It’s been more than a decade since the Buddha smiled again.
A debate has exploded in the Indian media about the circumstances of India’s hydrogen bomb test, with a group of scientists questioning the yield of the test.
The government claimed a yield of 45 kilotons; while the sceptics say the yield was much less at 25 kilotons.
K. Santhanam who claims the thermonuclear bomb was a ‘fizzle’ called for more nuclear tests to develop hydrogen bombs.
The argument in a nutshell is that if India doesn’t have a bomb big enough with which it can threaten an adversary, then the adversary may be emboldened to carry out a nuclear strike.
However, many experts demur given the changed international environment.
The controversy came right before President Obama made a call for all UN states to ratify the NPT.
