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Five Past Midnight in Bhopal: The Epic Story of the World's Deadliest Industrial Disaster
It was December 3, 1984. In the ancient city of Bhopal, a cloud of toxic gas escaped from an American pesticide plant, killing and injuring thousands of people.
432 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
121 people are currently reading
3436 people want to read
About the author
Dominique Lapierre
71 books351 followersDominique Lapierre was born in Châtelaillon-Plage, Charente-Maritime, France. At the age of thirteen, he travelled to America with his father who was a diplomat (Consul General of France). He attended the Jesuit school in New Orleans and became a paper boy for the "New Orleans Item". He developed interests in travelling, writing and cars and later traveled across the United States as a young man.
In the early 1950s Lapierre was conscripted into the French army. After one year in a tank regiment, he was transferred to SHAPE headquarters to serve as an interpreter. There he met a young American Army corporal, Larry Collins, a Yale graduate and draftee. They became instant friends. When Collins was discharged he was offered a job with Procter & Gamble. Two days before reporting to work, the United Press offered him a job as caption writer at their Paris office, for much less money than offered by Procter & Gamble. Collins accepted the offer and was soon picked up by Newsweek to be their correspondent in the Middle East. When Lapierre was discharged, he found work as a reporter for the magazine Paris Match. Several years later they decided to join forces to tell a big story which would appeal to both French and anglophone audiences. Their first bestseller Is Paris Burning? sold close to ten million copies in thirty languages. In this book they mixed the modern technique of investigation journalism with the classical methods of historical research.
After that they spent four years in Jerusalem to reconstruct the birth of the State of Israel for the book O Jerusalem!. Lapierre is proud that after spending a great deal of time in Jerusalem he knows each alley, square, street, and building in the Holy City intimately.
Two of Lapierre's books – Is Paris Burning? (co-written with Larry Collins) and City of Joy – have been made into films. Lapierre and Collins wrote several other books together before Collins' death in 2005.
He was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian award in the 2008 Republic Day honors list.
In the early 1950s Lapierre was conscripted into the French army. After one year in a tank regiment, he was transferred to SHAPE headquarters to serve as an interpreter. There he met a young American Army corporal, Larry Collins, a Yale graduate and draftee. They became instant friends. When Collins was discharged he was offered a job with Procter & Gamble. Two days before reporting to work, the United Press offered him a job as caption writer at their Paris office, for much less money than offered by Procter & Gamble. Collins accepted the offer and was soon picked up by Newsweek to be their correspondent in the Middle East. When Lapierre was discharged, he found work as a reporter for the magazine Paris Match. Several years later they decided to join forces to tell a big story which would appeal to both French and anglophone audiences. Their first bestseller Is Paris Burning? sold close to ten million copies in thirty languages. In this book they mixed the modern technique of investigation journalism with the classical methods of historical research.
After that they spent four years in Jerusalem to reconstruct the birth of the State of Israel for the book O Jerusalem!. Lapierre is proud that after spending a great deal of time in Jerusalem he knows each alley, square, street, and building in the Holy City intimately.
Two of Lapierre's books – Is Paris Burning? (co-written with Larry Collins) and City of Joy – have been made into films. Lapierre and Collins wrote several other books together before Collins' death in 2005.
He was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian award in the 2008 Republic Day honors list.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 238 reviews
December 4, 2014
I have been postponing to write this review for over a month.. actually 2 months. That's because I am from Bhopal. What it talks about has lived in the 10km radius of my home, not too long back.
The truth is, this industrial calamity is still alive with some residents of my city. December 3rd is the dark day for Bhopal. One fine day I decided to read the entire literature available on this case. This book was the last piece in winding up my study. With every page, I could feel the incident. I am too close to it to be able to overlook how Dominique successfully detached himself from the story, tried not to take sides and eventually succeeded in putting forth a matter-of-fact presentation of his research into this book.
Earlier books and papers I had read were skewed in favour of the writing party's judgement. I was so emotionally charged by them that I didn't feel like talking to people around me, for days. This book as a contrast, presented the maximum closure possible.
Here is what I would thank Dominique for:
1. Presenting the incidence in a novel
2. Researching small bits of the story to make me live it, without thinking of the next moment.
3. Presenting just the right dose of judgement and trying level best, not to skew it.
4. Living the disaster, as you researched for it
Guess I don't have the calmness to go beyond this. I don't want to drone you into my emotions. Just know that it is true to the core and if you can feel even a fraction of the feelings it witnessed, I thank Dominique for that.
The truth is, this industrial calamity is still alive with some residents of my city. December 3rd is the dark day for Bhopal. One fine day I decided to read the entire literature available on this case. This book was the last piece in winding up my study. With every page, I could feel the incident. I am too close to it to be able to overlook how Dominique successfully detached himself from the story, tried not to take sides and eventually succeeded in putting forth a matter-of-fact presentation of his research into this book.
