“Now I have become death, the destroyer of the worlds.”
— Sri Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita
Is it possible for an individual, such as India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to initiate a sequence of events that leads to the downfall of “modern India” — a society that is still being built by William Carey’s successors?
Oppenheimer
The question that tormented J. Robert Oppenheimer, the progenitor of the atomic bomb, centered on whether his creation would initiate a sequence of events leading to global devastation. The potential is there for nuclear-armed adversaries like Pakistan and India to transform Oppenheimer’s nightmare into reality.
During this month, India witnessed the simultaneous release of two Hollywood blockbusters — “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” — over a single weekend. Impressively, “Barbie” garnered ₹27.5 crore in its opening week; however, “Oppenheimer” surpassed expectations, amassing more than double that sum at ₹73.15 crore. Notably, “Oppenheimer” outshone “Barbie” due to its resonance among many Hindus, who took pride that their Scriptures had a huge impact on a scientist of his stature.
Robert Oppenheimer, at the helm of the Manhattan Project, held a reasonable belief that Adolf Hitler’s deeply ingrained antisemitism would pose a significant hindrance to Nazi Germany’s pursuit of developing the atomic bomb. During that era, the Fascist regime dismissed Quantum Mechanics as a form of “Jewish science.” As an intellectual leaning toward communism, Oppenheimer found common ground with his critics in foreseeing that the American atomic bomb could serve as a catalyst for the Communist Soviet Union to embark on its own nuclear program. Oppenheimer’s apprehension stemmed from the fear that the escalating animosity between the United States and the Soviet Union could potentially escalate the Cold War into a full-blown conflict. The destructive potential of the atom bomb hung over the world, capable of becoming the force that brings about global ruin.
The Bhagavad Gita played a pivotal role in assisting Oppenheimer in reconciling his internal turmoil. In a poignant scene featuring his lover Jean Tatlock, portrayed by Florence Pugh, Oppenheimer recites a verse from the Gita. In this particular verse, Lord Krishna, the incarnation of Vishnu, impels Arjuna, a hesitant warrior of great stature, to cast aside moral dilemmas and instead fulfill his caste-based duty by engaging in combat and taking lives. This moment underscores the Gita’s influence on Oppenheimer’s perspective.
Why? Because God himself is death and destruction.
Death & Destruction
Following the bombings of Nagasaki and Hiroshima, Oppenheimer conveyed to the media that the Bhagavad Gita held the second significant influence on his perspective. The initial source that provided solace to his conscience was a compilation of poems by Baudelaire titled “The Flowers of Evil” (Les Fleurs du Mal). In Baudelaire’s Foreword, Satan, identified as an Alchemist, says, “If rape, poison, dagger and fire, have still not embroidered their pleasant designs on the banal canvas of our pitiable destinies, it’s because our soul, alas, is not bold enough!”
To construct his formidable weapon of mass destruction, Oppenheimer unquestionably required immense audacity, similar to the kind of bold philosophy that guided Arjuna’s vacillating soul in the face of moral uncertainty. The outcome of Oppenheimer’s endeavor, the atomic bomb, indeed set off a cascading sequence of events. This effect extended not solely to Russia, but also numerous other nations pursued the development of nuclear armaments alongside awe-inspiring delivery mechanisms. Among these nuclear powers, there exist leaders whose moral struggles are less pronounced. These individuals exhibit a level of boldness surpassing that of Oppenheimer. An illustration of this can be found in the persona of Narendra Modi, India’s assertive Prime Minister, who has engaged with an adversary — Islam — known for its unparalleled capacity for animosity and devastation.
The onset of World War 2 can be attributed to the military strength of Fascist Germany surpassing that of its adversaries. However, Germany’s journey was fraught with significant consequences, teaching a costly lesson that arrogance is devoid of virtue and security. In a parallel vein, Modi’s Hindutva Brigade holds the conviction that it possesses the might to suppress Islam.
Hindu-Muslim conflict appears to be a battle between an arrogant Goliath and a shepherd-boy, David. In such unequal conflicts, “Who is better-armed?” is irrelevant. The relevant question is: Who has the heart to strike first?
The Potential
Is it possible for an individual to set in motion a chain reaction that leads to the downfall of an entire civilization? According to Sri Krishna, the answer is yes. In this context, Narendra Modi seems determined to demonstrate that he possesses the internal determination to dismantle the modern, pluralist, and tolerant fabric of India in pursuit of constructing a Hindu Rashtra.
The good news is that an individual can also trigger a movement that BUILDS a civilization. That is the history, Ruth and I have told in our book The Father of Modern India: William Carey (2023). Carey began the movement that built modern South Asia. Now a diabolic spirit of hate is seeking to destroy it.