The atom bomb ended the war in the Eastern theatre. But it must be remembered that the war would have ended before long in any case, for the air raids on Japan had wrought greater devastation that the two bombs actually did.

What indeed shocked the conscience of the civilised world was the complete surprise, the spectacular nature of the explosions and the deadly atomic effects it created for long afterwards. It is astonishing that no moral question was raised on account of the air raids, the flame throwers or even the biological or gas warfare. On the other hand the mention of atom bombs sent a chill down the spine of people everywhere because of its grave possibilities.

Any discussion of the subject must take into consideration the fact that although the A-bomb is a very important weapon for the immediate future, it is far from being an absolute weapon. The reasons are three-fold. First, no nation is likely to have a really formidable stock pile of these bombs. Secondly, the method of delivery of these bombs is still both expensive and complex. And third, fairly successful means of protection against A-bombs are being devised.

From the stand point of explosive effects, the atom bomb scores heavily over ordinary high explosives. First, it may decrease the overall cost of devastating great cities. Second, it brings about a given amount of destruction instantaneously rather than over a longer period. Third, the atom bombs take much longer to deteriorate in effect as compared to other explosives. This last factor is important in view of the fact that nations prepare for a war in peace time when the date of war is a matter of conjecture, and quite a lot of money is wasted if ordinary ammunition is not used within its effective period.

In the early thirties of this century that Italian strategist Giulio Douhet declared that all means of making war other than air bombardment had become obsolete. The second World War proved so. But the atom bomb has not made any change in the art of waging war.

The post war experiments of the explosions of atom bombs held at Bikini and Monte Bello have provided valuable data on the effects of the bomb.

In order to fall in line with the great nations of the world, India will have to produce atom bombs.

All future wars will be global and in order to check any intending invader, we will have to attack him at his base and spell ruin to the war potential and morale of the enemy.

The preparation for the manufacture of A-bomb will give a fillip to the cause of the study of atomic fission and nuclear energy which could be harnessed for peace-time productive purposes and for the alleviation of human misery.

There is no ostensible hope of getting from other countries the blueprint for the formula of splitting the atom and the sooner we get down to the job on our own, the better it is for the country's prosperity.

India is lacking neither in raw materials nor in scientific man-power to undertake the job of manufacturing A-bombs. Why not, then, give scope to the talent in India which could embark on this undertaking only if the Government wants it. In other words our country should keep its scientists in laboratories, a lesson which the United Kingdom and the USA learnt almost too late.

India is a mere infant in the world of scientific advancement. We have yet to produce things like the radar and television. Therefore any talk of manufacturing atom bombs now is only living in fools paradise.

The manufacture of atom bombs will require much time and colossal expenditure , which only the highly industrialised and rich countries can afford. India can undertake this task at the expense of more pressing problems like increasing food production and raising the standard of living of the people.

The atom-bomb is not compatible with the beliefs and traditions of this great land of Buddha and Gandhi.

It is said that the production of the Hydrogen bomb will make atom a back number. If the H-bomb is well on its way to completion, what is the use of attempting to manufacture a weapon which will be of no importance.

The neutral foreign policy of India will not warrant the use of atom bombs, neither are India's potential or possible enemies likely to possess these bombs.