Summary
Nuclear Power in India: A Critical History, is an unbiased account of the trials and tribulations faced by Indian scientists while working on the country’s nuclear power programme. An engrossing account of how engineers had to overcame not just technical snags, but also political ambitions, before they succeeded in testing two powerful nuclear bombs – in 1974 and 1998. Predictably however, the world did not take too kindly to India’s nuclear ambitions and all technical and monetary assistance that it had been receiving from other nuclear states, ceased abruptly. Not only that, these powerful nations placed various sanctions on the country, severely incapacitating its ambitious dreams of entering the coveted nuclear club. All further work on the country’s nuclear arsenal and power plants was therefore delayed. But these may now be things of the past, especially if the Indo-US nuclear deal comes through. This interesting history of India’s bombastic entry into the Power Club also includes balanced arguments on the controversial Hyde Act.