S4E2: Homi Bhabha and The Travancore Diplomacy | Atomic India | 2

Indian scientists and politicians carried out vigorous discussions on how to organize advanced scientific research on an industrial scale in India as a means of development between 1938 and 1948.

This episode revisits some of those conversations about the management of scientific research.

At the same time, it looks into the politically charged process of the integration of princely states into the Indian union with particular reference to Travancore. Travancore had been planning to build an independent economy on the strength of its reserves of radioactive Thorium. Since 1945, when its utility as an atomic fuel was revealed, the value of Thorium shot up in the international market.

However, Nehru and the nationalist Indian scientists virtually forced Travancore to surrender its entire reserve to India’s absolute control.
Control over all material related to nuclear research thus emerged as a necessary attribute of the sovereignty of the new Indian state.

You can follow us and leave us feedback on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @eplogmedia,

For advertising/partnerships send you can send us an email at bonjour@eplog.media.

If you like this show, please subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts, so other people can find us. You can also find us on https://www.eplog.media

DISCLAIMER: The views expressed on all the shows produced and distributed by Ep.Log Media are personal to the host and the guest of the shows respectively and with no intention to harm the sentiments of any individual/organization.
The said content is not obscene or blasphemous or defamatory of any event and/or person deceased or alive or in contempt of court or breach of contract or breach of privilege, or in violation of any provisions of the statute, nor hurt the sentiments of any religious groups/ person/government/non-government authorities and/or breach or be against any declared public policy of any nation or state.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.