Index of Contents
Index of Contents............................................................................1
Acknowledgements..........................................................................2
Introduction....................................................................................3
Why India’s reaction was Justified...................................................5
History teaches everyone a lesson..................................................5
War fuelled Self-Preservation.........................................................7
Wicked Geo-Politics.......................................................................8
Global Non-Proliferation Regime....................................................9
Critics and their Economic Denunciation.....................................10
Nuclear Energy : Death-causing and Life-giving...........................11
Summary....................................................................................... 12
Bibliography..................................................................................13
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Acknowledgements
Many people assisted me in successfully finishing this project.
I want to thank everyone involved in this initiative. I’d like to
thank my Mentor, Mr. Kartik Asthana, who gave us a very
interesting and knowledgeable assignment on, “Was India
justified in becoming a Nuclear Power?”. His ideas and
comments aided in the completion of this project.
I am grateful to the college administration for providing me
with such a significant chance. Finally, I’d like to express my
gratitude to my parents and friends for their excellent
comments and guidance during the completion of this project
-Neelesh Ganguly
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Introduction
The world is not black and white. There is nothing completely
correct nor blatantly wrong anymore in this complicated
world. What might have been considered a straight question
in the days gone by, has more than 2 answers nowadays and
a simple agreement or disagreement to the same is regarded
as an incomplete answer.
In times like this, one needs to tread carefully, more so,
countries whose decisions can put a great number of people
at risk. With the rise of personal interests among all
countries, no country is stands as a true friend in modern
times. India is a geo-politically challenged country due to
constant threats from its neighbours, China and Pakistan,
while the others too are reluctant to support India. In a tense
situation like this, where border issues keep mounting, the
need for a strong military power is needed to safeguard
internal and external sovereignty.
The process of making India a nuclear power was inherently
illegal. The UN had recognized the importance of Nuclear
Disarmament and had held a Special Session of the General
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Assembly Devoted to Disarmament. The UN was vehemently
against the creation and expansion of Nuclear warhead
portfolios. However, the UN was to blame itself for hostile
conditions which led to countries forming nuclear weapon
programmes. If only the UN had stopped all countries from
producing and testing more atomic weapons, the world would
have been a much safer place to live in. What the UN
ultimately ended up doing was that they did not bat an eye
over the United States’ policy to build more weapons of mass
destruction.
Many people blame the United States for the starting the
Arms Race among countries to build a vast nuclear weapon
portfolio but the United Nations is equally to blame. The weak
and late enforcement of the policy of Nuclear Disarmament in
the UN saw countries like China and Russia begin testing and
producing atomic bombs at a rate never seen before. Co-
incidentally, this was the same time when India gained China
as an enemy instead of a friend i.e., during the Sino-Indian
War 1962. The need for India to strengthen itself was
imperative.
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Why India’s reaction was Justified.
The reasons as to why India was justified to become a nuclear
power are plentiful. The following reasons are why we became
a Nuclear Power:-
History teaches everyone a lesson.
India's history is one of resilience and struggle for
independence from colonial rule. The legacy of consequent
barbaric Mughal Rule & British imperialism impacted the
average Indian psyche, fostering a sense of independence and
determination. The trauma of being annexed by a foreign
power showed the Indian citizens, the importance of
safeguarding their national interests and sovereignty.
Post-independence, India's commitment and determination to
maintain its strategic autonomy was paramount. In a world
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polarized by the Cold War, India chose the path of Non-
Alignment, and refused to align completely with any of the
superpowers. This decision was driven by a desire to remain
independent and have freedom to pursue national interests
for the population of India. However, the evolving global
security landscape, including the proliferation of nuclear
weapons, forced India to reassess its strategic position. Once
again, India could imagine a not-so-distant future, where the
superpowers could manipulate India to become dependent on
them. This was unacceptable.
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War fuelled Self-Preservation.
India's journey towards becoming a nuclear power was mainly
powered by the need to ensure its own security in a volatile
region, in a volatile situation. The 1962 Sino-Indian War and
the 1965 Indo-Pak War brought forward to light, the
vulnerabilities that India faced, prompting a thorough re-
evaluation of its defense capabilities. The 1971 Indo-Pak War,
which resulted in the creation of Bangladesh, blatantly
showed the twisted dynamics of regional security.
Nuclear weapons were meant to be seen as a mean to deter
potential adversaries from threatening India's territorial
integrity. As the old adage goes, “The best defense is a good
offense.” The doctrine of credible minimum deterrence
became the cornerstone of India's nuclear policy stating, “It
(the Doctrine of Credible Minimum Deterrence) underlines no
first use (NFU) with an assured second strike capability and
falls under minimal deterrence, as opposed to mutually
assured destruction.” In short, India would possess only the
necessary number of nuclear warheads to deter aggression.
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The possession of nuclear weapons acted as a safeguard
against any hostile intentions from neighbouring countries,
enhancing India's security posture.
