India, the proliferator

[rameshp]

Never thought we contributed so much resources beside manpower for WWII!

India, the proliferator
INDIASPORA/CHIDANAND RAJGHATTA

[ SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2005 10:39:16 PM ]

When India's defence minister Pranab Mukherjee arrives in Washington today, he will be feted as a representative of America's latest 'ally'. There will be tall talk of selling sophisticated arms such as Patriot missiles and F-18 jets (not just yet), gushy remarks about the strategic partnership the US wants to build (but does not) and other such pabulum.

But in their hearts, American officials neither trust nor care for India — our use for them is as a counterweight to China. No dual-use items and no nuclear technology — unless we checkmate China. On the one issue that won't cost US a red cent — UNSC membership — they will play games. Like the "two or so" formulation they have arrived at. If they can identify Japan as one candidate, why not the other?

What has India done for the United States that we should do anything for you, an American scholar asked me recently. Not much, other than giving you the best minds of our generation, I said. A few days later, I chanced upon a copy of a National Geographic of 1946 vintage that was an eye-opener for me.

The fact that India provided tens of thousands of soldiers to the Allied forces is well known. But India — admittedly, British India — also supplied jute, coir, burlap and other material that tied into Allied war effort. There was buffalo hide and goat skin. Textile factories in Bombay turned out parachutes, machine shops in Calcutta fabricated grenades and bren guns, and Bangalore made US war planes as far back as the 1940s.

There was Indian manganese ore which went into the making of steel used for American armour and guns. Peanut and coconut oil went into making of glycerin, the basic ingredient for explosives. Oil from cashew shells was used as an insulating film for induction coils and other delicate electrical parts on marine and aircraft engines. The rare earths in the sands of Kerala went into making titanium, used on American navy vessels. By one account, India provided $640 million worth of material (in 1945 prices).

There were three items from India that were particularly critical to the US. One was mica, which was till then used in India for ornamental purposes. Americans found mica useful for aircraft spark plugs, radio condensers and other electrical components. Since India was the major source of mica in the world, they convinced the ruling Brits to form a "Joint Mica Mission" to fly sorties out of India.

Then there was block talc used in talcum powder, which the Americans found could be crystallised and machined with great accuracy for use in electronics. The best such talc at that time was known to exist in Sardinia, then in Axis hands. Then the Americans heard of a quarry in Udaipur that produced even better talc. They were on to it in a jiffy. By far the most critical element the US took from India was Beryl, a gem found in the Rajputana hills, which they used with copper and aluminium to make them hard as steel. American fighter planes were equipped with beryllium bronze bearings, which lasted ten times as long as those bearing traditional copper alloys. Indian beryl, alas, also had another use. It was used in the atomic bomb to start the flow of uranium neutrons to produce nuclear fission.

Terrible, isn't it? We were guilty of proliferating nuclear material to the US and providing it with dual use items. Shame on us. Perhaps, Pranab Mukherjee should apologise to Donald Rumsfeld for our trespasses

article @ Timesofindia (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1152402.cms)

[dhurandhar]

Never thought we contributed so much resources beside manpower for WWII!

India, the proliferator
INDIASPORA/CHIDANAND RAJGHATTA

[ SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2005 10:39:16 PM ]

When India's defence minister Pranab Mukherjee arrives in Washington today, he will be feted as a representative of America's latest 'ally'. There will be tall talk of selling sophisticated arms such as Patriot missiles and F-18 jets (not just yet), gushy remarks about the strategic partnership the US wants to build (but does not) and other such pabulum.

But in their hearts, American officials neither trust nor care for India — our use for them is as a counterweight to China. No dual-use items and no nuclear technology — unless we checkmate China. On the one issue that won't cost US a red cent — UNSC membership — they will play games. Like the "two or so" formulation they have arrived at. If they can identify Japan as one candidate, why not the other?

What has India done for the United States that we should do anything for you, an American scholar asked me recently. Not much, other than giving you the best minds of our generation, I said. A few days later, I chanced upon a copy of a National Geographic of 1946 vintage that was an eye-opener for me.

