One of the defining moments in the history of independent India is the nuclear test carried out by the then Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in Rajasthan’s Pokhran. Code named as 'Mission Shakti', it was the second nuclear test undertaken by New Delhi, despite the warning issued by the global leaders. Pokhran II test turned India into a “full-fledged nuclear power”, in a world where only strength adds to a nation’s diplomatic weight. May 11, 1998, the day when the ground-breaking Pokhran II tests were carried out, is ever since referred to in India as National Technology Day.

On the National Technology Day 2019, it is worth recalling and revering the nuclear test which prepared India to take on the mightiest of military powers in case of a conflict. The Pokhran II tests also neutralised the threat posed by Pakistan, which had upgraded its nuclear arsenal before India. National Technology Day 2019: History and Significance of the Day to Commemorate India’s Technological Advancements

State broadcaster Rajya Sabha TV, in the documentary shared below, showcases how the team of scientists led by the then DRDO chief APJ Abdul Kalam successfully carried out the nuclear test. It also highlights how the Vajpayee administration had succeeded in  outsmarting American spy agency CIA, which was keeping a satellite view on India’s nuclear bid.

Watch Video of Pokhran II & Insights From Technocrats Involved:

On May 11, one fission bomb and two fusion bombs were detonated by the team of Indian scientists and defence personnel at 3:43pm. Two days later, on May 13, two more fusion bombs were tested. In the vicinity, an earthquake measuring 5.3 magnitude on Richter scale was recorded.

The 1998 nuclear tests immediately drew sanctions towards India, with the US and Japan severing ties on trade and diplomatic front. India’s commitment to peace and reiteration of no-first use policy have turned things around, with the United States announcing in 2015 that New Delhi should be included in the nuclear suppliers group (NSG).

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 11, 2019 08:00 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).