Law Kumar Mishra | Team TrickyScribe: At exactly 10:30 AM on this very day in May 1998, the arid desert of Pokhran in Rajasthan became the epicenter of global headlines. Five underground nuclear tests were conducted by India in rapid succession, cementing its status as a nuclear power. Known as Operation Shakti, the tests were as much a show of technological prowess as they were of political resolve.
But this wasn’t the first time Pokhran hosted such a powerful act. The very first test in the region took place on 18 May 1974, when Indira Gandhi was Prime Minister. Back then, it was termed a “peaceful nuclear explosion.” Fast forward 24 years, and the 1998 tests under the leadership of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee marked a strategic shift—India was no longer just signaling power; it was claiming it.
Why Pokhran? The Desert’s Secret Advantage
Situated 128 kilometers north of Jaisalmer and 400 kilometers from Jaipur, Pokhran was not selected randomly. Its sandy terrain, remoteness from human settlements, and natural cover offered by sand dunes made it the perfect site for underground nuclear explosions.
What made the preparations even more remarkable was the extraordinary level of secrecy maintained. Despite the high-stakes nature of the operation, even the then Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, was kept in the dark. Frequent visits by top scientists like Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Raja Ramanna, Anil Kakodkar, and D. Rajagopalan raised no suspicion, all thanks to meticulous planning and logistical camouflage.
The Great Disappearance: Where Did All the Onions and Potatoes Go?
While the political and scientific community buzzed with hidden activity, the residents of western Rajasthan were puzzled. Despite an excellent harvest, there was a mysterious shortage of potatoes and onions in the local markets. Districts like Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Pali, and Jalore had produced record crops—but the vegetables had vanished.
The explanation came only after the successful tests. Over 1,000 tons of potatoes and onions each had been secretly buried underground at the test site, on the advice of nuclear experts. The vegetables served a highly specialized purpose: mitigating the effects of radiation and ensuring the structural integrity of the test environment.
Food as Technology: When Vegetables Became Strategic Assets
In an ingenious move, the layers of potatoes helped anchor the nuclear devices in the loose desert soil. Meanwhile, onions acted as chemical sensors. During the explosions, their color changed to blue, signaling the success of the test in terms of radiation and temperature.
It wasn’t just a scientific breakthrough—it was a fusion of traditional knowledge with modern defense technology. This fusion ensured that no collateral damage occurred during the explosions, a rarity in nuclear testing history.
National Leaders Witness History
The day after the tests, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Defense Minister George Fernandes, and Chief Minister Bhairon Singh Shekhawat visited Pokhran to inspect the site. The success was resounding. Even when economic sanctions were swiftly imposed by the United States, Vajpayee remained unfazed. He stood firm, declaring India’s right to secure its borders and strategic interests.
The Pokhran tests changed India’s global standing forever. It was no longer a tentative regional player—it had now entered the big leagues of global geopolitics.
Operation Sindoor: A New Chapter in Strategic Assertion
Fast forward to May 11, 2025. Speaking at the inauguration of the BrahMos Integration and Testing Facility Centre in Lucknow, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh drew a direct line from Pokhran to Operation Sindoor, India’s recent multi-front counter-terrorist offensive.
“Operation Sindoor was not just a military action, but a symbol of India’s political, social and strategic willpower,” he declared in his address. The operation, conducted in retaliation for terror attacks on Indian soil, highlighted India’s new doctrine of active defense.
From surgical strikes after Uri, to air strikes after Pulwama, and now the multi-pronged response to the Pahalgam attacks, the message is loud and clear: India will not remain passive in the face of terror.
The BrahMos Hub: Powering the Future from the Heartland
The inauguration of the BrahMos Integration and Testing Facility in Lucknow is not just symbolic—it’s strategic. Spanning over 200 acres and built at a cost of Rs 300 crore, this facility will integrate and test components like Booster subassemblies, Avionics, Propellant, and Ramjet engines.
It aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) and aims to turn India into a global hub for defense manufacturing and exports.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh emphasized that BrahMos is more than a missile—it’s a message of deterrence. A confluence of Indian and Russian defense technology, the supersonic cruise missile represents the cutting edge of India’s defense capabilities.
A New Economic and Strategic Ecosystem Emerges
Beyond missiles, the BrahMos facility is an economic game changer. Over 500 direct and 1,000 indirect jobs have already been created. Companies are lining up to invest in critical materials, drones, UAVs, aircraft parts, and textiles in Uttar Pradesh.
With 180 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) signed in the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor and Rs 4,000 crore already invested, the state is becoming the new defense manufacturing powerhouse of India.
The government is targeting not just self-reliance but also export leadership. With global military expenditure soaring past $2.7 trillion, India aims to seize its rightful share in this lucrative sector.
Strength Respects Strength
Quoting Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Raksha Mantri said, “Unless India stands up to the world, no one will respect us. In this world, fear has no place, only strength respects strength.” These words resonate now more than ever.
India, once bound by caution and global opinion, is now a nation unafraid to project power, defend its sovereignty, and contribute to global stability.
Pokhran to Lucknow: A Journey of Resolve and Renaissance
From a hidden desert test site in 1998 to a state-of-the-art missile complex in 2025, India’s journey reflects the fusion of vision, science, and strategy. What began with buried vegetables and coded secrecy has evolved into open innovation and industrial scale-up.
And as India continues to rise—both as a defense power and a strategic force—it does so with a legacy rooted in strength, shaped by visionaries, and carried forward by institutions committed to a safer, self-reliant nation.
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