When the United States Unleashed Atom bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki 80 years ago, the world saw for the first time the destructive power of nuclear weapons. These occasions not only signaled the end of World War II but also the beginning of the nuclear age, which massively changed world politics and brought up difficult moral and ethical questions.

The Destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

In 1945, On August 6 and August 9 respectively, Hiroshima & Nagasaki were struck by atomic bombs (Little Boy & Fatman) by U.S Airforce. The immediate impact was cataclysmic: tens of thousands of people were killed instantly, and many more died in the following days due to injuries and radiation sickness. The cities were reduced to rubble, and the survivors, known as hibakusha, faced long-term health issues and social stigma. Their stories serve as a bitter reminder of the human cost of a nuclear war.

On August 10, just one day after the bombing of Nagasaki, the Japanese government agreed to surrender as per Potsdam Declaration.

What is Potsdam Declaration?

The Potsdam Declaration, a proclamation issued on July 26, 1945, by the United States, China, and the United Kingdom in Potsdam, Germany, which outlined the terms for Japan’s unconditional surrender in World War II. By this time, Germany had already surrendered. The declaration included a direct warning that the Allied forces would use extreme destructive force if Japan did not comply with the surrender terms.

Despite this, Japan continued to fight, keeping the Pacific region in a state of war, even though the conflicts in Europe had concluded. As a result, U.S. convinced itself, given the situation, to use this unknown, first-of its kind, deadly atom bomb on Hiroshima & Nagasaki.

What is the difference between an Atom Bomb and a Nuclear Bomb?

Atom Bomb

• Mechanism: Relies solely on nuclear fission reactions.
• Process: Splits the nuclei of heavy elements like uranium-235 or plutonium-239.
• Examples: The bombs dropped on Hiroshima (“Little Boy”) and Nagasaki (“Fat Man”) during World War II.
• Destructive Power: Significant, but generally less powerful than fusion-based bombs.

Nuclear Bomb

• Mechanism: Can involve either nuclear fission, fusion, or a combination of both.
• Process: Fission Bombs: Like atomic bombs, they split heavy atomic nuclei, but also
• Fusion Bombs (Thermonuclear or Hydrogen Bombs): Use the energy from a fission reaction to initiate a fusion reaction, where light nuclei such as hydrogen isotopes combine to form heavier nuclei, releasing extremely massive & lethal energy.
• Examples: Hydrogen bombs, which are much more powerful than atomic bombs.
• Destructive Power: Generally greater than atomic bombs due to the additional energy released from fusion reactions

All Atom Bombs are Nuclear bombs, but all Nuclear bombs are not Atom bombs.

The Birth of the Nuclear Age

The nuclear bombing of Hiroshima & Nagasaki caused the beginning of the nuclear age, with sunset of Japanese empire.

Scientists like Robert Oppenheimer, who played a key role in the development of the atomic bomb, later reflected on the moral implications of their work.

“Now I become Death, the destroyer of worlds”

Robert Oppenheimer- Scientist, Atom Bomb Developer Quoted from Indian Scripture The Gita and Said after seeing the destructive power of Atom Bomb Explosion

The concept of “nuclear peace” emerged, based on the idea that the obliterative & massively destructive power of nuclear weapons would deter nations from engaging in full-scale wars. This period of uneasy peace has been based on “Mutual assured destruction” characterized by the constant threat of nuclear annihilation.

The use of nuclear weapons has caused continued ethical debates. Some argue that the bombings were necessary to end World War II and save lives, while others contend that they were unjustifiable acts of mass destruction. The principle of nuclear deterrence, which is reasoned with the threat of mutual assured destruction, raises further ethical questions about the morality of maintaining and potentially using such weapons.

What is a Mutual Assured Destruction- MAD?

Mutual assured destruction, principle of deterrence is based on the notion that a nuclear attack by one country would be met with an overwhelming nuclear counterattack such that both the attacker and the defender would be annihilated. This principle makes various nuclear-powered countries to contribute to a strategic peace, yet nuclear armed.

80 Years of Nuclear Peace after Hiroshima & Nagasaki and Nuclear Disarmament

Hiroshima & Nagasaki, after nuclear explosions, have had a profound impact on peace and nuclear disarmament efforts globally. The bombings marked the end of World War II and at the same time, prompted a global effort towards preventing the use of such destructive weapons again.

Over the past 80 years, there have been intense efforts to cut down the global nuclear arsenal. Key treaties, such as the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of nuclear weapons (NPT) and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), have aimed to restrict the spread of nuclear weapons and promote disarmament. Despite these efforts, progress has been slow, and the goal of a nuclear-free world remains uncertain.

What is NPT & CTBT?

The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of nuclear weapons (NPT) is an international treaty aimed at preventing the spread of nuclear weapons and promoting peaceful uses of nuclear energy. It focuses on non-proliferation, disarmament & peaceful use.

The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) is a multilateral treaty that bans all nuclear explosions for both civilian and military purposes. Since 1996. As of now, 187 countries have signed the treaty, and 178 have ratified it. However, it has not yet entered into force because eight specific nations have not ratified it. CTBT focuses on ban on nuclear explosions and international monitoring system to verify nuclear tests.

Today, the threat of nuclear weapon persists. Nations continue to modernize their nuclear weapons, and geopolitical tensions in 21^st Century can quickly escalate into nuclear standoffs.

List of Nuclear-Powered Countries:

1. United States
2. Russia
3. United Kingdom
4. France
5. China
6. India
7. Pakistan
8. North Korea
9. Israel (Undeclared but widely believed to have nuclear weapons)

The challenge of achieving nuclear disarmament is compounded by emerging technologies and the risk of nuclear proliferation including nuclear ambitions of more countries. It is crucial for the international community to passionately push its commitment to disarmament and work towards a future where the horrors of Hiroshima & Nagasaki are never repeated.