Buddha Smiles Again -- Pokhran Nuclear Tests 1998

We know Pokhran-II was the series of five nuclear bomb test explosions conducted by India at the Indian Army's Pokhran Test Range in May 1998.It was the second Indian nuclear test; the first test, code-named Smiling Buddha, was conducted in May 1974. Pokhran-II consisted of five detonations, of which the first was a fusion bomb and the remaining four were fission bombs. These nuclear tests resulted in a variety of sanctions against India by a number of major states, including Japan and the United States. On 11 May 1998, Operation Shakti (Pokhran-II) was initiated with the detonation of one fusion and two fission bombs. On 13 May 1998, two additional fission devices were detonated, and the Indian government led by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee shortly convened a press conference to declare India a full-fledged nuclear state. In this talk I will share my experience being part of this historic moment our country witnessed. 

About the Speaker:

Colonel Sanjay Gokhale was commissioned into the Corps of Engineers in 1988 after passing out from the Indian Military Academy at Dehradun. He obtained B.Sc. (Physics) from St Xaviers College, Bombay, B.Tech (in Mechanical Engineering) from CME Pune and M.Tech from IIT Delhi. Col. Gokhale has served 29 years with the Indian Army and covered the length and breadth of the country in all terrains and combat zones. He was commander of the one of the sites which were exploded on 13th May 1998 during the Pokhran Nuclear Tests. Besides he served and led the Indian Army Engineers Contingent in United Nations Mission in Sudan during 2006-07. He has been awarded the Chief of Army Staff Commendation and the Army Commanders commendation card twice.