This column is inspired by a chapter in "Fluke" by Brian Klaas—a good book on how luck plays an important role in life.
History tells us that the first atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, killing around 200,000 people. What we may not know is that Kyoto, home to wartime factories and an intellectual hub with an educated population, was meant to be the first target for the bomb. The other three cities on the target list were Hiroshima, Yokohama, and Kokura as backup. Nagasaki wasn't even part of the deliberations.
An unrelated story occurred 20 years earlier. Henry Stimson had gone to Kyoto with his wife for a holiday in 1926 and stayed at Hotel Miyako in Room No. 56. They enjoyed the beautiful city, and it turned out to be an extraordinary visit.
Nineteen years later, Stimson was America's secretary of war and the top civilian overseeing wartime operations. "I don't want Kyoto bombed," he said as soon as the target committee picked Kyoto as the first city to be destroyed and informed him. While the generals kept wondering why not Kyoto, Stimson finally went to the President and got Kyoto off the list. Ultimately, the first bomb fell on Hiroshima.
This story is from the December 26, 2024 edition of Mint Kolkata.
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This story is from the December 26, 2024 edition of Mint Kolkata.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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