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A chance meeting
with Prakash Kumar Nigam, a former resident of Ann Arbor,
Michigan, has revealed many truths behind India’s history, both
pre and post independence. Is India too fragile with regard to
its military strengths? Have the significant impacts of
geo-politics on India’s development been correctly and fully
understood and addressed? The answers have been revealed in his
latest publication
Reflections on the
History of World in Twentieth Century.
The book gives an account of startling facts on how the common
man has been forced to believe historical events by interested
political and geo-political interests. Nigam has researched for
years various historical events for accuracy with an engineering
mind. For example, he has interviewed numerous people to obtain
information that delves into the true reasons for India’s
independence and its partition with Pakistan. The answers may
simultaneously enlighten and surprise you.
The true purpose of the book is to make people understand the
cause and effect of war and promote peace. Calling Pakistan’s
nuclear program a hoax, the liberation of Bangladesh, which saw
several million Hindus being killed as the information was
politically suppressed, are just few of the “facts” that have
been revealed in the book. According to some readers, Nigam has
rewritten history based on facts and not on politics.
A conversation with Prakash Kumar Nigam as he speaks to
Anu Gopalakrishnan,
is an exclusive
Miindia.com feature!
Q
What prompted you to write the book?
From my experience as a leader of students of my college, who
were taking part in the Quit India movement in 1942, I felt that
we could not succeed in making India free due to a lack of
weapons. In 1947, I was a student in Wisconsin when India became
free. People asked me why were the English quitting India? I had
no answer which was convincing to me due to my experience during
the Quit India Movement. But I replied that it was due to
Gandhiji’s movements.
After getting my degree in Electrical Engineering in 1948, I
went to a peace seminar in the summer in Woodstock, near
Chicago. It was sponsored by the Quakers and had 30 young
persons from 20 countries. In a typical Quaker prayer meeting, I
said that man has always been fighting and killing other men
from the dawn of history. This made the wife of the director
angry who exclaimed, “Are we hearing this from a representative
of India, the land of Gandhi!” I said that I was pointing out an
obvious truth. It did not mean I supported war as Hitler did.
However, the question - how wars could be eliminated - remained
in my mind. Hence, I decided that I will do research and find
answers to the questions in my mind, when I get time.
Q
Is there any particular reason you have released the book at
this time?
I released the book after I found satisfying answers to the
questions in my mind.
Q
Could you please elaborate your background and the struggle (if
any) you had to go through in releasing the facts.
I was born in 1923. I got a B.Sc. degree in 1944 from Nagpur
University and a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from the
University of Wisconsin in 1948. Then I worked as an electrical
engineer in G.E. in the U.S. during 1948-50, Tata Electrical
Companies in Bombay, India during 1950-60, Heavy Engineering
Corporation, Ranchi during 1960-68 (including a deputation to
the Soviet Union during 1962-63), and multiple consulting firms
in the U.S., including companies like Ebasco, Bechtel, and
others during 1968-81. I read, researched and wrote material for
my book for 26 years during 1981-2006. I also wrote about 40
articles for newspapers during this period, on subjects like
India’s nuclear program, the hoax of Pakistan’s Islamic bomb,
power, and geo-politics. The name of my book is Reflections on
the History of World in Twentieth Century. The book is in two
volumes and has almost 1,500 pages. Additional information can
be found on the website dedicated to the book:
www.peaceamongmankind.com. I
had no problem in publishing my work.
Q
You have mentioned the accuracy of facts behind all that took
place in India's history- pre and post British rule. What makes
you so confident about your publication?
My book is based on archives, many books which are authentic in
their own way, vast reading, and geo-politics.
Q
How have people reacted to the publication? Were there any
political pressures?
My book’s website has one full page dedicated to opinions given
by people who have read the book completely. These reviews rate
the book highly and are exceptionally complimentary. In short,
some of the opinions were – “the book is monumental”, “it is an
encyclopedia”, “it is like Nehru’s Glimpses of World History”.
One of my articles - about the significance of nuclear tests in
1998 - drew high praise from the then Prime Minister of India,
Mr. Vajpayee and his government and the leader of the opposition
party, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi. My recent articles on the Nuclear Deal
with the U.S. drew praise from Shri Bardhan, Secretary of CPI
and Dr. Sudarshan chief of R.S.S. There was no governmental
pressure.
Q
Where do you see India in the future- in terms of military
strength?
Ultimately, India will become as strong as China or the U.S. in
a few decades.
Q
You have interpreted history using your journalism skills with
an engineering mind.
Most men think that by modern inventions man has conquered
nature. Man has made inventions by truthfully understanding the
laws of nature and then using them to make inventions. Thus, man
has not conquered nature but has used the laws of nature to his
benefit. The first thing an engineer has to learn is this truth.
Nature makes man but man cannot make nature. The most important
and difficult problem facing mankind today is to find the
solution of ending wars permanently. The solution will have to
be in complete harmony with nature. That is where an engineer’s
(not a politician’s) training becomes useful. I worked as an
electrical engineer from 1948 to 1981 in the U.S., India and the
Soviet Union. Then I started my research to find a solution to
this most difficult (some may say impossible) problem of the
permanent elimination of wars.
Q
What is your objective behind releasing the book and the
website?
It was to draw mankind’s attention to the grave danger of
suicide of the human race and to measures that can be taken to
permanently eliminate wars.
Q
What are your future projects?
I intend to promote the book worldwide and establish an
institute where scholars can research and devise social,
economic and political structures of human society to assure the
elimination of all wars, which is the most significant and the
most difficult problem facing mankind.
Q
Your work sounds fascinating, how can one acquire a copy of your
book?
The books can be purchased as follows:
Outside India
Please send a check or money order payable to D.K.Nigam in the
requisite amount shown below:
Dilip.K. Nigam
4359 Lakeside Court
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48108
U.S.A.
The price for the two volume book, when purchased as a set is
US$48. Purchased individually, Volume I and Volume II are priced
at US$22 and US$28 each, respectively. There is a nominal
shipping fee of $5 for ground service and $22 for next day
delivery for either volume or a set of two volumes. Please
include the appropriate shipping fee with your payment to avoid
shipment delays. The book generally ships within one week when
it is in stock, and within six to eight weeks when it is on
reorder. For additional information on how to place an order or
if you have any questions about your order, please feel free to
contact my global representative, Mr. Dilip Nigam, at the
address stated above by mail, or at (734) 663-0344 telephone or
at
dilip@adsc-usa.com by email.
In India
Please visit my website,
www.peaceamongmankind.com and
follow the instructions under the “shopping” tab.
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