World Hiroshima Day

On 6th August 1945, an atomic bomb named Little Boy was dropped over Hiroshima of Japan. The bomb was equivalent to 15,000 tons of TNT and destroyed 70,000 buildings, taking with it 80,000 people. On 9th August, another plutonium bomb named Fat Man was dropped, over Nagasaki of Japan.

The bomb once again killed many thousands of people. Emperor Hirohito announced Japan’s surrender to the Americans.

This incident marked the end of World War II.

The devastation of Hiroshima killed one Lakh 44 thousand people while 77,000 casualties were reported in Nagasaki.

This was the first time atomic and nuclear weapons were used in war. The aftermath of the incidents lasted for decades and were felt by generations who suffered from diseases from the atomic radiation. These include leukemia, cancer and several other chronic illnesses.

Let us take a closer look at how the war escalated to such a horrific climax.

The United States of America was researching atomic weapons since 1940. They were planning to use it against Germany. However, by the time the first test on the atomic bombs was carried out , Germany had already been defeated.

However, the war against Japan continued in the Pacific. President Harry S Truman was advised against invading Japan as it would result with American casualties. By then, scientists of Manhattan had already built nuclear weapons and so the then President, Truman ordered Little Boy to be dropped on Japan hoping that the latter would surrender. However, Japan refused to surrender and instead abandoned Hiroshima.

So, Fat man, the plutonium bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. Japan soon surrender and ended the World War. Hiroshima day, is celebrated worldwide to promote peace politics.

On this day people go to the peace park in Hiroshima to pray and offer paper cranes, a symbol of peace.

Antonio Gutteres, the Secretary General of the United Nations once said “ May the suffering, stories of the resilience of survivors unite us in action to free the world from nuclear weapons”.

Let us hope for a non-nuclear and peaceful world.