Lineages of the Present: Ideology and Politics in Contemporary South Asia

The book delves into the significant events of March 1998, when India conducted nuclear tests in the Rajasthan desert, ending a long-standing silence on its nuclear capabilities. It explores the historical context of India's earlier disavowal of nuclear development and how the subsequent detonations were leveraged by a right-wing government to strengthen its political position, emphasizing the concept of the 'Hindu bomb.' The narrative examines the implications of this shift in policy and its impact on India's geopolitical landscape.