Nuclear Secrets, Intelligence Wars and a Leader Under Siege

In his latest novel, ‘Lies, Spies and Nuclear Rise’, Juggi Bhasin returns to the charged landscape of India’s first nuclear test, weaving fact and imagination to explore why leaders take nation-altering decisions. In this conversation, he breaks down the power games, intelligence rivalries and human vulnerabilities that drive the story.What compelled you to centre this political thriller around India’s first nuclear test, and how did you balance fact with fictional tension?India’s first ever nuclear test in 1974 is a defining moment in the country’s arrival as a military power of significance on the international stage. Unfortunately for an event of such seismic proportions that changed the course of India’s military and economic history not much is known exactly why Indira Gandhi went in for this nuclear test and what really was her thinking. I use the reality – fictional narrative to offer my explanation what really was her thinking at that point in time and what could have been happening behind the scenes.Priya Kaul is a leader under siege—what larger commentary were you making about power, vulnerability, and political survival in India?My short point in the book is that Priya Kaul used the nuclear test to regain her dwindling popularity at home, suppress and over awe her external enemies and perhaps even find a way to cement her family and relationship with her son which was under severe stress and cracking at that point in time. In short ensure her political survival and save her family ties. So, in a sense kill three birds with one move.Your story interlocks CIA, ISI and RAW—what did you want readers to understand about the real dynamics of intelligence warfare in South Asia?The sub – continent has always been the playground of countless battles of attrition and domination between these three intelligence agencies. At the time of the nuclear test these activities had reached a fever pitch. India had no choice but to stop the two other agencies in their tracks to realize their objective of a successful nuclear test.Dr. Venkat Iyer and Rhino represent science and espionage—why was it important for you to place these two worlds in a race against each other and time?On the contrary I paint a picture and scenario in my book when the top, scientific establishment of the country and Indian intelligence agencies worked in complete sync and tandem with each other to realize the Prime Minister’s objective of a nuclear test to be conducted in complete secrecy.How does your background as a journalist covering conflict shape the authenticity and psychology of your characters in high-stakes situations?A long time ago when I was a television journalist I was on the Prime Minister’s beat. Which meant frequent travels at home and abroad with the Prime Minister. These individuals at that level live through stress and challenges that we ordinary humans cannot even begin to imagine. I am sure some of that observational experience helped me to paint a picture of a Prime Minister in my book; someone under extreme stress and danger on the verge of changing the fate and destiny of a country.In a world where deception drives survival, what truth about nations, leaders, or people are you ultimately urging readers to confront through this book?Leaders are no different from us. They also want to survive at all costs be it politically, or strategically or even with their lives. Only the scale is different. The kind of pressure and stress they face is somewhat like a fighter pilot in a plane battling impossible G forces. One mistake and there could be no coming back from it.



Source link