Ahmedabad26 minutes ago
- copy link
Twenty…fifteen…ten..five..three…zero… 107 meters below the ground there was a great explosion with a loud bang, which shook the surrounding earth. A cloud of dust rose in the sky as if a sand volcano had erupted… even time stood still for a while.
This twenty-second scene witnessed by the scientists doing the reverse counting at the observation tower was a tremendous milestone in the political history of India. Because after these twenty seconds, India had achieved its expected goal of becoming a nuclear power nation.
afternoon of 11 May 1998
The then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Home Minister LK Advani, Defense Minister George Fernandes, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Jaswant Singh and Advisor Brijesh Mishra were sitting at 7 Race Course Road residence in Delhi, 650 km away from Pokhran in Rajasthan. There was seriousness in the sitting room. The question on everyone’s mind was whether the test would be successful or not?
Meanwhile, suddenly the bell of the hotline phone broke the silence. Brijesh Mishra immediately picked up the phone and got good news from the front… ‘Nuclear test successful!’ On hearing this, the room erupted in thunderous applause. Because, it was India’s second nuclear test: Operation Shakti. Exactly twenty-five years ago, amidst adverse circumstances, India had introduced its real strength to the whole world.
Behind this Dr. Homi Bhabha, Dr. Homi Sethna, Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, Dr. R.K. It was the hard work of veteran scientists like Chidambaram and Dr. Anil Kakodkar. However, out of these heroes Dr. Anil Kakodkar is the only one among us now. Kakodkar played a key role in both the 1974 and 1998 Test programs. He was honored with three highest awards namely Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan for his outstanding contribution.
On this occasion, Divya Bhaskar had a special conversation with Anil Kakodkar to know the complete condition of that day. Let’s take a look at the flashback before the conversation with Dr. Anil Kakodkar begins…
Flashback…
Eight months after independence, the Atomic Energy Act was passed. Indian Atomic Energy Commission was formed. The then Prime Minister Nehru wanted to develop the capability to make an atomic bomb. Dr. Homi Jehangir Bhabha established the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Mumbai. After this, the Department of Energy was established in 1954, whose secretary was Dr. Bhabha.
Shastri ji fell alone. India was badly defeated by China in the 1962 war. Two years later, in 1964, China conducted its first nuclear explosion. China had now become a nuclear nation. Due to this, the demand for making atomic bomb arose from the then Government of India. There was also a Jana Sangh in this party.
Lal Bahadur Shastri became the Prime Minister after Nehru. It is said that in the beginning Shastriji was against making atomic bombs. Because of this, he also had differences with Dr. Homi Bhabha. After this, Dr. Bhabha gave a public speech in favor of making atomic bomb keeping in mind the security of India. He said- India is capable of making atomic bomb in one and a half years only.
This statement of Bhabha alienated Lal Bahadur Shastri in his own party. There was a fierce debate in the Lok Sabha on this in November. The Jana Sangh made a proposal in favor of making an atomic bomb, which was rejected. But in view of the deteriorating situation, Shastriji had to change his mind and he also stood in favor of Dr. Bhabha.
Lal Bahadur Shastri died suddenly during the Tashkent Agreement after the 1965 war. In the same year Dr. Homi Bhabha also mysteriously died in a plane crash. The sudden deaths of two of the country’s most important figures involved in the nuclear program are still a mystery. Many types of speculations are made regarding this.
Now let’s talk about the 1974 nuclear explosion…
After Shastriji, Mrs. Indira Gandhi took over as the Prime Minister and Dr. Vikram Sarabhai was appointed in place of Dr. Bhabha. However, Sarabhai was also not in favor of the atomic bomb. Indira Gandhi was also influenced by his thoughts. But after the 1971 war, Indira Gandhi changed her mind about the atom bomb. Adviser PN Haksar also advised Indira Gandhi- ‘Madam, the strength of a country rests not only on its principles, but also on its military and nuclear weapons. After this, Indira Gandhi gave green signal to India’s nuclear program. Apart from this, many political challenges had also arisen against Indiraji, in view of which it was necessary for him to take such a big step. At the same time, nuclear testing was the only way left to save the declining popularity among the public due to corruption and inflation.
