Countdown : Amitav Ghosh

The best account of the subcontinent's tryst with the N-bomb

We have all known Amitav Ghosh as the weaver of stories, bringing to life exotic locations and eras. This time he casts his focus on the nuclear dilemmas plaguing India and Pakistan and does so inimitably with style and precision.

On one side he relates the almost illogical underestimation of the nuclear threat on the Indian side who are rather seduced by the ephemeral promises of 'superpower-dom' and on the other hand the logical but overtly pessimistic view on the Pakistani side where there is a real sense of a country going to pieces.

The profiles of George Fernandes , the Indian defense minister at the time and the Pakistani human rights activist Asma Jehangir are beautifully done and are wonderfully illustrative of the politics in both countries. It is especially moving and tragic in many ways to see an idealist like George turned into a Realpolitik leader - the kind whom he criticized all his life. It succinctly shows what is wrong in our cynical politics today where men of ideals are 'spun and spun' by the system until they are hollow shells of their earlier selves.

There is also a wonderful account of the Siachen conflict and the futility of the entire endeavor made even more ludicrous and tragic by the fact that it was these two poor countries who were engaged in it. The description of the perils faced by the soldiers and their feelings are done in a very engaging way.

In the end there is a chilling dystopian description of a Delhi hit by a nuclear missile. This will bring to sense all the gung-ho supporters of the nuclear tests as they will realize what a horrible event they have conspired to bring into existence.

In the end this book despite its slim size espouses strong ideas against a nuclear world and along the way enlightens us also about the tragedy that is India-Pakistan politics. Two thumbs up!