the US administration had convinced the Rao government to abandon the idea. This meant that Atal’s men had to conduct the test very carefully and ensure that there were no signs that a nuclear test was being planned. Extra precautions were taken by the nuclear scientists led by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (later to become the president of India) and the army commanders who were involved in the operation. As a result, the world at large only knew about the tests after Atal hurriedly convened a press conference at his residence post the event. People in India reacted positively, and even the stock
...more
