India goes nuclear | #205
Buddha, Prithvi and Cricket make a bomb
India’s tryst with nuclear bomb as a defense started on this day 50 years ago when it became the first country outside of the United Nations security council’s permanent members to conduct a successful nuclear test. The test was a major milestone for India's nuclear program and a source of national pride. It was a controversial move given that these tests invited sanctions from the world over.
In 1998, India conducted 5 further nuclear tests to signal its intention. Retaliatory nuclear tests by Pakistan heightened the tensions between the neighbors. But the frosty relationship between the 2 countries hasn’t degraded to the point of nuclear holocaust yet.
This week we take a look at some interesting stories from India’s nuclear tests.
Things we learnt this week 🤓
The code name given to the first nuclear test in Pokhran way back in 1974 was the ‘Smiling Budha’. It was because in 1974, May 18th was Buddha Purnima. India, back then and even now, continues to have a “no first use” policy which means that the nuclear bombs are a deterrent and will be used only if attacked. There is a delicious irony in the fact that a nuclear bomb was detonated on the day a very peaceful Buddha’s birth is celebrated.
The tests conducted in 1974 put Pokhran on the global map. It meant that the region was under surveillance from the west. In 1995, India tried to detonate another test bomb, but backed down under international pressure. In 1998, it successfully managed to hoodwink the Western observers. More than 100 scientists from DRDO and BARC worked on the site, and they were always seen in Army fatigues. APJ Abdul Kalam, was christened Major Prithviraj - it was appropriate given that he was the team leader behind India’s missile - Prithvi. Just wonder if he introduced himself - the name’s Raj, Prithviraj!
One of the main aims of the people involved in Pokhran-II was to avoid raising suspicion. Their aim was to make sure whatever happens was as routine as possible. Given that it is a place in India, what better than to show things being routine than a game of cricket. This was done purely to get people to watch and to mislead the satellites that nothing untoward was happening and everything was routine. Clearly the cricket stumped everybody watching.
From IWTK, with love 💌
An Indian movie was inspired by an ad for a hilarious scene. Which movie?
Which South Indian film actress made her debut in an Aishwarya Rai song?
Only In India 🇮🇳
As they say, Peak Bengaluru happened to this poor lady.
❤️ IWTK