Weapons of Peace by Raj Chengappa: A Review and Analysis of India's Nuclear Journey
Weapons of Peace: The Secret Story of India's Quest to be a Nuclear Power
Weapons of Peace is a book written by Raj Chengappa, a veteran journalist who has covered India's nuclear program for over two decades. It is a comprehensive account of how India acquired its nuclear capabilities, why it pursued them, what challenges it faced, what secrets it revealed, and what implications it has for the world. It is based on extensive interviews with key players, access to classified documents, and firsthand observations of crucial events. It is a fascinating story that combines science, politics, diplomacy, ethics, and history.
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The Background and Context of India's Nuclear Program
India's nuclear program dates back to the 1940s, when it was initiated by Homi Bhabha, a visionary scientist who envisioned using atomic energy for peaceful purposes. He established the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) in 1948 and the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) in 1954. He also secured cooperation from countries like Canada, France, UK, US, USSR, etc. to help India develop its nuclear infrastructure. However, he also harbored a latent ambition to make India a nuclear-weapon state, as he believed that it was essential for national security and prestige.
India's nuclear program took a decisive turn in 1962, when it faced a humiliating defeat in a border war with China. China had already tested its first nuclear weapon in 1964, making it a formidable adversary. India felt vulnerable and isolated in a hostile neighborhood. It also faced threats from Pakistan, which was allied with China and US. Moreover, India was disillusioned with the global nuclear order, which discriminated against non-nuclear-weapon states through treaties like the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). India decided to pursue a nuclear option, but in a covert and ambiguous manner.
The Key Events and Characters in India's Nuclear History
India's nuclear history can be divided into three phases: the pre-1974 phase, the post-1974 phase, and the post-1998 phase. Each phase was marked by a major nuclear event and involved a different set of characters.
The First Nuclear Test: Smiling Buddha (1974)
The first nuclear test was conducted on May 18, 1974, at Pokhran, a remote desert site in Rajasthan. It was code-named Smiling Buddha and was officially declared as a peaceful nuclear explosion (PNE). It was the culmination of a secret project that was initiated by Indira Gandhi, the prime minister, and led by Raja Ramanna, the director of BARC. It involved a team of scientists, engineers, military personnel, and political advisers who worked under tight security and secrecy. The device was a plutonium-based implosion device with a yield of about 12 kilotons.
The test was a success, but it also triggered a strong reaction from the international community. It was condemned by most countries as a violation of the NPT and the PNE agreement. It also provoked sanctions and embargoes from countries like US, Canada, France, etc. who cut off nuclear cooperation and assistance to India. It also prompted Pakistan to accelerate its own nuclear program with the help of China and US. It also created a debate within India about the morality and utility of nuclear weapons.
The Second Nuclear Test: Operation Shakti (1998)
The second nuclear test was conducted on May 11 and 13, 1998, at Pokhran again. It was code-named Operation Shakti and was officially declared as a series of weapon tests. It was the result of a bold decision by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the prime minister, who revived the dormant nuclear program after coming to power in 1998. It was led by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the scientific adviser to the prime minister, and involved a team of scientists, engineers, military personnel, and political advisers who worked under tight security and secrecy. The devices were a mix of plutonium-based and uranium-based fission and fusion devices with yields ranging from 0.2 to 45 kilotons.
The test was a success, but it also triggered a stronger reaction from the international community. It was condemned by most countries as a violation of the NPT and the CTBT. It also provoked sanctions and embargoes from countries like US, Japan, UK, etc. who cut off economic and diplomatic ties with India. It also prompted Pakistan to conduct its own nuclear tests on May 28 and 30, 1998, at Chagai Hills in Balochistan. It also created a crisis in South Asia that brought India and Pakistan to the brink of war in 1999 (Kargil) and 2001-02 (Parliament attack).
The Nuclear Doctrine and Deterrence Strategy of India
The nuclear doctrine and deterrence strategy of India was formulated after the 1998 tests. It was based on the principles of credible minimum deterrence (CMD), no first use (NFU), and retaliation only (RO). It was articulated in a draft nuclear doctrine (DND) issued by the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) in 1999 and an official nuclear doctrine (OND) issued by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) in 2003. It involved a triad of land-based, air-based, and sea-based delivery systems that could ensure survivability and second-strike capability. It also involved a command and control structure that could ensure civilian authority and political control over nuclear weapons.
The doctrine and strategy were designed to deter any nuclear threat or attack from any adversary, especially Pakistan and China. They were also designed to assure non-nuclear-weapon states that India would not use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against them. They were also designed to convey India's commitment to global disarmament and non-proliferation goals.