India’s first nuclear test took place on 18 May 1974. This explosion was done underground, from which 12 kilotons of TNT energy was released. However, there is still a dispute regarding its yield. Regarding this, American scientists had claimed that this test of India was only partially successful. The purpose of this test of India was to see whether the nuclear device explodes or not.
However, countries including America, Britain, China were angered by this test and they imposed many restrictions on India. The US had also stopped the supply of fuel to the nuclear facility at Tarapur.
PV Narasimha Rao said to Vajpayee- ‘I could not do it, you do it…’
However, governments kept changing after this and the fear of America kept hovering around India’s nuclear program. A turning point in India’s nuclear program came under the government of PV Narasimha Rao. Because, Narasimha Rao had great interest in nuclear testing. Narasimha Rao asked the scientists to be prepared. However, Narasimha Rao’s wish also remained unfulfilled. Because America had got a clue of India’s atomic plan. The American government had also warned the Indian government. Narasimha Rao had to postpone the test due to US pressure. According to some analysts, the scientists were not ready in time. After this, Narasimha Rao handed over its responsibility to his successor Vajpayee government. Narasimha Rao had told Atal Bihari Vajpayee in sign language – ‘I could not do it, you must do it…’.
Abdul Kalam was made the chief of DAE
As soon as he came to power, Vajpayee took steps towards nuclear testing. On 19 March 1998, Vajpayee appointed R. Chidambaram as the head of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and Abdul Kalam as the chairman of the Defense Research Development Organization (DRDO). During this, Anil Kakokar was the director of the Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC).
Vajpayee had given India the green signal for another nuclear test.
Further story, in the words of Anil Kakodkar…
The biggest challenge before India was only one, to keep this mission a secret. Avoiding the prying eyes of American satellites hovering in the sky was also a big challenge. Indian scientists went underground to maintain the secrecy of the mission. Now all the scientists used to be in army uniform. All the scientists were given codenames. Dr. Kalam ‘Major’s codeword was – General Prithviraj’, R. Chidambaram – ‘Major General Nataraj’, director of the test site K. Santhanam was named ‘Captain’. ‘My very simple codename was ‘Uncle’.
Plutonium in a Box of Apples!
A team of DRDO scientists was sent to Jodhpur on May 7. Drilling was started in the field to distract American satellites. A large number of army jeeps and other vehicles were also parked here. The plan behind this was that the entire scene should appear to the satellites as an army drill. We were successful in this as well.
Ten days before the test i.e. on 1 May, a cargo plane ANUM-32 was parked at Mumbai’s Santacruz airport. Within minutes four Indian Army trucks arrived. Five wooden crates were unloaded from the truck and loaded onto the plane.
What was in the five wooden boxes was also a matter of curiosity for the crew members of the aircraft. These boxes were safely transported to Pokhran through trucks. In fact, the box, which looked like a box of apples, contained plutonium shells. The weight of one ball was about five to ten kilos.
Dr. Kalam had promised me
Dr. Kalam was also a little hesitant during the test. We all knew very well that after this test India would face a lot of sanctions. Also, the test will have to be done very safely. Because, if there is a slight mistake, it will have a fatal effect on the surrounding villages. In thermonuclear testing, first we had to ensure that the surrounding villages were not damaged. APJ Abdul Kalam was also troubled by the same fear. For this, he had also taken a written guarantee from me. However, luckily that didn’t happen and we were successful.
The names of the three pits were – Kumbhakarna, Taj Mahal and White House.
Five shafts (pits) were made for the test. The name of one of them was ‘White House’, which was 200 meters deep. The name of the second shaft was ‘Taj Mahal’ which was 150 meters deep. The name of the third shaft was ‘Kumbhakarna’, which was 100 meters deep. Firstly, on the night of 10th May, the nuclear device was set in Kumbhakarna. After this, on May 11, the devices were sealed at 4 am in the White House and at 7.30 am in the Taj Mahal.
