his folder, reading from notes in his neat handwriting. "Sir, these agents are the best India has to offer. We have linguists fluent in six languages, economists who know international financial systems, cultural specialists able to blend into any society, former military intelligence operatives with field experience, and even academics with intimate knowledge of foreign political systems."
He fell silent, his fingers tapping once on the folder. "All have been intensively trained to your specification that you had asked for. Covert infiltration skills, secure comms procedure, counter-espionage techniques, high-level interrogation resistance, psy-op manipulation skills, and economic intelligence gathering.
They can blend into any context, Prime Minister. They are ready to be India's invisible eyes and ears, anywhere in the world."
Arjun's professional appreciation surged. This was just what India required, just what history had taught was required for a country to fully take charge of its own destiny.
"Among these two hundred, Pillai-ji, are there any who outstand? Any whose ability suggests they could lead RAW into its future phase of growth?"
A subtle transition crept across Pillai's face, the nearest to enthusiasm his professional air would permit.
"In fact, sir. Two individuals deserve special mention. R.N. Kao, who had been with the IB before, has an analytical mind that is simply unparalleled. His capacity for blending fragmented intelligence into actionable conclusions is second to none.
He thinks in a logical system, works with the precision of a surgeon, and has the temperament for long-term strategic operations."
Arjun's heart quickened. Kao. In his previous life, that name had been synonymous with the establishment of India's external intelligence capabilities. To hear Pillai identify him now, without any prompting, was validation of both men's exceptional judgment.
"And the second?" Arjun asked.
"Vatsal Sharma, sir. A young analyst of language and culture with an almost otherworldly talent for fitting into any setting. He constructs human relationships with ease, deciphers political currents the way others read the papers, and has proved to be exceptionally proficient at deep cover operations of long duration.
Both men have made absolute commitment to serving Indian interests, irrespective of personal sacrifice."
[A/N: There you go, similarly, I'll slowly insert the names when it fits the narrative.]
Arjun rose and paced behind his desk, his mind whirling with options.
He knew about Kao, but Vatsal was the new name. There was no mention of this name in history in his past life.
'Interesting. So, a butterfly effect, is it? Frankly, it would have been stranger if there wasn't one, given that I set up RAW almost 17 years ahead of its time.'
"Pillai-ji," he stated, the tone of his voice becoming one of utter command, "I have particular tasks in store for this initial operational group. The strategy of deployment I have in mind is not a question of gathering intelligence. It is a question of influencing the political future of our region as a whole."
Pillai stood up, sensing the weight of what was to come.
Arjun stepped over to the big map pinned to his office wall, tracing the different countries around India. "Your typical deployment strategy covering Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Burma, and Ceylon is good for routine intelligence gathering. But Bharat's vision demands something much more grand, much more strategically deep."
He faced Pillai again, his face serious. "I will provide you with explicit orders for each country. These are not intelligence operations, Pillai-ji. These are generational moves meant to change fundamentally the political equation of South Asia."
Pillai picked up his pen, ready to record what he suspected would be some audacious orders.
"First, Pakistan," Arjun started, his tone heavy with righteous condemnation. "This country was given birth by hatred and division. And even though not much of it is left, RAW will ensure nothing unexpected occurs here. Your agents will do more than just witness their political disintegration and economic frailties.
They're to penetrate their religious establishments using agents who have been trained as Islamic scholars and preachers. Gradually plant stories questioning Pakistan's founding ideals, underscore the hardship partition imposed, highlighting the inability of their leadership to bring about prosperity."
He hesitated, giving the full import a chance to settle. "The final goal, Pillai-ji, is Pakistan's ultimate disintegration. This is a project of decades, but if done right, then I predict the political state called Pakistan will cease to exist somewhere near 1980-1990s. RAW will set the stage for this inevitability."
Yes, after much thought, Arjun had decided that there won't be any Pakistan no more. He still remembers the damage Gaza managed to do even though it was just a tiny strip of land as compared to Israel. And so, he wasn't willing to take any chances.
Pillai's pen kept gliding across the paper but Arjun saw a tightness creasing the man's face. Surprise, concern, or professional admiration, he could not say.
"Second, Afghanistan," Arjun went on, tracing his finger northward on the map. "We have here a chance at cultural transformation. Open ostensible trade and education missions in Kabul, Jalalabad, and Kandahar, cover with our new mastery of the Gandhara trade routes.
