Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran

Resynced For YTS by Ajeesh Vijayan

Last week China conducted one more nuclear test.

This was the 43rd nuclear test conducted by the Chinese.

It is believed that this atom bomb is powerful

enough to destroy any major cities in India.

Our neighboring country has conducted yet another test.

Now it is our turn to give a befitting reply.

You tell me when and how.

I'll personally submit a report to the Prime Minister.

Sir, we need to be very careful with our words.

In my opinion, let's not send our badminton team this year

to any tournament China is participating.

Sir. Let's ban Chinese food.

Let’s refuse to export Alphonso mangoes to China this year.

Are momos originally from China?

I am fond of them.

We should also conduct a nuclear test.

Huh?

Who are you?

Ashwat Raina, sir.

Which department are you from?

That's fine.

You can't just dish out your opinions here.

Instead, you listen to us, mister.

Here we are, discussing and criticizing their moves

and you've come up with something completely irrelevant.

This is the time for action, not criticisms.

What do you mean?

Should we also carry out an explosion?

If we have an atom bomb, there will be peace in the country.

Your research is weak, Mr. Raina.

We possess an atom bomb since 1974.

That was a peaceful nuclear explosion.

There is a car in the garage.

How do we find out whether we can still drive it?

You don’t have to worry about the car.

Let him speak, Tripathi

while we wait for our tea.

Go on, son.

We're having a hush-hush conversation.

Why?

When will India be respected by the rest of the world?

Take the USA for instance.

They have tested more than a thousand atom bombs.

On land, under the water and in the sky.

Today, they are a superpower.

Following in their footsteps is China.

So far, they've conducted 43 tests

and are supplying atom bombs to Pakistan.

An existential crisis looms on the horizon

while we sit and criticize in fear.

Don't chant peace and cower in fear.

Take action and profess peace.

-There, our tea has arrived. -Snacks as well.

Sir, I have the entire plan ready on this floppy disk.

We can't let the Americans know about this test.

Else they might attack us.

Their satellites are always watching us...

Why don’t you give me the floppy disk?

I'll handle this. Give it to me.

Give it to me.

Listen.

-What did you say your name was? -Ashwat.

Yes.

Avoid giving speeches when you talk about these things.

These things need to be dealt sensitively.

Why don’t you prepare a report on this?

-It will be ready by tomorrow. -Hmm.

And yes, it has to be brief.

The Prime Minister doesn't have the time to read lengthy reports.

Keep it short and simple

and I’ll fix up your next meeting with him.

You carry on.

Ashwat, come here.

This boy tires me out!

What's going on?

You seem to be very happy today.

Are you all right?

Come on, I am not serious all the time.

Yes, you are!

Always!

I deserve a medal, just like your father.

For being so happy in spite of having such a serious husband.

I think I will finally

be able to do something for our country, just like dad.

You know, I might have a meeting with the Prime Minister.

You know, he wanted me to join the army like he did.

Ashwat, you don't need to don a uniform to become a hero. Your attitude is enough.

And I am sure the Prime Minister will definitely be impressed with you.

Now will you tell me what this meeting is about?

I will.

After the meeting.

Come on, Ashwat! Do you want the Prime Minister to wait?

I had to make it brief, there is so much information.

-It had to be... -Fine. Give me the file.

Sir, may I go with you?

Where?

Don’t worry. I will handle this. Sit over there.

You have no idea how useful this nuclear plan is for our country.

Mr. Yadav has come up with a brilliant idea.

Once we conduct this test, our Chinese neighbors will know.

Don't chant peace and cower in fear. Take action and profess peace.

That's great, sir.

Last morning, American satellites got wind

of India's nuclear test.

After a strict warning from President Clinton

the nuclear project has been halted.

America has warned India

of military action at their nuclear sites if they don’t stop immediately.

Pakistan has also raised strong objections in this matter.

Let me make it clear, we were conducting routine checks in Pokhran

and not preparing for any tests.

This is a case of misunderstanding.

We will soon find out who is behind this hullabaloo.

I have nothing to do with the execution of this mission.

Mr. Yadav, you didn’t even let me meet the Prime Minister.

Aren’t you glad I didn’t?

Your plan was terribly flawed.

You were so sure of it at the time.

Look what happened!

You embarrassed our country in front of the whole world.

Did anyone even pay attention to my plan?

You cannot summarize so much information

on such a huge project, in two pages.

The mission was completed without me.

Now that it has failed, I am being held responsible.

Since you knew all this, why didn’t you give us the full details?

Sir, I gave you the floppy disk.

It's still lying around.

Had you seen it...

You are suspended with immediate effect.

I haven’t even woken up

Why is it dawn already?

Before I could even begin

It's all over

My coveted dream

Is now lost forever

Ashwat should've appealed against his suspension order.

I gave you Mr. Sharma's number, Sushma.

Please speak softly, he might hear you.

You know, he doesn’t like to talk about his work.

Even I don’t know what happened.

Still, it has already been two months.

Why doesn’t Ashwat look for another job?

He has done his engineering from IIT!

I still have my job at the observatory.

Mussoorie will be a change of scene for Ashwat.

He has a different ambition.

He wants to do something for his country.

What country? The country has abandoned him.

If you do night shifts, how will you take care of Prahlad?

Papa, please speak softly.

Don’t worry.

So precious were those dreams

So close to my heart

I can't reminisce

So precious were those memories

Tried so hard to hold on to them

Tried so hard to hold on to them

But my dream, my coveted dream

Is now lost forever

My dream, my coveted dream

My dream, my coveted dream

My coveted dream is lost forever

Is lost forever

Hi, son. Had your milk?

Not tonight.

You’ll have to a drink some milk.

Have you finished your science project?

You have to submit it tomorrow.

Where is your dad?

He's teaching.

It's late, isn't it?

Sir, excuse me, it's 8 already.

So?

I want to go home.

Wasn’t our class supposed to be till 6 p.m?

When you prepare for civil service exams,

keep an eye on the syllabus, not on the clock.

This is the second time you're revising the syllabus.

Papa, my science project.

Mummy said you'd help me with it.

Sit down.

Not now, my class is still on.

So when will you help me?

I need to go sleep.

Go ahead, I'll see you later.

Okay, guys, only six to seven lectures more.

If you study hard, you'll ace the exams.

Who cares about acing the exams?

We just want a government job.

A huge house and a car with a red beacon will be more than enough.

This...

This attitude of your generation...

Do you even know what being a civil servant means?

If you can't do that...

don’t waste the position.

Hey, you haven’t put on your shoes yet!

Go get them, you will be late.

Run!