In the scorching deserts of Pokhran half a century ago, an earth-shattering event rippled not only through the dunes of Rajasthan but also resonated within the global corridors of power. On May 18, 1974, India etched its identity into the annals of history as it conducted its inaugural nuclear test, clandestinely dubbed “Smiling Buddha.”
This historic moment marked a pivotal juncture in India’s trajectory, representing not merely a scientific milestone but a seismic realignment in the nation’s strategic stance. As the dust settled and the world grappled with the ramifications, the Pokhran experiment heralded the emergence of a new epoch, where India’s nuclear aspirations would mold regional dynamics and global narratives for decades to come.
”If India crafts an atomic arsenal, Whether we endure austerity or opt for abstention, we shall fashion a nuclear deterrent”… Pakistan, foreseeing India’s testing ambitions nine years prior, commenced its own nuclear pursuits.
May 18, 1974
It was a day when our nation showcased its technological prowess on the world stage, broadcasting a resolute message to neighboring bellicose states. Exactly five decades ago, India executed its maiden nuclear trial, standing resolutely alongside America, the Soviet Union, Britain, France, and China, asserting its might. It marked the inaugural instance of a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council conducting such a trial. Despite the ire of certain superpowers, who retaliated with sanctions, our nation persisted and continues its technological strides unabated.
Rationale Behind Nuclear Armament
India’s decision to pursue nuclear trials was underpinned by compelling factors. The specter of China’s incursion in 1962, coupled with its nuclear test in 1964, instilled apprehension in India, which found itself outmatched in conventional weaponry.
Furthermore, the perennial threat posed by Pakistan, with whom two wars had already been waged by 1965, necessitated bolstering national defense capacities. It was conclusively discerned that the development of nuclear armaments was imperative to safeguarding national interests and asserting dominance on the global stage.
During the Indo-Pak conflict of December 1971, the US dispatched its aircraft carrier USS Enterprise to the Bay of Bengal as a show of force. In response, the Soviet Union deployed a nuclear-armed submarine, prompting the American retreat. This event illuminated Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to the potency of nuclear armaments and ballistic missiles.
Origins of India’s Nuclear Endeavor
In 1944, Homi Jahangir Bhabha established the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), laying the groundwork for India’s nuclear program. Post-independence, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru sanctioned formal nuclear research.
Under Bhabha’s stewardship, strides were taken towards nuclear weapon design, with significant progress between 1954 and 1959. Following Bhabha’s demise, physicist Raja Ramanna assumed oversight of the nuclear research program.
Subsequent to Lal Bahadur Shastri assuming office as Prime Minister, physicist Vikram Sarabhai was appointed to lead the nuclear initiative. However, adhering to Gandhi’s principles, Shastri restricted the project to peaceful applications.
Upon Indira Gandhi’s return to power in 1966, the nuclear program regained momentum. On September 7, 1972, Gandhi authorized the Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC) to develop and prepare a nuclear device for testing.
”Operation Smiling Buddha”
Code-named “Operation Smiling Buddha,” India’s inaugural successful nuclear test bore significance by coinciding with Buddha Jayanti, the birth anniversary of Gautam Buddha. Designated as Pokhran -1 by the Ministry of External Affairs, it signaled a momentous milestone in India’s nuclear narrative.
“The Buddha has finally smiled,” conveyed Raja Ramanna, then-director of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi post-test success.
No radioactive emissions were detected: The fission device tested yielded no atmospheric radioactivity release.
India ascended as the sixth nation globally to conduct a triumphant nuclear test, marking the first confirmed such trial by a UN Security Council non-permanent member.
Global Reaction
Virtually all nations condemned India’s nuclear venture. Canada imposed stringent sanctions, and the US suspended aid. The Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) emerged in response to India’s nuclear tests, aimed at regulating nuclear-related exports.
Selection of Pokhran
Situated in the remote expanse of Rajasthan’s Thar Desert, Pokhran was chosen by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre for its rugged topography and climatic conditions.
The test’s timing in May coincided with sandstorms prevalent in the region, impeding aerial surveillance by American spy satellites. Moreover, the heightened daytime temperatures exceeding 50 degrees Celsius thwarted infrared sensor detection.
To safeguard the test’s secrecy, the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre opted for Pokhran as the test site. Following the detonation, it became dubbed “Operation Smiling Buddha,” while the Ministry of External Affairs referred to it as “Pokhran I.”