Made efforts to improve relations with Pakistan, used to tell us to think out of the box: Former RAW chief recollects moments with Manmohan Singh

Tharakan, who was RAW chief from 2005 to 2007, also recollects the efforts made by Singh to improve the relations with Pakistan.

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala cadre IPS officer Hormis Tharakan, who served as Research and Analysis Wing chief while Manmohan Singh was the Prime Minister, recollects the memorable moments during the service and afterwards.

"I could meet Manmohan Sigh last year in Delhi. Though he was not keeping well, he interacted with me for nearly one hour. As I was about to leave, he held my hands and said that he was very happy with the good work I had done as RAW chief. I consider it as the most valuable recognition in my career," Tharakan told DH.

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Tharakan, who was RAW chief from 2005 to 2007, also recollects the efforts made by Singh to improve relations with Pakistan.

"While collecting feedback from me on the relations with Pakistan, he also used to say that the mindset of the officials about Pakistan won't change soon."

"Singh often used to tell all of us to think out of the box. It seems to be a reflection of his out-of-the-box economic reforms. He never used the service of RAW for his vested political interests," recollects Tharakan.

Tharakan also feels that the chance he got to interact with Singh when he came down to Kerala following the tsunami in 2004 also paved the way for his posting as head of the elite agency.

"The PM's visit to tsunami affected areas of Tamil Nadu from Kerala had to be called off owing to fresh tsunami warnings there. Hence, he stayed back in Thiruvananthapuram. During that time I had a good interaction with him. That could be one reason why I was later on made the RAW chief," says Tharakan who is now settled in Kerala.