The fact that India provided tens of thousands of soldiers to the Allied forces is well known. But India — admittedly, British India — also supplied jute, coir, burlap and other material that tied into Allied war effort. There was buffalo hide and goat skin. Textile factories in Bombay turned out parachutes, machine shops in Calcutta fabricated grenades and bren guns, and Bangalore made US war planes as far back as the 1940s.

There was Indian manganese ore which went into the making of steel used for American armour and guns. Peanut and coconut oil went into making of glycerin, the basic ingredient for explosives. Oil from cashew shells was used as an insulating film for induction coils and other delicate electrical parts on marine and aircraft engines. The rare earths in the sands of Kerala went into making titanium, used on American navy vessels. By one account, India provided $640 million worth of material (in 1945 prices).

There were three items from India that were particularly critical to the US. One was mica, which was till then used in India for ornamental purposes. Americans found mica useful for aircraft spark plugs, radio condensers and other electrical components. Since India was the major source of mica in the world, they convinced the ruling Brits to form a "Joint Mica Mission" to fly sorties out of India.

Then there was block talc used in talcum powder, which the Americans found could be crystallised and machined with great accuracy for use in electronics. The best such talc at that time was known to exist in Sardinia, then in Axis hands. Then the Americans heard of a quarry in Udaipur that produced even better talc. They were on to it in a jiffy. By far the most critical element the US took from India was Beryl, a gem found in the Rajputana hills, which they used with copper and aluminium to make them hard as steel. American fighter planes were equipped with beryllium bronze bearings, which lasted ten times as long as those bearing traditional copper alloys. Indian beryl, alas, also had another use. It was used in the atomic bomb to start the flow of uranium neutrons to produce nuclear fission.

Terrible, isn't it? We were guilty of proliferating nuclear material to the US and providing it with dual use items. Shame on us. Perhaps, Pranab Mukherjee should apologise to Donald Rumsfeld for our trespasses

article @ Timesofindia (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1152402.cms)

Bullshit...India did not give out of its own free will...it was a British colony...and British as masters had the final say:D

The real question is, what did India do for USA AFTER it gained independence. THAT IS THE QUESTION....not much except flirting around with communism, getting aid from capitalism and proclaiming to be non aligned:D:D

I am not saying that India should have offered its rear for Uncle Sam's schlong...but India should not complain either when the blunt question is posed:D....national pride comes with a price....you can't eat and laugh at the same time:D

[kingfisher]

Bullshit...India did not give out of its own free will...it was a British colony...and British as masters had the final say:D

The real question is, what did India do for USA AFTER it gained independence. THAT IS THE QUESTION....not much except flirting around with communism, getting aid from capitalism and proclaiming to be non aligned:D:D

I am not saying that India should have offered its rear for Uncle Sam's schlong...but India should not complain either when the blunt question is posed:D....national pride comes with a price....you can't eat and laugh at the same time:D

If we gave all this money against our own free will then that amounts to theft. We have to get our money back with interest lets ask the Brits and Americans to first pay back our money and then talk about other crap, chor saale :whacky:

As of after Independance , we didnt cozy up with them cos they wanted to have sex with Pak (both Brit and Americans) so they shoudnt be cribbing about we having an affair with the soviets :D

[dhurandhar]

If we gave all this money against our own free will then that amounts to theft. We have to get our money back with interest lets ask the Brits and Americans to first pay back our money and then talk about other crap, chor saale :whacky:

As of after Independance , we didnt cozy up with them cos they wanted to have sex with Pak (both Brit and Americans) so they shoudnt be cribbing about we having an affair with the soviets :D

By that token, we must ask Iran to payback the loot that Nadirshah brought from Delhi:D

and also ask Central Asian Republics to pay back what Timur looted from Delhi...and hold Iraq accountable for providing incentive to Mahmud Ghaznavi for attacking and plundering India:D

[kingfisher]

By that token, we must ask Iran to payback the loot that Nadirshah brought from Delhi:D

and also ask Central Asian Republics to pay back what Timur looted from Delhi...and hold Iraq accountable for providing incentive to Mahmud Ghaznavi for attacking and plundering India:D

Correct, you see if we can get back all this wealth .. we would be the richest country :D , lets start with Brits and then go down the calendar in backward sequence.