Wicked Geo-Politics
India's decision to pursue nuclear capability was highly-
influenced by the geopolitical realities of its neighbouring
countries and their behaviour towards India. The existence of
nuclear-armed neighbours, namely China and Pakistan,
introduced a highly complicated security dilemma. China's
nuclear program and its support for Pakistan's nuclear
ambitions added a layer of uncertainty to India's strategic
calculations.
The 1998 Pokhran-II nuclear tests were a watershed moment
in India's pursuit of nuclear power. These tests, conducted
under the leadership of the then Prime Minister, Atal Bihari
Vajpayee, sent a strong and impactful message to the
international community that India was determined to assert
its strategic autonomy and safeguard its national interests.
India was not ready to be a mute spectator. India's nuclear
tests were not a display of aggression and offense but rather a
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demonstration of its resolve to be recognized as a pwerful yet
responsible nuclear power.
Global Non-Proliferation Regime
Critics of India's nuclear pursuits often raise concerns about
the impact on the global non-proliferation regime. While it is
true that India's decision to test nuclear weapons challenged
and flouted the existing norms, it is important to note that
India did not intend to disrupt the non-proliferation efforts, in
fact, it always aimed to promote it. India's commitment to
disarmament and its responsible behavior as a nuclear power
have been evident in its adherence to a "no first use" (NFU)
policy and its support for a Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban
Treaty (CTBT).
India's quest for nuclear power has evolved in alignment with
its commitment to global disarmament. While countries like
South Africa were able to scrap their nuclear programs, India
was in an entirely different situation at that point in time. The
establishment of the Global Centre for Nuclear Energy
Partnership (GCNEP) reflects India's intention and
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determination to engage with the international community on
issues related to nuclear safety, security, and non-
proliferation. India's innate desire to play a constructive role
in shaping the global discourse on sensitive nuclear matters
compliments its responsible approach.
Critics and their Economic Denunciation of
Nuclear Power.
Critics often argue that India's interest and investment in
nuclear weapons and warheads, minimizes and diverts
resources from sectors of the country which need more help
and resources such as education, healthcare, and poverty
alleviation. The same can be said about ISRO and Space
Exploration. However, this perspective overlooks the perfectly
balanced relationship between security and development. A
secure environment is an important prerequisite for economic
growth and human development. By ensuring its security,
India creates a conducive atmosphere for progress in various
sectors.
Moreover, India has maintained a policy of self-reliance in its
defense. Modern planes, tanks and even guns like the AK
203, are being made for the military on our own. The pursuit
of indigenous technological advancements in the nuclear
domain has led to the development of widespread scientific
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expertise and technological innovations that have wider
applications beyond defense. These advancements contribute
and stand as a reminder to India's technological prowess and
its ability to address multifaceted challenges.
Nuclear Energy : Death-causing and Life-giving.
India's pursuit of nuclear power is not only about warheads
and missiles; it is also about harnessing nuclear power for
peaceful purposes. The establishment of the Department of
Atomic Energy (DAE) in 1954 marked India's commitment to
utilizing nuclear energy for societal and environmental
benefits. Nuclear power generation has the potential to meet
India's growing energy demands in a manner which is
considered one of the cleanest sources of power in the world.
The Indo-US Civil Nuclear Agreement, signed in 2008, is a
testament to India's aspirations to expand its existing nuclear
energy sector while adhering to global non-proliferation
norms. This agreement facilitated India's access to civilian
nuclear technology and fuel, opening up avenues for
collaboration in nuclear research and development.
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Summary
I, being a self-respecting citizen of India, wholeheartedly
believe that India’s Nuclear Policy was 100% justified. Ever
since the beginning of the Arms Race and the Cold War, the
definition of the term “Peace” has changed drastically. Peace
used to mean co-operative efforts, wholesome environment
and all things good. Nowadays, Keeping the peace (or
preventing war) means having a bigger stick than the other
guy.
This thought-process of offensive-defense is very dangerous to
the peaceful coexistence of countries; especially Geo-
Politically threatened countries like India. However, it is
literally the only way to ensure external sovereignty in the
post-Cold War times. India is no longer as non-violent as M.K.
Gandhi wanted it to be, but it is a good thing. If countries like
China and Pakistan have repeatedly been hostile to India,
there is no reason for India to step-back from defending itself.
If India would have been as Non-Violent as Tibet in 1950, it
would not be where it is today. And I am proud of India for its
zeal to protect its citizens.
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Bibliography
The following books and websites were used by me to
complete this assignment on my own and on time:-
Websites:-
1. [Link]
2. [Link]
weapons-elimination-day
3. [Link]
4. [Link]
explained-history/operation-smiling-buddha-nuclear-
first-test-pokhran-history-8616714/
Books:-
1. Indian Nuclear Policy - Harsh Pant, Yogesh Joshi
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