P. N. Kaul

As detailed in his memoirs, Frontier Callings (1976),[1] Kaul was born in Baramulla and graduated from Srinagar with a law degree.

He joined the British Indian Army in November 1941, and got posted in the wartime-raised 15th battalion of the Rajput Regiment, then stationed in Quetta.

In 1948, he was sent to Kashmir, in the temporary rank of acting lieutenant colonel, to raise and command militia battalions.

[2] In 1951, Kaul was transferred from infantry to artillery and posted as a major in the 14th Medium Regiment, near Amritsar.

[7] Kaul returned from Lhasa in November 1961 and got posted as Deputy Secretary (Tibetan Refugees) in the Ministry of External Affairs.

While working in EA-II cell, in early 1966, Kaul found "an interesting field assignment", to quote his memoirs, and got posted as Divisional Organiser of SSB in Ranikhet.

[11] However, due to the covert nature of SSB at the time, Kaul mentions the organisation by the innovative name, Border Home Guards, and largely skips over the operational details.

During his tenure, he facilitated various Indian support schemes for Nepal, including one on the Trishuli Hydel Project.