Now we were eagerly waiting for the test. Strong winds started blowing a few hours before the test. In such weather, the possibility of spreading radiation increases a lot. We kept saying to each other when this cloud of dust in the desert would settle down. After three hours of waiting the storm calmed down and at 3.45 in the afternoon three blasts were made. Our ‘Operation Shakti’ was successful.
…but I’m not too surprised!
Dr. Anil Kakodkar further says – The trial was successful, so I was happy that it happened as expected. If you are not sure about the success of your work then there are surprises after success. But I was sure that we would succeed, so I wasn’t too surprised. Prime Minister Vajpayee first met DRDO Chairman APJ Abdul Kalam R.K. Chidambaram, Chief Advisor Dr K Santhanam and congratulated me.
India has done three nuclear tests..!
After some time Vajpayee came out of his residence. Addressing the media, announced – India has conducted three nuclear tests. A fission device, a low yield device and a thermonuclear device have been tested. It has not spread any kind of radiation in the atmosphere. Two days later, on 13 May, two more nuclear tests were conducted at Pokhran. The entire operation was kept top secret. Even Vajpayee’s aides Advani and George Fernandes came to know after the test.
On 20 May, Rod Vajpayee personally visited the Pokhran nuclear test site along with Defense Minister George Fernandes.
When this nuclear test came under severe criticism after several economic sanctions were imposed on the country, Vajpayee reminded the opposition of Indira’s nuclear program in 1974. Along with this, Vajpayee expressed confidence in the MP by talking about ‘no first use’. Pledged not to use nuclear weapons against a non-nuclear nation. After this, the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee wrote a letter to the then US President Bill Clinton. In which he wrote, ‘I am worried about the security of India for the last several years. We have an aggressive nuclear power on our border. A country which attacked India in 1962. Relations between the two countries have improved significantly over the past decade, but mistrust remains due to the border dispute. You will understand our concern for the security of India.
Pakistan did 6 tests after 15 days
Just fifteen days after India’s nuclear test, Pakistan also conducted six nuclear explosions. It was clear from this that Pakistan had already become a nuclear nation with the support of China.
Atalji and Indiraji Thekakodkar, the great leader, still gets emotional about the memories associated with Indira Gandhi and Vajpayee. Talking about the 1974 Test, Indiraji had invited all of us to a party after the 1974 Test. It was Indiraji who hosted the party and inspired all of us. During this he talked to every member of the team. At that time I was only 31 years old. It was a very memorable event in my life.
On the other hand, remembering an incident related to Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Kokodkar says – Vajpayeeji had a knee operation. The doctors had instructed to be very careful. After the consent of the doctors, Vajpayee attended a program at the Bhabha Atomic Research Center. A directive came from Vajpayee’s office that his chair should be rigid and 22 inches in size to avoid straining his knees.
We reserved a room for Vajpayee to take rest. There was a regular chair in the room. Only Vajpayee and I were in the room. Food was arranged in the afternoon. Meanwhile, I noticed that the 22 inch chair suggested by Vajpayeeji’s staff was not comfortable. ‘Vajpayeeji, you are not having trouble with this chair. Isn’t it?’ On asking this, Vajpayeeji also said yes. Meanwhile, I arranged another chair for him, so Vajpayeeji sat on it and laughed. Because, we both knew that chair was not comfortable.
Should India conduct more nuclear tests?
Finally, when this question was asked to Dr. Anil Kakodkar, he replied, ‘We have shown the world as a unanimous nuclear power. But getting involved in an arms race is not right. There is no point in competing that you have so many weapons and we have so many weapons. It is enough to scare your enemy once. In such a situation, creating instability in the world by conducting nuclear tests is not welcome. India is a peaceful country, which believes in universal peace. However, our defense should be very strong so that no one should mistake our calmness for weakness.