The article explains the serious threat of nuclear weapons and the urgent need for humanity to act wisely to prevent a disaster.
It starts by comparing natural disasters, like the 2004 tsunami in India and the recent wildfires in California, to nuclear disasters.
Natural disasters strike suddenly and cannot be controlled by humans, but nuclear disasters are created by human decisions and can be avoided if we take responsible actions.
The history of nuclear weapons began in 1945 when the United States conducted the first nuclear test as part of the Manhattan Project.
This test revealed the extraordinary power of nuclear technology, with witnesses describing the explosion as both beautiful and terrifying.
Soon after, nuclear bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, killing hundreds of thousands of civilians.
These bombings caused massive destruction and left long-term impacts, showing how devastating nuclear weapons can be.
After these events, many scientists and intellectuals began speaking out against the dangers of nuclear weapons.
Philosopher Bertrand Russell warned that humanity was facing a choice: we could work together to prevent nuclear war, or we could face extinction.
In 1955, he and physicist Albert Einstein issued the Russell-Einstein Manifesto, a call for world leaders to focus on peace and avoid nuclear war.
Their message—“remember your humanity and forget the rest”—reminds us to prioritize human survival over political or military ambitions.
India has played an important role in promoting peace and disarmament. In 1955, the Indian National Congress passed the Avadi Resolution, which condemned nuclear weapons as a threat to civilization and called for a global ban on their production and use.
The resolution urged the United Nations to raise public awareness about the dangers of these weapons.
Later, in 1988, Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi proposed a detailed plan for a world without nuclear weapons, showing India’s dedication to global peace.
Despite these efforts, the problem of nuclear weapons has not gone away. Today, nine countries, including India, have a combined total of over 12,000 nuclear warheads.
Although this number is much lower than the 60,000 warheads during the Cold War, the risk of a nuclear disaster remains high.
Rising tensions between countries, such as Russia and NATO, and conflicts in regions like Israel and Palestine, make the situation more dangerous.
Advances in technology, including artificial intelligence and cyber capabilities, increase the chances of nuclear weapons being misused or falling into the wrong hands, which could lead to catastrophic consequences.
The article also reflects on the lack of strong leadership today compared to the past. During the Cold War, people like Bertrand Russell, Albert Einstein, and Joseph Rotblat, who left the Manhattan Project for ethical reasons, actively worked to prevent nuclear war and promote peace.
Today, however, there seem to be fewer leaders or scientists willing to take bold stands on this issue. This lack of urgency and moral clarity is concerning because the risk of nuclear conflict is growing.
The article emphasizes that nuclear war is not a distant or imaginary threat—it is a very real danger that could happen at any time.
Unlike natural disasters, this is a crisis that humans have the power to stop if we act wisely and responsibly.
The author calls for India to take the lead in organizing a global effort to address the problem of nuclear weapons.
By bringing countries together and promoting discussions about disarmament, India could play a key role in protecting humanity from the unimaginable destruction that nuclear weapons could cause.
The overall message of the article is that nuclear weapons are the greatest danger to humanity, but this danger is entirely preventable.
It urges leaders and nations to prioritize peace, make responsible decisions, and take action to ensure a safer future for all. The time to act is now, as the threat of nuclear weapons grows stronger with each passing day.
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The Editorial Page of The Hindu is an essential reading for all the students aspiring for UPSC, SSC, PCS, Judiciary etc or any other competitive government exams.
This may also be useful for exams like CUET UG and CUET PG, GATE, GMAT, GRE AND CAT
To read this article in Hindi –https://bhaarat.hellostudent.co.in/