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Countdown Hardcover – January 1, 1999

by Amitav Ghosh (Author), GHOSH (Author)

4.2 78 ratings

Transcript of author's talks with cross-section of people from India, Pakistan, Nepal on the nuclear tests conducted by India and Pakistan in 1998.

Length

108
Pages
Language

EN
English
Publisher

Distributed by Orient Longman
Publication date

1999
January 1
ISBN-10

8175300256
ISBN-13

978-8175300255
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Edward Luce
178
Paperback
82 offers from $1.73
Upamanyu Chatterjee
246
Paperback
47 offers from $1.43

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Distributed by Orient Longman; 1st edition (January 1, 1999)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 108 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 8175300256
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-8175300255
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.1 pounds

Best Sellers Rank: #8,348,896 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.2 78 ratings

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About the author

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Amitav Ghosh

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Amitav Ghosh (born 11 July 1956), is a Bengali Indian author best known for his work in English fiction.

Bio from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Photo by David Shankbone (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons.

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4.2 out of 5

78 global ratings

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Amazon Customer

Thrilling count down!

Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2016

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Four stars but that's only because I find his fiction superlative and this is journalistic.Nevertheless, it is journalistic writing at its best!

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Amazon Customer

Very informative & analytical.

Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2012

This is the first non-fictional work that I read of Amitav Ghosh, and his craft of being profound yet comprehensible makes this 85 pager an very good read. It was, partially, published as a newspaper article and hence the style is that of a journalistic piece to begin with. However, by the 85th page, one feels as if having completed a proper long-form work of non-fiction. This essay is based on the May 1998 nuclear tests, first by India and then followed closely by Pakistan as a retaliation. As a journalist-author, Ghosh travels to Pokharan, the site of the tests, only to realise that the "symbol" of self-reliance and prestige that the tests were supposed to be, is actually a time-bomb ticking to someday decimate South Asia. The immediate aftermath of the 1974 tests introduced cancer, deformed births and skin diseases to the neighbouring villages around Pokharan. The 1998 tests would perhaps bring in more than just disease and deformities.

A "rising" India desperate to showcase itself as a regional power, and an internally diseased Pakistan hurtling towards civil disintegration, are both bleeding themselves on huge investments on defence and military, avoidable costs that could be better utilised for the actual welfare of their respective people. This general observation in the essay holds true still, even almost 12-13 years from the publication of this essay.

Ghosh travels to Siachen, Pakistan and various corridors of power in New Delhi, conducting interviews and discussions with civil society members, nuclear scientists as well as politicians. While not every perception may be viewed equally by the people of out two countries, but the overall conclusion is the same- this game of misconceived one-upmanship is the result of the lack of caring leadership at the highest levels, rather than a real defence need. A sentence somewhere in beginning portion of the essay perhaps captures the essence of the writer's conclusion: he describes the Parliament House as "An establishment of power where rules that are made to govern the whole nation radiate outwards in decreasing circles of effectiveness".

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J. Marren

A scary picture

Reviewed in the United States on June 17, 2005

This slim little volume is a study of the psychology and reality of India's and Pakistan's nuclear policies, and it is scary indeed. Ghosh begins by describing the nuclear test by India in 1999, conducted aboveground in total disregard for the safety of the people in surrounding areas. Amazingly, celebrations in the streets of towns and cities followed. Ghosh says that for these two countries the weapons are a status symbol allowing them to take a place at the table of "world powers." As he traveled and interviewed people on the subject, he found their views of the tests a mixture of fantasy and niavete. He feels India has made a tragic error in its struggle with its historical enemy--relying on nuclear weapons, India has given up its historical advantage of superior conventional forces, leaving it to defend itself with a weapon that will only invite a horrible counter-attack. Ghosh ends with a minute analysis of the aftereffects of an attack on New Delhi. Interestingly, the immediate death toll, he says, would only (only!) be in the 200,000 range, but the destruction of the infrastructure, the loss of records, and most of all the suffering of those unlucky enough to survive, would precipitate a horrible national collapse. One can only ask "Why?"

4 people found this helpful

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Prem Kumar

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

Reviewed in India on August 21, 2014

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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 defence 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 criticised 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 endeavour 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!

6 people found this helpful

Nikita verma

Thumbs up!

Reviewed in India on June 17, 2016

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It is worth reading as it provides view points from both sides- India as well as Pakistan.

Amazon Customer

A good perspective

Reviewed in India on February 10, 2022

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While most Indians and Pakistani public would rejoice nuclear programmes in their own country. Threat and liabilities for more and extremely dangerous

Rohit

Countdown

Reviewed in India on May 4, 2021

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I don't know about Amitav Ghosh. But after reading this book. I recommend studying this book and increase your knowledge.

Tathagata Chanda.

Very informative book espacially for whome those are interested to ...

Reviewed in India on September 25, 2016

Verified Purchase

Very informative book espacially for whome those are interested to know the nuclear explosions on Indian subcontinent.It covers the valuable information about former defence minister George Fernandes,Siachen glacier,Chinese attack in 1962 and possible effects of nuclear fallout in the subcontinent.

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Countdown Hardcover – January 1, 1999

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