Gorya log hamara paisa waapis deo.

[dhurandhar]

Correct, you see if we can get back all this wealth .. we would be the richest country :D , lets start with Brits and then go down the calendar in backward sequence.

Gorya log hamara paisa waapis deo.

It all begins from home base...start asking politicians to return the funds stashed in Swiss accounts that came from back door smuggling of Indian artifacts:D....

Sonia Maino to be precise...please visit www.swordoftruth.com for details:D

[rameshp]

It all begins from home base...start asking politicians to return the funds stashed in Swiss accounts that came from back door smuggling of Indian artifacts:D....

Sonia Maino to be precise...please visit www.swordoftruth.com for details:D

how abt starting with NRIs like you and me. as u are elder, u start first.:D :whacky:

[dhurandhar]

how abt starting with NRIs like you and me. as u are elder, u start first.:D :whacky:

i ain't no smuggler:D...I haven't brought anything Indian from India except my body:D

[kingfisher]

i ain't no smuggler:D...I haven't brought anything Indian from India except my body:D
Bhaya when I landed in the US I just got a couple of hundred bucks with me, till date I mustve pumped in atleast a few thousand grand into India, so actually my txn has proved beneficial (monetary wise) to India :D

How do you know Iam the elder ?? :D Never mentioned my age anywhere ?? :D

[rameshp]

i ain't no smuggler:D...I haven't brought anything Indian from India except my body:D

yeah thats what i am talking abt. there is a brain in that body thats worth more, so u are a smuggler too unless u agree to say u aint got any brain!! :whacky: :D

[rameshp]

Bhaya when I landed in the US I just got a couple of hundred bucks with me, till date I mustve pumped in atleast a few thousand grand into India, so actually my txn has proved beneficial (monetary wise) to India :D

How do you know Iam the elder ?? :D Never mentioned my age anywhere ?? :D

i know i am the youngest around here, so all u echarchans are elder to me. also means u 'need' to forgive in case i say something stupid. :D

[kingfisher]

i know i am the youngest around here, so all u echarchans are elder to me. also means u 'need' to forgive in case i say something stupid. :D
arrey Ramesh bhai your thread has been derailed now we are talking about age here :D

Its just that dhuru is making so many assumptions ... funny :D

[dhurandhar]

arrey Ramesh bhai your thread has been derailed now we are talking about age here :D

Its just that dhuru is making so many assumptions ... funny :D

look at my next post:D

[dhurandhar]

how abt starting with NRIs like you and me. as u are elder, u start first.:D :whacky:


dear kingfisher, please note this:D

Looks like you just want to be abrasive with me. Fine. You will end up insane on echarcha.com...like LandYA:D

[tantric_yogi]

i know i am the youngest around here, so all u echarchans are elder to me. also means u 'need' to forgive in case i say something stupid. :D

"lets start with Brits and then go down the calendar in backward sequence."

so you being the youngest ... you ship your brains back to India ... rest of us will pholow in sikuence,

[kingfisher]

dear kingfisher, please note this:D

Looks like you just want to be abrasive with me. Fine. You will end up insane on echarcha.com...like LandYA:D
I made an assumption that you and rameshp were the same :D just like all those assumptions you make :D

[arun]

Dear Echarchans,

One never knows where to begin and end with this ownership business.

Are you aware that few Pakistanis from POK who came to visit our Kashmir have staked claims on properties left behind by them at the time of partition?
Mufti Mohammed and Sonia don't know how to react to this.

Are you aware that Sunni Muslim Waqf is claiming the ownership of Tajmahal and have lodged a suit in the court?

That way the Central Asian Mislims or their descendents left over in India can claim large part of India where the Moghuls i.e. their forefathers ruled for 700 years.

But our claim on Kashmir on similar basis is thrown out.

Jai Hind phor that

Arun