This is a non-fiction by Amitav Ghosh, first published in 1999,
after India tested out the nuclear devices near Pokhran. Media published the
event as a great advancement for India and announced its time has arrived. Many
thought of nuclear bomb as more than a weapon, it may not be used stop small wars
but it can avoid a big one and can bring influence in the global pecking order
where India is suppressed for long, from colonial times. Few disagree with it
and think nuclearization is a threat and if put to wrong to use it can hurt lives
of millions.
Amitav travels to Pokhran to learn what the natives think of
it and to see the effects of the nuclear explosion in first person. He arrives at
Delhi to meet with George Fernandes, the then defense minister who was a critical of
nuclear weapons, but made a decision for India go ahead with the tests. George thought five
nations who possess nuclear weapons cannot say to rest of the rest world how to
behave. Author along with a group of journalists travels to Kashmir along with the
defense minister where he gets to meet with defense personnel and know their
opinions on the nuclear weaponry.
He then travels to Pakistan, meets a religious group head, a
Govt. official, social activists, and many journalists to get their side of opinion.
A religious head opines that in the event of a war, there is always a threat that
nuclear weapon would be used. During the discussions it comes out that Kashmir
is not the principal problem between India and Pakistan. Though both sides are
not determined to resolve the issue, but even if it is solved, other issues
would take center stage. Water sharing would become an issue; trade may suffer
for any reason. A Muslim being mistreated in India can trigger protests and
violation in Pakistan and vice versa.
The author later explores the damage caused by the use of a
nuclear weapon and its impact on the social life, immediately and in the times
to come. He references a study made by M V Ramanna (Bombing Bombay?: http://www.ippnw.org/pdf/Bombay.pdf).
He concludes that nuclear programs of both India and Pakistan are more status driven
and not threat driven. But for this pride, they will have to run the risk of
nuclear accidents, war and the casualties they bring.
This is a small book (84 pages long); a quick read and the situations
led to writing of this book have gone through a cycle to come up again now.
While the world is more aware of the damages after the accident at nuclear power
plant in Japan, disarmament is still a distant dream. If Ukraine had its nukes, did Russia dared to annex Crimea? I suppose this thought itself would make Governments pump more
money into nuclear programs.
No comments:
Post a Comment