Bhagwat Geeta and Oppenheimer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lb13ynu3Iac

Bhagwat Geeta is a holy Hindu Book that includes the knowledge of the world. It originated on Kurukshetra- a battleground for Pandvas and Kaurav. Shri Bhagwat Geeta dialogue between the Pandav prince Arjun and his charioteer guide Krishna, an avatar of lord Vishnu. Whereas Julius Robert Oppenheimer (April 22, 1904 – February 18, 1967) was an American theoretical physicist and director of the Manhattan Project's Los Alamos Laboratory during World War II. He is often credited as the "father of the atomic bomb".

There is an amazing and interesting link between Bhagwat Geeta and Oppenheimer. Let's start from the start!

1.Early Life of Oppenheimer

After the Civil War rapid industrial growth started in the US without making any country her colony. Julius and Bella Oppenheimer migrated from Europe to New York to earn a good living. Robert was born on 22nd April 1904 by then Julius was a wealthy businessman. Robert was a brilliant student he completed his 3rd and 4th grades together and 8th grade within half a year

2. Education

Robert had a deep interest in the field of history and minerals. When he was 5 years old his family with him went on a vacation in Germany His grandfather gave him various kinds of stones to play. Since then he developed a keen interest in these subjects. He even joined the New York Mineralogical Club at the age of 11. At the age of 12, he presented a scientific paper on minerals in the club. Though a brilliant mind Robert didn't have many friends in childhood. Once he told his English teacher that he felt lonely in the school. After Schooling, Robert got admitted to Harvard University to study Chemistry. Along with chemistry he also studied subjects like Literature, Philosophy and Art. Robert completed his studies from "Summa Cum Laude" the most honoured grade of Harvard and then took admission in Cambridge. Robert applied to work under Ernest Ruther at Cambridge University Rutherford and discovered the nucleus of atoms, protons, and alpha and beta rays. The Cavendish Lab of Cambridge is one of the most reputed labs in the world. Roberts' professor from Harvard Percy Bridgman wrote a recommendation letter for him. J.J.Thomson who discovered Electron offered Robert a job. However, he offered a condition that Robert has to complete all the work in the labs. Due to work overload, Robert started feeling stressed and became a chain smoker. He left the job and moved to Germany and joined Gottingen University. He published more than 16 articles and papers at the age of 23!

In 1940 he got married to Medical Researcher Katherine Puening and had two kids.

3. Project Manhattan

The team was led by Lieutenant General Leslie Groves, The US Pentagon in Virginia is the vision of Groves. Groves made Oppenheimer the nuclear bomb team leader. Groves named the project as Manhattan Project after the HQ of the project in Manhattan. Robert was leading a team of 15 scientists including Szillard, Enrico Fermi, Einstein, Edward Teller, and Richard Feyman, Edward Teller is called as Father of the Hydrogen Bomb.

4. Trinity and Bhagvad Geeta

Robert chose Los Alamos in New Mexico to test the bomb and he named this testing- Trinity. 12th July 1945 was selected for the detonation of Plutonium enriched bomb. After the detonation, the scenario was like a big source of mushroom-shaped light equal to the light of a thousand suns. The strong detonation made Robert speel the 12th verse from the 11th chapter of Bhagwad Geeta in Sanskrit. The shloka was-

which means- If a thousand suns were to blaze forth together in the sky they would not match the splendour of the great Lord Krishna!

He also spelled out the English Translation of verse 32 of the 12th chapter of Bhagwad Geeta

His thoughts were extremely influenced by Shrimad Bhagwat Geeta. Robert has expressed many times the impact Bhagwad Geeta has made on his life, in the funeral of Roosevelt he read one verse from Bhagwad Geeta.

Robert was in dilemma for many days after the detonation but there was a high possibility that if not for him then Hitler would have made this nuclear bomb.

5. Later Life

After WW-2 Robert was made a board member of the US Atomic Energy Commission. After the Soviet nuclear test in 1949 US and Soviets got involved in an arms race about which Robert was concerned. Robert was against the development of the Hydrogen Bomb given it was a threat to mankind. Due to his disagreements, Robert was removed from the board of commission. Because of his past ideological connections with communism many times he was presented before the FBI. Robert learnt Sanskrit from Arthur W. Ryder, an Indology Professor at California University to understand Bhagwad Geeta completely.

Now the bottom line is that the Hindu Text Bhagwat Geeta had a very positive impact on The Father Of ATOMIC BOMB.

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