The Poem that Shaped Physics, Film-making and Politics

 by Nikhil Patel

Christopher Nolan’s upcoming film Oppenheimer, tells the story of the infamous nuclear physicist J Robert Oppenheimer, who worked on the Manhattan project. Upon being interviewed after the first detonation of a nuclear weapon during the trinity operation of July 1946 Oppenheimer said something that would forever be associated with his name: ‘Now I am become death, the destroyer of worlds’. 

Oppenheimer took it from the Bhagavad-Gita, an episode of the epic poem the Mahabharata. It is a massive, yet a single conversation. Prince Arjun, the greatest archer of his time, seeks guidance from his chariot driver Krishna. Krishna is one of the most recognisable figures in Hinduism and he serves as Arjun's confidant for their time in the epic. Arjun is a Pandava, who after a decade-long exile, returns to claim power in the region of Hastinapura. What stands in their way are the Kauravas. Both families descend from two brothers, who disputed the rule of their kingdom (due to the elders' blindness). Thus the two families are in fact related.

In the build-up to the battle Arjun's feelings become conflicted, as he contemplates whether or not he is capable of killing his family, thus he seeks counsel from Krishna. Krishna is an avatar of the God Vishnu, one of the trinity of the three main Hindu Gods, and he transitioned into his multi-armed form to show Arjun him their duties as warriors.

There are people who have spent lifetimes interpreting and understanding the Gita and the wider Mahabharata, and one of the beauties of it is that it’s words can be interpreted any number of ways. Oppenheimer could be reflecting on his own mortality, or the fact that he has maybe created the very thing that may end humanity. He could be basking in his newfound power or he might be expressing regret. If someone takes the context of the poem as a whole, then Oppenheimer may be expressing how it was his duty to create such a weapon ; just as it was Arjuna to fight the Kauravas.

When I spoke to my Grandfather (my Nanaji), he told me how that within the Gita there was a lesson for every problem found in life, great or small. This leading to one of the greatest problems of the past decade : British politics.The Gita is often used to swear oaths, Rishi Sunak took his parliamentary oath on a copy of the poem and has spoken of how he draws inspiration from it. If you were to read the Gita, you would find lessons on both governance, leadership and the rule of law. Whether it be politicians, physicists or filmmakers , the Gita's influence cannot be understated. Its words provide principles for us all to live by. Oppenheimer took lessons from the Gita just as we all should, and drew his own interpretations from the scripture. Such lessons should be applicable to our leaders as well, with last Monday's news cycle being largely dedicated to the privileges committees findings on Partygate. It is now clear that our Prime Minister was aware (and partaking in), thus I beseech him to give the holy book a read.