Your agents will neutralize extremist religious leadership with deniable tactics, systematically supplanting them with moderate voices friendly to India."
His voice became more intense. "At the same time, encourage Afghanistan's Buddhist heritage. Endow schools that teach them about their dharmic roots and history, sponsor archaeological digs that emphasize pre-Islamic Afghan culture, and introduce them incrementally into their national narrative to their Vedic origins.
Of course, they won't just join these schools, given Islam has become more than their identity in many parts. So, we target those who are in need of help. For example, the tribe who is on verge of eradication, or loosing against other tribes.
We'll offer them help and education. And they'll be our seeds.
The aim is simple. To make Afghanistan at least 50% Dharmic by the early 2000s, a consistent buffer state fully in line with Indian interests."
[A/N: Ahem...let's just say Arjun is trying out certain tactics. Also, remember that right now, there are around 3,00,000 to 4,00,000 dharmic followers (Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jain, etc), and they'll play an important role in all this.]
"Third, Nepal and Bhutan," Arjun explained, his index finger along the northern borders. "These kingdoms need to be made to realize that their existence relies completely on the Indian shield. Your people will develop contacts within their royal courts and governmental hierarchies.
Stress the Communist danger from the north, make them fully aware that China's expansionist goals cover their lands."
He smiled, and it was a cold one. "They will have to be brought to realize integration with India as their only option, not conquest. And then, they will join us voluntarily when the time arrives. Even if not as a state, then as a protectorate."
"Fourth, Ceylon and Burma," he went on, gesturing toward the island and southeast. "Ceylon just recently got their independence from British, so it's perfect time for us to expand our influence. Foster contacts with their military and political leadership, however small or nascent it may be.
Coordinate their naval plans with ours, make them reliant on Indian naval defenses. In Burma, assist ethnic minority elements against the central government, but do so covertly, as our official stance will be to support the Central government.
Mainly focus on the ethnic groups bordering our Northeastern region, like Naga, China, Kachins, etc. Since ethnic groups controls the resource rich lands in Burma, they'll become our key suppliers in the dark. Overall, produce sufficient turmoil to have Indian influence become vital to regional stability."
Lastly, Arjun gestured towards Tibet. "As for Tibet, keep a low profile for the moment. China's civil war is still ongoing, and radical shifts there are at least a few years away. Concentrate on establishing contacts with monastic hierarchies and building communication structures.
When China finally acts against Tibet, we need to be ready to shape events."
Pillai shut his folder, his face contemplative. The scale of what Arjun had proposed was breathtaking in its size and consequences. "Prime Minister, these operations will demand resources and absolute secrecy. Not to mention, it won't be that simple."
"I'm aware, Pillai-ji. And that's the whole reason I created RAW. These operations will serve as their springboards. As future missions, might be even more complex." Arjun said bluntly.
"As for resources, RAW will have whatever money, gear, and assistance it needs. Like I mentioned earlier, these aren't just intelligence missions. No, These is the cornerstones on which Indian regional supremacy will be established."
He walked back to his desk, his face taking on a nearly paternal tone as he regarded the experienced intelligence officer. "You have served India honorably during some of our most difficult times.
What I am requesting now will demand that same commitment, that same ability to work in moral gray for the greater good. Can you pledge me your full support to these goals?"
Pillai looked him straight in the eye. "Prime Minister, I have devoted my career to safeguarding India's interests. These instructions, as grandiose as they are, are for the same cause. RAW shall implement them with total professionalism and utmost secrecy."
"Good, I'll take your words for it", Arjun replied, his tone full of satisfaction. "Immediately initiate deployment as per these plans. Given your trust in their abilities, you may assign R.N. Kao and Vatsal Sharma to Burma and Afghanistan, as these 2 are probably the most difficult of them all.
I'll be sending Menon-ji on a diplomatic mission to Afghanistan soon, maybe in next few days, given they have been wary since our occupation of Gandhara. Your work will begin from there. Establish connection with those who can be bought and those who are not to happy under their King.
Similarly, in the upcoming diplomatic or state visits to the target nations, RAW will quietly start laying down the groundwork, through intelligence and infiltration. And after couple of years, when we would have enough resources to spare, then, their real work shall begin."
"Understood, Prime Minister."
Once Pillai was gone, Arjun stayed at his window, looking out upon the crowded city streets below. Somewhere among the packed streets, in unassuming buildings and secret laboratories, the destiny of South Asian geopolitics was being forged.