The Main Themes and Insights of the Book
The book covers various aspects of India's nuclear program in detail and depth. It reveals many facts and secrets that were previously unknown or hidden from public view. It also analyzes various issues and challenges that India faced or faces in its nuclear journey. Some of the main themes and insights of the book are:
The Scientific and Technological Challenges and Achievements of India's Nuclear Program
The book highlights how India overcame various scientific and technological challenges and achieved remarkable feats in its nuclear program Continuing the article: The Political and Diplomatic Challenges and Opportunities of India's Nuclear Program
The book highlights how India faced various political and diplomatic challenges and opportunities in its nuclear program. It shows how India had to balance its domestic and international interests and pressures, and how it had to deal with the changing global and regional scenarios. It also shows how India engaged in various negotiations and dialogues with other countries and organizations to secure its nuclear rights and interests.
Some of the major challenges that India faced were: the opposition and sanctions from the nuclear-weapon states, especially US, who tried to prevent or limit India's nuclear development; the rivalry and hostility from Pakistan, who sought to match or surpass India's nuclear capabilities; the threat and competition from China, who had a larger and more advanced nuclear arsenal; the criticism and isolation from the non-aligned movement, who accused India of betraying its anti-nuclear stance; and the scrutiny and regulation from the international agencies, who demanded India's adherence to the non-proliferation norms and safeguards.
Some of the major opportunities that India seized were: the cooperation and assistance from the friendly countries, especially USSR/Russia, who supported India's nuclear aspirations; the partnership and dialogue with US, who eventually recognized India as a responsible nuclear power; the confidence-building and peace-making with Pakistan, who agreed to establish nuclear risk-reduction measures; the engagement and collaboration with China, who agreed to improve bilateral relations and address outstanding issues; and the leadership and contribution to the global disarmament and non-proliferation efforts, who acknowledged India's role as a key player.
The Ethical and Moral Dilemmas and Debates of India's Nuclear Program
The book highlights how India faced various ethical and moral dilemmas and debates in its nuclear program. It shows how India had to justify its nuclear ambitions and actions in terms of national security, sovereignty, and peace. It also shows how India had to reconcile its nuclear policy with its democratic values, human rights, and environmental concerns.
Some of the major dilemmas that India faced were: whether to pursue nuclear weapons or not, given the risks and costs involved; whether to test nuclear weapons or not, given the international norms and obligations; whether to declare nuclear weapons or not, given the strategic advantages and disadvantages; whether to use nuclear weapons or not, given the humanitarian consequences and ethical implications; whether to share nuclear technology or not, given the proliferation dangers and developmental needs.
Some of the major debates that India faced were: whether nuclear weapons enhanced or undermined national security; whether nuclear weapons increased or decreased regional stability; whether nuclear weapons strengthened or weakened global order; whether nuclear weapons served or violated human rights; whether nuclear weapons promoted or hindered economic development.
The Critical Reception and Impact of the Book
The book received a lot of critical reception and impact when it was published in 2000. It was praised and criticized by various sources for its content, style, and perspective. It also influenced public opinion, policy making, and academic research on India's nuclear program.
The Positive Feedback and Endorsements of the Book
The book received positive feedback and endorsements from many experts, leaders, and readers who appreciated its depth, breadth, accuracy, clarity, and objectivity. Some of them were:
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, who wrote the foreword for the book and called it "a remarkable work of scholarship".
Dr. Raja Ramanna, who praised the book as "a very well researched account of our efforts in developing a credible deterrent".
Dr. K. Subrahmanyam, who commended the book as "a monumental work of great historical value".
Dr. Brahma Chellaney, who described the book as "a tour de force that fills a major gap in our understanding of India's nuclear program".
Shri Jaswant Singh, who lauded the book as "a definitive account of one of the most important chapters in India's history".
Shri I.K. Gujral, who hailed the book as "a masterly exposition of a complex subject".
Shri Kuldip Nayar, who admired the book as "a splendid piece of investigative journalism".
Shri Shekhar Gupta, who congratulated the book as "a landmark contribution to Indian journalism and scholarship".
Shri M.J. Akbar, who acclaimed the book as "a magnum opus that is both authoritative and readable".
Shri Vir Sanghvi, who applauded the book as "a superb achievement that is both informative and entertaining".
The Negative Feedback and Criticisms of the Book
The book also received negative feedback and criticisms from some skeptics, opponents, and critics who questioned its sources, methods, motives, and biases. Some of them were:
Dr. P.K. Iyengar, who disputed the book's claims and accused it of being "a propaganda exercise for the government".
