Harinder Sikka on The Chabi Master and India's unseen spies
Harinder Sikka spoke to Pooja Shali about The Chabi Master and the realities of espionage. He said women agents, retired operatives and other unseen patriots deserve fuller recognition.
Harinder Sikka on The Chabi Master, India’s spies and why secret heroes deserve recognition
Harinder Sikka, the author of Calling Sehmat — the book that inspired Meghna Gulzar’s National Award-winning film Raazi — is back with another gripping spy thriller, The Chabi Master. In the latest episode of Booked, Sikka joins India Today’s Pooja Shali for a wide-ranging conversation on espionage, patriotism, women agents, RAW operations and the cost of serving the nation in silence.
Sikka, who has served in the Indian Navy as a Lieutenant Commander before moving to the corporate world and then becoming an author, says his stories are deeply rooted in real-life incidents. Like Calling Sehmat, he says The Chabi Master too draws from events, conversations and intelligence accounts that he researched over time.
The book revolves around Shiva Shankaran, also known as Sammy, but the conversation begins with Divya, a strong woman character who becomes Neera. Asked why his books repeatedly highlight brave women agents, Sikka says women have historically played a crucial role in intelligence work. He argues that women are often underestimated, but in many cases, they make more effective agents because they are harder to identify and can build trust more easily.
Sikka also speaks about the dangerous and lonely life of undercover agents. Comparing a spy to a submarine, he says a spy survives only as long as their identity remains hidden. Once exposed, survival becomes nearly impossible. For him, the real story of espionage is not glamour, but sacrifice.
The conversation also touches upon RAW, national security, political controversies and the need to honour intelligence operatives after retirement. Sikka says India knows only a few names, while countless men and women who served the nation remain anonymous forever.
He also opens up on Raazi, saying he was disappointed with parts of the film adaptation of Calling Sehmat. According to him, the original story was meant to celebrate the patriotism and sacrifice of an Indian woman agent, and he believes that sentiment was diluted in the film’s final treatment. Sikka says if The Chabi Master is adapted for screen, he would want greater creative control.
From women spies to unknown heroes, from RAW missions to the price of patriotism, this episode of Booked offers a rare insight into the world behind spy thrillers — and the real people who inspire them.
Harinder Sikka on The Chabi Master, India’s spies and why secret heroes deserve recognition
Harinder Sikka, the author of Calling Sehmat — the book that inspired Meghna Gulzar’s National Award-winning film Raazi — is back with another gripping spy thriller, The Chabi Master. In the latest episode of Booked, Sikka joins India Today’s Pooja Shali for a wide-ranging conversation on espionage, patriotism, women agents, RAW operations and the cost of serving the nation in silence.
Sikka, who has served in the Indian Navy as a Lieutenant Commander before moving to the corporate world and then becoming an author, says his stories are deeply rooted in real-life incidents. Like Calling Sehmat, he says The Chabi Master too draws from events, conversations and intelligence accounts that he researched over time.
The book revolves around Shiva Shankaran, also known as Sammy, but the conversation begins with Divya, a strong woman character who becomes Neera. Asked why his books repeatedly highlight brave women agents, Sikka says women have historically played a crucial role in intelligence work. He argues that women are often underestimated, but in many cases, they make more effective agents because they are harder to identify and can build trust more easily.
Sikka also speaks about the dangerous and lonely life of undercover agents. Comparing a spy to a submarine, he says a spy survives only as long as their identity remains hidden. Once exposed, survival becomes nearly impossible. For him, the real story of espionage is not glamour, but sacrifice.
The conversation also touches upon RAW, national security, political controversies and the need to honour intelligence operatives after retirement. Sikka says India knows only a few names, while countless men and women who served the nation remain anonymous forever.
He also opens up on Raazi, saying he was disappointed with parts of the film adaptation of Calling Sehmat. According to him, the original story was meant to celebrate the patriotism and sacrifice of an Indian woman agent, and he believes that sentiment was diluted in the film’s final treatment. Sikka says if The Chabi Master is adapted for screen, he would want greater creative control.
From women spies to unknown heroes, from RAW missions to the price of patriotism, this episode of Booked offers a rare insight into the world behind spy thrillers — and the real people who inspire them.
