The 11th of May is celebrated as National Technology Day in India to commemorate the nuclear tests in Pokhran, Rajasthan in India under the Prime Ministership of Shri. Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji on the 11th of May, 1998. India tested 1 Fusion bomb and 2 fission bombs on the 11th May 1998. This was followed by a further testing of 2 fission nuclear bombs on 13th May, 1998.
The first nuclear tests were carried out in India under the premiership of Smt. Indira Gandhi. The second set of nuclear tests was conducted in 1998 under the leadership of P.M. Shri. Atal Bihari Vajpayee. A series of five nuclear bomb test explosions were conducted by India at the Pokhran Test Range in Rajasthan in May,1998.
The nuclear tests attained the main objective of giving India, the ability to build fission and thermonuclear weapons with yields up to 200 Kilo Tonnes. R. Chidambaram, then Chairman of the Indian Atomic Energy Commission said that each one of the explosions of Pokhran-II to be equivalent to several tests carried out by other nuclear weapon states over decades. Later, India would go on to develop nuclear simulation.
Thus, Pokhran -II consisted of a total of 5 detonations – 1 Fusion bomb and 4 fission bombs. The Code name of the tests was Operation Shakti. India became a full-fledged nuclear state post Pokhran – II.
Most successive governments since Indira Gandhi’s time lacked the spine to conduct the nuclear tests fearing international action. Prime Minister Narasimha Rao had decided to conduct nuclear tests in Pokhran in 1995 but the plan was abandoned after American spy satellites picked up signals of preparation of Pokhran nuclear tests.
The Chief Scientific adviser and Director of DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) Dr.A.P.J Abdul Kalam and Dr.R. Chidambaram, the director of the Department of atomic Energy (DAE) were the chief coordinators of the test planning.
A small group of senior scientists were involved in the detonation process. All scientists involved in the Mission were required to wear army uniform. The 58th Engineer regiment had learnt since 1995 how to avoid satellite detection. Most work was done at night and bomb shafts were dug under camouflage netting.
Dug out sand were shaped like desert sand dunes. Technical staff on the mission of the Nuclear Tests wore army uniform. Those who worked for the tests assumed pseudonyms. Members of DRDO, BARC (Bhabha Atomic Research Centre), Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research were all involved in the mission. At 3.43 p.m. IST, 3 nuclear bombs (Shakti I, Shakti II, Shakti III) were detonated simultaneously. Shakti I was a thermonuclear device yielding 56 kilo tonnes, Shakti II was a plutonium implosion, Shakti III was a linear implosion using plutonium). All were detonated on the 11th of May 1998. On the 13th of May, Shakti IV (0.5 K.T. experimental device) and Shakti V (0.2 Kilo Tonnes using thorium U- 233 device) were detonated.
The news of the nuclear tests was received with jubilation in India. However, the international community was displeased (so, what?) and ordered economic sanctions. The Congress Party also joined with the western powers in criticising India’s bravery. This is one of many times when the Congress Party revealed its anti-national tendencies. They also criticised the Surgical Strikes and the Balakot strikes.
However, the environmental impact of such nuclear tests is undeniably endlessly catastrophic. There are destructive effects on all forms of flora and fauna. It breaks the sensitive heart endlessly that the little worm, bird, plant and animal is not given equal attention and respect as the Human Being. Why does the Human Race assume that it is superior to the rest of Creation? Human beings are just a miniscule part of nature. That’s all that people are.
One truly prays that the nuclearization of all nations will stop and there are no nuclear weapons anywhere in our beautiful earth. The Nuclear arms Race must end. Otherwise, the world will be annihilated by nuclear weapons.
The Pokhran tests proved that the American intelligence had failed and was one of India’s most super successful secret missions in building national security.
It armed India with nuclear weapons. It also forced Pakistan to reveal its Nuclear Status. India could now occupy a high place in world politics.
Till 1998, there were only 5 nuclear countries. India became the harbinger to the entry of more nations to the Nuclear Club. It also normalised India’s civil nuclear programme. The tests also tested India’s relation with America. The U.S.A. President visited India. The nuclear tests increased our Indian pride and faith in home grown technology and scientists. May 11th is also commemorated as National Technology Day.
by Dr.S. Padmapriya, Ph.D.,
Educator, CHENNAI
