In this book some of South Asia’s best minds address questions on the political, scientific, strategic, economic and environmental aspects of India’s decision to proceed with the nuclear weapons programme. The contributors include Kanti Bajpai, Admiral L. Ramdas, Amartya Sen, Amulya Reddy and Jean Dreze. While much has been said in India, in defense of the nuclear tests of 1998, there is also a strong body of opinion which questions India’s decision to become a nuclear weapon state. The essays in this book are representative of this critique. They have been written for the general reader concerned about the important issue of the production of weapons of mass destruction in South Asia.