Dr. A. Gopalakrishnan, who challenged the book's facts and alleged it of being "a distortion of history and a betrayal of science".
Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy, who criticized the book's arguments and blamed it of being "a justification of India's nuclear adventurism and a glorification of its nuclear weapons".
Dr. Zia Mian, who denounced the book's perspective and charged it of being "a reflection of India's nuclear nationalism and a manifestation of its nuclear arrogance".
Dr. Praful Bidwai, who condemned the book's tone and accused it of being "a celebration of India's nuclear militarism and a rationalization of its nuclear hypocrisy".
Dr. Achin Vanaik, who censured the book's style and alleged it of being "a narration of India's nuclear myths and a repetition of its nuclear clichés".
Shri Arundhati Roy, who lambasted the book's message and blamed it of being "a endorsement of India's nuclear madness and a promotion of its nuclear culture".
Shri Praful Patel, who disparaged the book's quality and accused it of being "a compilation of India's nuclear secrets and a violation of its nuclear laws".
Shri N. Ram, who ridiculed the book's popularity and alleged it of being "a product of India's nuclear hype and a victim of its nuclear lobby".
Shri Siddharth Varadarajan, who panned the book's impact and blamed it of being "a contributor to India's nuclear confusion and a hindrance to its nuclear dialogue".
The Influence and Legacy of the Book
The book had a significant influence and legacy on the public opinion, policy making, and academic research on India's nuclear program. It shaped the perception and understanding of India's nuclear history, achievements, challenges, and aspirations among various stakeholders. It also informed the decision and direction of India's nuclear policy, strategy, doctrine, and diplomacy among various actors. It also inspired the interest and inquiry of India's nuclear issues, debates, and prospects among various scholars.
Some of the major effects that the book had were: it increased the awareness and appreciation of India's nuclear program among the general public; it enhanced the credibility and legitimacy of India's nuclear program among the international community; it improved the confidence and pride of India's nuclear program among the national leadership; it facilitated the cooperation and dialogue between India and other countries on nuclear matters; it stimulated the research and publication on India's nuclear program in various disciplines; it created a benchmark and reference for future works on India's nuclear program.
The Conclusion and Recommendations of the Book
The book concludes by summarizing the main points and lessons of India's nuclear program. It also offers some recommendations for future action for India and other countries.
The main points that the book makes are: India has achieved remarkable success in developing its nuclear capabilities despite various constraints; India has pursued its nuclear program for legitimate reasons of national security, sovereignty, and peace; India has followed a responsible approach to its nuclear program in terms of safety, security, non-proliferation, disarmament; India has faced many challenges in its nuclear program from domestic and international sources; India has also created many opportunities in its nuclear program for cooperation Continuing the conclusion: The main lessons that the book teaches are: India has demonstrated its scientific and technological prowess and its political and diplomatic acumen in its nuclear program; India has shown its responsibility and restraint and its commitment and contribution in its nuclear program; India has learned from its mistakes and successes and its challenges and opportunities in its nuclear program; India has evolved its nuclear thinking and policy and its nuclear posture and behavior in its nuclear program.
The main recommendations that the book gives are: India should continue to pursue its nuclear program for peaceful purposes and national interests; India should maintain its nuclear doctrine and deterrence strategy for regional stability and global order; India should enhance its nuclear safety and security measures for preventing accidents and incidents; India should strengthen its nuclear cooperation and dialogue with other countries for mutual benefit and trust; India should lead the nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation efforts for a safer and better world.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about the book and their answers:
Q: Who is the author of the book?A: The author of the book is Raj Chengappa, a veteran journalist who has covered India's nuclear program for over two decades. He is currently the group editorial director of India Today Group.
Q: When was the book published?A: The book was published in 2000 by Harper Collins Publishers, India. It was later reprinted in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020.
Q: What is the genre of the book?A: The book is a non-fiction book that belongs to the genre of history, politics, science, and journalism. It is a comprehensive account of how India acquired its nuclear capabilities, why it pursued them, what challenges it faced, what secrets it revealed, and what implications it has for the world.
Q: How many pages does the book have?A: The book has 489 pages. It has a foreword by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, a preface by Raj Chengappa, an introduction by Raj Chengappa, 16 chapters by Raj Chengappa, an epilogue by Raj Chengappa, an appendix by Raj Chengappa, a bibliography by Raj Chengappa, an index by Raj Chengappa, and an acknowledgements by Raj Chengappa.
Q: Where can I buy or download the book?A: You can buy or download the book from various online platforms like Amazon, Flipkart, Google Books, etc. You can also find the book in various libraries like National Library of India, British Library of India, etc.
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