If one met with an accident, how many days do you think he'll take to survive the mental and physical illness? Maybe a month, a year, or probably until the person becomes normal.
But still, a country is yet unable to survive a 76-year-old nightmare. Everyone probably guessed what country it is right? It's Japan. The people, the government, and even every Unborn child are still unable to survive the nuclear bomb blast of Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end Of World War 2.
Though their main enemy Germany surrendered, the war against Japan in the Pacific Ocean continued. To prevent having too many US casualties, the then President Harry.S.Truman ordered them to use their new weapon to end the war soon.
Though their main enemy Germany surrendered, the war against Japan in the Pacific Ocean continued. To prevent having too many US casualties, the then President Harry.S.Truman ordered them to use their new weapon to end the war soon.
That incident happened on the 6th and the 9th of August 1945, took almost four lakh lives. Many people lost their families and after a few months, many people died from injuries, effects of burns and malnutrition.
But this is not a problem. People till now have radiation in their genes, which is haunting their generations after 76 years. Let's understand what a nuclear weapon is and how an unexpected country becomes a responsible and deterrent nuclear power.
What is a Nuclear Weapon?
Nuclear weapons are the first true Weapons of mass destruction invented by humans. There was no such kind of weapon before 1945 that could take a million lives in a few minutes or hours. No country had such a powerful weapon before 1940. But now more than five Nations can destroy the world within a few seconds with very few explosives.
There were only two kinds of famous explosives and two kinds of injuries. The RDX and TNT are the most common names; they are the traditional and most convenient method used in bombs and the injuries can be either by blast or by fire.
A nuclear device or bomb is much smaller than a traditional device, but it is a thousand times more powerful than a traditional TMT device. The worst part is that it can emit radiation. Apart from the deaths that happen during the explosion and fire, many people and their generation will pay the price. While a certain amount of TNT destroys a street, the same quantity of nuclear weapons can destroy an entire City.
Nuclear devices or bombs use the technology of Fission and Fusion in creating massive destruction with a few hundred tons. The first fission atomic bomb’s power is equal to 20 thousand tons of TNT bombs. The first thermonuclear (hydrogen) bomb which is based on the principle of nuclear fusion has the power of 10 million tons of TNT bombs.
What is a Nuclear Weapon?
Nuclear weapons are the first true Weapons of mass destruction invented by humans. There was no such kind of weapon before 1945 that could take a million lives in a few minutes or hours. No country had such a powerful weapon before 1940. But now more than five Nations can destroy the world within a few seconds with very few explosives.
There were only two kinds of famous explosives and two kinds of injuries. The RDX and TNT are the most common names; they are the traditional and most convenient method used in bombs and the injuries can be either by blast or by fire.
A nuclear device or bomb is much smaller than a traditional device, but it is a thousand times more powerful than a traditional TMT device. The worst part is that it can emit radiation. Apart from the deaths that happen during the explosion and fire, many people and their generation will pay the price. While a certain amount of TNT destroys a street, the same quantity of nuclear weapons can destroy an entire City.
Nuclear devices or bombs use the technology of Fission and Fusion in creating massive destruction with a few hundred tons. The first fission atomic bomb’s power is equal to 20 thousand tons of TNT bombs. The first thermonuclear (hydrogen) bomb which is based on the principle of nuclear fusion has the power of 10 million tons of TNT bombs.
So far Hiroshima and Nagasaki are the only places ever in human history that bore the brunt of a nuclear blast. Approximately 85% energy of nuclear weapons produced is a blast (shock) and thermal energy (heat). The remaining 15% of the energy is only radiation.
History of Nuclear Development
In 1939, when the US got information about German’s nuclear development which could be a threat, then-President Roosevelt ordered the development of nuclear weapons in the USA. The first nuclear weapon was tested on 16th July 1945 in New Mexico. The project was named ‘Project Manhattan’. It was a secretive yet successful project. Hence the USA officially became the first country to have nuclear weapons.
History of Nuclear Development
In 1939, when the US got information about German’s nuclear development which could be a threat, then-President Roosevelt ordered the development of nuclear weapons in the USA. The first nuclear weapon was tested on 16th July 1945 in New Mexico. The project was named ‘Project Manhattan’. It was a secretive yet successful project. Hence the USA officially became the first country to have nuclear weapons.
The second nation was the USSR in the year of 1949. In 1952, the United Kingdom became the third country to have nuclear weapons. The nuclear test in 1964 made China the fourth nuclear power country. France detonated its first thermonuclear weapon in 1968. An unexpected nation apart from the P5 joined the nuclear club at an unexpected time.
