Great Anniversaries of Peace Initiatives a Role for India

Great Anniversaries of Peace Initiatives a Role for India

2025, is the 80th year of the  world’s first nuclear weapon test. It is also the 80th year of the first use of the bomb that had been tested over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Introduction

In the minutes before the deadliest tsunami in India’s memory tore through its south-eastern shores on December 26, 2004, people living in those parts were just being themselves making love, lamenting or celebrating their destinies.

Impact of Wildfires

  • Pre-Wildfire Scene: Seconds before the wildfires ravaged a large part of Los Angeles, people were immersed in different states of exhilaration.
    • They marveled at the beauty of the surroundings—the clear blue sky, the sea reflecting the azure hues, while others shopped, discussed the country’s future under Trump and Musk, or expressed their emotions through celebration or worry.
  • Impact of the Calamity: The devastation left many speechless, unable to fathom the scale of the disaster. The wildfires were seen as a force of nature, unpredictable and uncontrollable, with people struggling to cope with the aftermath.

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Historical Dimension

  • First Nuclear Detonation: The first detonation of a nuclear weapon, conducted by the United States under President Harry S. Truman’s orders, took place at 5:29 a.m. on July 16, 1945, as part of the Manhattan Project.
  • Witness Account: The sight of the detonation was described as piercingly sharp. General Thomas Farrell, a witness, reported, “The lighting effects beggared description…
    • It lighted every peak, crevasse, and ridge of the nearby mountain range with a clarity and beauty that cannot be described but must be seen to be imagined….”
  • Differing Reactions: Farrell’s Perspective: For General Farrell, the explosion’s fury appeared as something beautiful. 
    • Physicist Kenneth Bainbridge, who planned and executed the test, remarked, “We are all sons of …now,” leaving the elided word to the reader’s imagination.

Nuclear Test and Aftermath

  • First Nuclear Test: 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the world’s first nuclear weapon test.
  • Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki: The same year also marks the 80th anniversary of the first use of the nuclear bomb, dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which killed between 150,000 and 246,000 people, mostly civilians.
  • Oppenheimer’s View: J. Robert Oppenheimer, the project’s director, reflected on the test by quoting the Bhagavad Gita, describing the destruction as “Death by the light and heat of a thousand suns.”
  • Bertrand Russell’s Warning: On the day the bomb fell on Nagasaki, Bertrand Russell began drafting a statement, expressing the dire future of humanity: 
    • “The prospect for the human race is sombre beyond all precedent… Either we shall all perish, or we shall have to acquire some slight degree of common sense.”

Russell-Einstein Manifesto

  • Manifesto Appeal: In 1955, Bertrand Russell and Albert Einstein, joined by nine other scientists, issued an appeal to global leaders urging action to prevent nuclear disaster.
  • Joseph Rotblat’s Role: Joseph Rotblat, the only scientist to leave the Manhattan Project on moral grounds, convened a press conference for the Manifesto’s release.
  • Call for Conference: The Manifesto called for a conference where scientists would assess the dangers of weapons of mass destruction to humanity’s survival.
  • Famous Phrase: One key phrase from the Manifesto, “Remember your humanity, and forget the rest,” became iconic.
  • Platinum Anniversary: 2025 marks the 70th anniversary of the Russell-Einstein Manifesto, a lasting symbol of hope for humanity.
  • Failure of Humanity: In the years that followed, humanity’s welfare has been neglected, and the pursuit of power and conflict has continued relentlessly.

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Present Dangers of Nuclear Conflict

  • Breakthroughs in Arms Control: Despite some positive steps, including breakthrough arms control agreements and partial test bans, the global nuclear arsenal remains substantial.
  • Danger of Nuclear conflict: The risk of nuclear conflict today is more real than ever. The immediate threat of a nuclear button being pressed is far more tangible than the unpredictable forces of nature, with the potential to annihilate all life on Earth.
  • Dangerously Close: The moment of destruction is dangerously close, and before the world can say “Stop!” humanity could be reduced to ashes—or worse.
    • This is not a mere fantasy or science fiction; it is a grave reality.
  • State of  Denial: Humanity is in a state of dangerous denial, just as it was when past calamities, such as those in 2004 and California earlier this year.

Avadi Resolution

  • Platinum Anniversary: 2025 marks the 70th anniversary of the Avadi Resolution, a key moment in India’s post-independence history.
  • Date and Context: On January 17, 1955, the Indian National Congress met in Avadi, Madras State, with leaders Jawaharlal Nehru and C. Rajagopalachari, and passed a resolution of great significance.
  • Nuclear Weapons Stance: The resolution condemned the development of atomic and hydrogen bombs, recognizing them as a threat not only to world peace but to civilization itself. It called for the total prohibition of such weapons to prevent global destruction.
  • Call for Global Action: The resolution urged the United Nations Disarmament Commission to raise awareness about the dangers of war and advocate for global disarmament.

Escalation of Nuclear Threats

  • Russia’s Nuclear Doctrine: Russia has revised its nuclear strategy, dismissing arms control as outdated and signaling a willingness to implement its nuclear options, especially as NATO missiles are deployed close to Russian territory.
  • Israel-Palestine Conflict: The Israel-Palestine region is precariously close to a nuclear tipping point, with tensions hanging over the possibility of nuclear escalation.
  • Non-State Actors: The acquisition of nuclear capabilities by non-state actors through cyber and AI technologies is not just a possibility, but a high probability, including access to the types of nuclear weapons the Avadi resolution warned about.

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Lack of Rational Voices

  • Absence of Visionary Scientists: Unlike past leaders such as Russell, Einstein, and Rotblat, there are no prominent figures today to warn the world about the dangers of nuclear escalation, especially with India now a nuclear weapons state.
  • Deterrence and Arms Control: Deterrence has become an esoteric concept, with arms control and test ban negotiations devolving into self-perpetuating rituals that offer no real solutions.
  • Threat of Annihilation: There is a looming possibility that the world may negotiate its way into annihilation or a catastrophic Armageddon, driven by illusions of vengeance and grandeur

Status of Nuclear Arsenals

  • Nuclear Weapons States: Nine countries, including India, are recognized as nuclear weapons states.
  • Stockpile of Warheads: As of 2024, the world holds approximately 12,100 nuclear warheads, a staggering number, though significantly reduced from the 60,000 that existed during the Cold War.
  • Reason for Hope: Despite the high number of warheads, there remains hope for reducing global nuclear threats.

Initiatives for Nuclear Disarmament

  • Scientific Inputs and Leadership: While scientific input played a role in the Avadi resolution, it was the leadership of the day that propelled its enactment.
  • Rajiv Gandhi’s Action Plan: In 1988, Rajiv Gandhi’s ‘Action Plan for a Nuclear Weapons Free and Non-Violent World Order’ reiterated India’s commitment to the ideals of Russell and Nehru.
  • Mani Shankar Aiyar’s Contribution: Aiyar’s recent book, A Maverick in Politics, highlights the importance of humanity and the disarmament cause, shedding light on the efforts of the past.

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Conclusion

It is high time India did something for peace, beyond what it has to impress upon Moscow and Kiev the importance of negotiation. As the Avadi resolution put it, the issue is not just about the need to halt belligerence but the need to save humanity.

Mains Practice Question:

Q. The Russell-Einstein Manifesto and India’s Avadi resolution highlight the importance of nuclear disarmament but remain largely symbolic in impact. Examine this statement in the context of modern nuclear disarmament efforts and suggest ways for India to take a leadership role in promoting global peace and arms reduction. (15 Marks, 250 Words)

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Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
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Quick Revise Now !
UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध

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