Atom for Peace: A Vision for Today and Tomorrow

The need to revisit the story of Atoms for Peace becomes stronger today, even after so many decades. The younger generation, in particular, must be made aware of the benefits of nuclear science rather than being guided only by its drawbacks. With this aim in view, and in the backdrop of the recent declaration by Nobel Laureates and leading experts calling for renewed global efforts towards nuclear disarmament, this write-up is presented.

Presently very few people remember, that when U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower delivered his famous Atoms for Peace speech at the United Nations General Assembly in December 1953, the world was still haunted by the memory of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The nuclear bombs dropped on Japan in 1945 had revealed to humanity the horrifying destructive potential of atomic energy. Eisenhower, representing a nation that had itself used these weapons, realized that unless this enormous energy was redirected towards peaceful purposes, it could lead to the annihilation of civilization. His speech was not only an appeal but also a strategy to reposition nuclear energy as a symbol of hope rather than fear.

What made this speech historic was the bold vision. He propagated to place fissionable material under international control and promote the use of nuclear power for generating electricity, curing diseases, improving agriculture, and advancing knowledge. The physics behind the bomb itself is straightforward yet terrifying, when uranium-235 or plutonium-239 nuclei undergo fission, each split releases nearly 200 MeV of energy, a million times more than chemical reactions. In a chain reaction, this multiplies to unimaginable scales, creating the blast of a bomb. But when the same chain reaction is carefully controlled inside a nuclear reactor, the enormous energy can be harnessed for lighting homes, running industries, or even propelling spacecraft.

Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy

In today’s context, peaceful uses of nuclear energy have grown far beyond Eisenhower’s imagination. Nuclear power plants provide low-carbon electricity, crucial in fighting climate change. Nuclear medicine has given us PET scans, cancer radiotherapy, and advanced diagnostic tools that save millions of lives every year. Isotopes are used in agriculture to develop better crop varieties and manage pests. In industry, nuclear techniques are used for material testing, sterilization, and even art restoration. Space research too relies on nuclear-powered systems for deep space missions. In short, nuclear energy has become one of the most powerful tools of societal benefit.

India’s Role and Vision

India, in particular, has embraced the Atom for Peace spirit with its unique three-stage nuclear power programme envisioned by Dr. Homi J. Bhabha. Today, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is not only expanding its nuclear energy base but also championing global nuclear responsibility. The recent commissioning of the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam and the push for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) highlight India’s resolve to use nuclear energy for sustainable growth. India has consistently advocated for nuclear disarmament at the international stage while simultaneously using nuclear science for societal development.

Nobel Laureates’ Call for Action

The recent Nobel Laureate Assembly for the Prevention of Nuclear War, held at the University of Chicago (July 2025), has further underlined the urgency of Eisenhower’s message. As reported by Toni Feder in Physics Today (DOI: 10.1063/pt.lzra.qjdz), Nobel Prize–winning physicists Brian Schmidt and David Gross, along with University of Chicago physicist Daniel Holz, spearheaded the declaration. It was signed by 129 Nobel Laureates, including scientists like Joseph Stiglitz, Shirin Ebadi, and Frances Arnold, as well as 44 nuclear experts.

The declaration called for urgent global measures to ensure peace and security. It urged all nations to recommit themselves to nonproliferation and nuclear disarmament, while emphasizing the need for the United States and Russia to negotiate a successor to the New START treaty. It further appealed to China, Russia, and the U.S. to halt their massive investments in strategic missile defense systems, which risk destabilizing global security. Another important call was to ban the stationing of nuclear weapons in outer space, a step seen as critical for preventing the militarization of space. The declaration also recommended implementing a mandatory two-person rule for nuclear launch decisions, reducing the possibility of accidental or impulsive actions. Finally, it stressed the greater involvement of scientists, academics, and civil society in pressing world leaders to adopt these measures, ensuring that nuclear policies reflect humanity’s collective interest rather than narrow national agendas.

Physicist Karen Hallberg of the Pugwash Conferences described these as “urgent and realistic actions”, though she rightly noted that the ultimate safety lies only in the total elimination of nuclear weapons. Experts like Zia Mian (Princeton) and Curtis Asplund (San José State University) have further warned that the integration of AI and new technologies into nuclear command structures may dangerously shorten the chain of decision-making, risking catastrophe.

Education and the Indian Universities’ Role

In a country like India, there is a growing need to emphasize nuclear education for students and show them its benefits. Traditional universities such as Aligarh Muslim University, University of Calcutta, Panjab University Chandigarh, and IUAC Delhi have already been playing a vital role in nurturing talent in nuclear physics. Visionaries like Prof. P. S. Gill, H. S. Hans, G. K. Mehta, R. Prasad, I. M. Govil, and Prof. A. K. Jain have strongly advocated expanding nuclear science research in Indian universities.

In a recently concluded international conference on nuclear physics, durng May, 2025, experts and senior scientists strongly echoed the sentiment that nuclear education in India must be given a significant boost.

These institutes should now be identified as specialized training hubs for nuclear experimental research. They already possess basic infrastructure, but they must be supported with greater funding for advanced equipment, laboratory expansion, and training programmes. Such measures would be vital in achieving the aspirations of Viksit Bharat@2047, where science and technology are expected to drive India’s rise as a developed nation.

A Personal Reflection

Speaking personally, I, as an experimental nuclear physicist working in this field for more than 35 years, have dedicated my career to advancing research, educating students, and popularizing nuclear techniques for societal development. My vision is aligned with the Government of India’s Vision 2035 document, which emphasizes science and technology for inclusive growth.

During recent discussions with leading nuclear physicists, I also shared the conviction of colleagues like Prof. R. Prasad, and Prof. A. K. Jain, who has consistently highlighted the importance of strengthening India’s nuclear education and research ecosystem. This consensus reflects a broader vision among Indian scholars that nuclear science must be cultivated at the university level to secure the nation’s scientific future.

Finally, I can say that, Eisenhower’s dream of turning the “atom” into a friend of humanity remains as relevant today as it was in 1953. The destructive potential of nuclear weapons is undeniable, but so is the transformative power of nuclear energy for peace. The younger generation must inherit not fear but confidence, a confidence in science, in education, and in the vision of building a society where the atom is truly for peace. The recent declaration by Nobel Laureates serves as a timely reminder that while dangers persist, the choice of how we use atomic power still rests with humanity. And in India, through education, innovation, and commitment to peaceful uses, that choice can truly shape the future.

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