National Technology Day 2022 : India’s most defining milestones in the history of India’s Technology Programmes, Mission to further scientific and technological advancement is the successful nuclear tests done in 1998 in the Pokhran region of Rajasthan. India’s then prime minister, Atal Vihari Bajpai led the mission of making India an independent nuclear power.
India celebrates National Technology Day on May 11 as it was on this day in 1998 the country successfully conducted the famous Pokhran nuclear tests.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed his “gratitude” towards the scientists and their “efforts” that led to the “successful Pokhran tests in 1998” on the occasion of National Technology Day. Remembering the “exemplary leadership” of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, PM Modi stated that he showed “outstanding political courage and statesmanship.”
Among the fields India saw a commendable growth and development after its independence is science and technology. With various advancements in the sector, India has climbed its way up in the list of countries that are potential superpowers in the coming future.
“Today, on National Technology Day, we express gratitude to our brilliant scientists and their efforts that led to the successful Pokhran tests in 1998. We remember with pride the exemplary leadership of Atal Ji who showed outstanding political courage and statesmanship,” PM Modi wrote on Twitter. He also shared a video of the Pokhran tests along with the Twitter post.
A team of dedicated scientists, researchers and engineers worked hard on the Pokhran mission with other nuclear powers rejecting India’s foray. The mission was a secret as India did not want to garner international attention and criticism.
The nuclear tests in Pokhran were conducted at the Indian Army’s Pokhran Test Range. A series of five explosions were carried out in order to do a successful test. The ‘missile man’ of India, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam was the guiding star of the Pokhran tests.
After completing the successful test, India’s then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee declared India a nuclear state. The mission was codenamed Operation Shakti and was carried out in disguise as the other five existing members of the ‘nuclear club’ opposed its propagation.
The success of the mission is considered a really big milestone in India’s journey because the technology being used in the country over two decades ago was not fully equipped to undertake the mission. Under the circumstances that were there during the Pokhran nuclear tests, its success had set the bar very high.
Today, India has climbed its way up in the list of countries that are potential superpowers in the coming future.
