Pokhran 1

Friends, people of this generation have heard about the Pokhran 2 nuclear test, and recently a Hindi movie was also released , which was based on how the 2^nd nuclear test at Pokhran took place. Surprisingly people hardly know about the 1^st Nuclear test at Pokhran which took place in May 1975, how it happened is been described below

1^st Nucleat Test at Pokharan

Smiling Buddha  was a code name given to this project, afterwards it is generally known as 1^st Pokharan  Nuclear Blast. Officially the Ministry of External Affairs claimed as Peaceful nuclear explosion, but it was actually an accelerated nuclear program.

Back Ground- After Independence, then PM Nehru authorized Homi Bhabha for starting Nuclear Program in Country. In 1954 Bhabha started the nuclear  program toward weapons Design & Production. First was creation of Atomic  Energy Establishment at Trombay, Bombay, and other was creation of Government Secretariat Department of Atomic Energy, Homi Bhabha being the 1^st Secretary of this department. USA & Canada agreed to provide and install CIRUS research nuclear reactor at Trombay. There was understanding that this reactor will be used for peaceful purpose. Next step was of commissioning Plutonium production plant, which was done between 1962- 64.

By 1962, the nuclear program was progressing at very slow rate, as Nehru’s Govt  suffered heavy losses during Chinese war and know how help was not coming forth from USSR, as they were seriously involved in  Cuban missile Crisis. In the end it was evident that if India has to progress in this field, they have to do themselves. Design work started under the leadership of Bhabha. It again received a setback after the 1965 Pakistan war. After Indira Gandhi became Prime Minister, the program again picked up. Homi Sethna, a Chemical Engineer, played a major role in development of weapon grade plutonium, while Ramanna designed and manufactured the whole nuclear device. It was done very secretly employing mere 75 scientists. During this period Homi Bhabha died in a Plane Crash and Ramanna took over as Head of the program.

In 1968-69,  team from India lead by PK Iyengar visited USSR and toured the nuclear research facilities at Dubna. They were impressed by Plutonium fueled based fast reactor. India also decided to go in for the production Plutonium based nuclear reactors, and its manufacturing began in 1969. The team members for this project included PK Iyengar, Ramanna, Homi Sethna & Vikram Sarabhai.

In Sept 1972, Indira Gandhi authorized BARC to manufacture nuclear device and prepare for a test. Army’s top brass was also informed about this test. The “Smiling Buddha” became code name for this device.

The fully assembled device of Hexagonal Cross Section with 1.25 meter in dia, weighed about 1.5 ton, and was mounted on hexagonal metal tripod and transported by rail to test site under the supervision of army in top secrecy. The device was placed in a shaft 107 meters below the ground. The operation was kept so secret that External Affair Minister was informed 48 hours before blast, and Defence Minister Jagjivan Ram came to know only after the blast. From the Army Gen GG Bawoor-the Army Chief, and the commander of Indian Western Command, were  the only commanders who were kept informed on day to day basis on later stages of the Project.

The parts of nuclear device were manufactured at various location in the country, but every thing was finally assembled at Trombay under supervision of  Indian Scientists and Engineers. The device was then transported to Pokhran and was fired at 8.05 am on 18^th May 1974 at army test range at Pokhran in Thar desert of Rajasthan.

The news of this nuclear blast took the entire world by surprise, there were wide spread criticism and dis belief in western world. They were wondering how India could blast a nuclear device without much help from the other nations who were expert in nuclear technology.

In 1975, homi Sethna, a chemical engineer and the chairman of the Indian Atomic Energy Commission (AECI), Raja Ramana, Chief of BARC were awarded  Padma Vibhushan, India’s second highest civilian award. Five other project members received the Padma Shri award.

After this, Indira Gandhi popularity rose to un precedent levels, but this popularity was short lived, as in July 1975 she proclaimed Emergency, and rest is history.

Waiting for your views/comments/feed backs.

WISHING ALL MY FRIENDS A VERY HAPPY DEEPAVALI.

Anil Malik

Mumbai, Maharashtra

6^th Nov 2018.