Throughout his career , Chidambaram played a key role in developing India 's nuclear weapons , being a part of the team conducting the first Indian nuclear test ( Smiling Buddha ) at Pokhran Test Range in 1974 . He gained international fame when he led and represented the team of the Department of Atomic Energy ( DAE ) while observing and leading efforts to conduct the second nuclear tests in May 1998
second nuclear tests
Pokhran-II
Rajagopala Chidambaram