Peaceful Nuclear Explosive:
When the US had its first nuclear test in the 1940s, Homi Jehangir Bhabha, the father of the Indian Nuclear program, induced the government to develop its nuclear power even before Independence. China's nuclear test was the key for India to have its own.
Peaceful Nuclear Explosive:
When the US had its first nuclear test in the 1940s, Homi Jehangir Bhabha, the father of the Indian Nuclear program, induced the government to develop its nuclear power even before Independence. China's nuclear test was the key for India to have its own.
But till 1954 India's PM Nehru was against it and it didn't approve. Even till 1964, India's PM Lal Bahadur Shastri was against it, so the power process was a bit slow. But they used to develop nuclear power for electricity as it is a good source of generating power.
When Indira Gandhi came to power in 1966, she approved the project and gave her support. But Bhabha died in the same year. The scientists in TIER and BARC carried out the project.
India’s First Nuclear Test:
The Prime Ministers before Indira Gandhi were all Gandhians and they wholeheartedly believed in the weapon of non-violence. They were against nuclear weapons.
India’s First Nuclear Test:
The Prime Ministers before Indira Gandhi were all Gandhians and they wholeheartedly believed in the weapon of non-violence. They were against nuclear weapons.
Indira Gandhi herself being a Gandhian and nonviolence practitioner, believed in strength and toughness. She believed that being a nuclear power could develop India's image among other countries and it can even act as a shield.
The project was carried out and the scientists in TIER and BARC completed it. The date was selected. The Historical moment of India's first nuclear test was carried out on 18th May 1974, shook the world. It was called Pokhran-I.
Why Pokhran?
Weapon tests are always conducted in deserted areas where there is less habitation. But nuclear tests being more powerful and having the ability to emit radiation can’t be tested like other weapons.
Why Pokhran?
Weapon tests are always conducted in deserted areas where there is less habitation. But nuclear tests being more powerful and having the ability to emit radiation can’t be tested like other weapons.
Other than less habitation, it must be safe. So, the government selected a place called Pokhran in the Thar desert. Since that place is in the army testing range and under the control of the Indian Army, it is very easy to find a spot.
The ‘Smiling Buddha’:
The code name for the success of the test was ‘Smiling Buddha’, named after Lord Buddha. Even 18th May was selected because of this code name reason as it was Buddha Purnima, Lord Buddha's birthday.
The ‘Smiling Buddha’:
The code name for the success of the test was ‘Smiling Buddha’, named after Lord Buddha. Even 18th May was selected because of this code name reason as it was Buddha Purnima, Lord Buddha's birthday.
The code name was created so that no spy agency, belonging to any nation around the world monitoring India's activities, could know what had happened.
Government’s Declaration:
The government declared that the nuclear test was done only to improve India's technology and it'll make India a ‘self-reliant nation’ and be used as a deterrent. The motto was not to produce nuclear weapons.
The Outcome of the Test:
The P5 Nations were disappointed and wholly against the nuclear test. The NSG (Nuclear Suppliers’ Group) Council was formed. The NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty) which was in talks from 1968 was sanctioned. The nuclear technology and fuel which was being imported from Canada and the USA were banned and no other country was permitted to do so. Even the fuel for the test was imported from Canada.
Even though India became the sixth nuclear power in the world after the 1974 test, it faces many economic and political struggles. Canada and the US, who helped India set up nuclear power, banned the trade.
Government’s Declaration:
The government declared that the nuclear test was done only to improve India's technology and it'll make India a ‘self-reliant nation’ and be used as a deterrent. The motto was not to produce nuclear weapons.
The Outcome of the Test:
The P5 Nations were disappointed and wholly against the nuclear test. The NSG (Nuclear Suppliers’ Group) Council was formed. The NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty) which was in talks from 1968 was sanctioned. The nuclear technology and fuel which was being imported from Canada and the USA were banned and no other country was permitted to do so. Even the fuel for the test was imported from Canada.
Even though India became the sixth nuclear power in the world after the 1974 test, it faces many economic and political struggles. Canada and the US, who helped India set up nuclear power, banned the trade.
Only the USSR showed its understanding and helped India in the hard times. India couldn't develop much; it doesn't have the technology and scientists to develop nuclear power.
Two decades later, India was forced to have the nuclear test again to show its power.
Written By - Riduvarshini. P
Edited By - Akash Verma
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