Earlier books and papers I had read were skewed in favour of the writing party's judgement. I was so emotionally charged by them that I didn't feel like talking to people around me, for days. This book as a contrast, presented the maximum closure possible.
Here is what I would thank Dominique for:
1. Presenting the incidence in a novel
2. Researching small bits of the story to make me live it, without thinking of the next moment.
3. Presenting just the right dose of judgement and trying level best, not to skew it.
4. Living the disaster, as you researched for it
Guess I don't have the calmness to go beyond this. I don't want to drone you into my emotions. Just know that it is true to the core and if you can feel even a fraction of the feelings it witnessed, I thank Dominique for that.
January 13, 2021
Don't read this book. Throw it away.
Unless…
… you want to be heartbroken with every line you read, cause you are painfully aware of how it all ends
… you want to be despondent wishing every page of this book is untrue and fictional
… you want to be choked with every smile you come across, every spark of hopefulness
… you want to feel helpless thinking about yourself caught in that place at that time
… you want to seethe with anger when you confront the callous apathy of the politicians
… you want to boil with wrath at the ugly face of capitalism and its exploitation
… you want to understand how meager life is valued in the world of industrialization and progress
… you want to realize how vulnerable all our lives are in this greedy, flashy, hypocritical ^&$$&^%$@$#$# world
Sigh!!!
Unless…
… you want to be heartbroken with every line you read, cause you are painfully aware of how it all ends
… you want to be despondent wishing every page of this book is untrue and fictional
… you want to be choked with every smile you come across, every spark of hopefulness
… you want to feel helpless thinking about yourself caught in that place at that time
… you want to seethe with anger when you confront the callous apathy of the politicians
… you want to boil with wrath at the ugly face of capitalism and its exploitation
… you want to understand how meager life is valued in the world of industrialization and progress
… you want to realize how vulnerable all our lives are in this greedy, flashy, hypocritical ^&$$&^%$@$#$# world
Sigh!!!
December 26, 2021
Duele leer este libro, sobre todo su parte final. En mi opinión, dedica demasiadas páginas a los antecedentes del terrible accidente industrial de la fábrica de pesticidas de Bhopal y a historias anecdóticas que no aportan mucho al tema principal de la obra. No es que la narración de los acontecimientos previos al accidente carezca de interés, pero es que esa parte ocupa más de la mitad del libro, en detrimento de la parte que me parece más interesante para el lector: la descripción del accidente en sí, de sus catastróficas consecuencias para las víctimas y de la vergonzosa actuación de algunos de los responsables y de las autoridades públicas.
Aun con todo, es una lectura recomendable. Necesaria, diría yo, sobre todo para quienes, como es mi caso, ni recordaban haber oído hablar de una tragedia de tal magnitud.
Aun con todo, es una lectura recomendable. Necesaria, diría yo, sobre todo para quienes, como es mi caso, ni recordaban haber oído hablar de una tragedia de tal magnitud.
July 25, 2016
Story of a justice that has not been, and perhaps never will be, delivered. Warren Anderson is responsible for Bhopal Gas disaster in 1984 and we are the silent spectators. Hypocrisy is mutual and shame should be shared.
February 27, 2025
Hay veces que no tengo perdón de Dios. Este libro ha pasado muchas veces a lo largo de varios años por mis manos y nunca me dio por leerlo. Pero hace poco escuché un podcast sobre la catástrofe de Bhopal y entonces me picó la curiosidad y me ha encantado. De lo mejorcito que he leido en los últimos años. Incluso ahora te engancha a pesar del tiempo transcurrido de la catástrofe
March 1, 2020
In December 1984 a toxic gas leak, from a Union Carbide Pesticide Plant, massacred between 18,000 and 30, 000 people. Over 500,000 people were exposed to methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas. When water is introduced to this toxic gas the result is cyanide.
UC was a gigantic American Corporation. Among other products, they made Sevin, a pesticide. By introducing this product to the Indian farm, the company felt they would be enlightening the farmer and also the saving their crops from wide spread insect infestation. No one in the chain of company experts took into account droughts or Monsoons. Eventually the cash cow UC envisioned failed. The plant was slowly being shut down and only operated with a small maintenance staff. Unfortunately, the maintenance necessary was not being done and the tanks holding the MIC (which were never suppose to be filled to capacity) were deteriorating,
Doninique Lapierre tells a very even-sided story. Laying out the facts without making any judgments as to who was at fault. He introduces you to all the main characters and I became attached to so many of the people that lived in the shadow of the Pesticide Plant.
This was not only a story of the disaster, but a story of the people. I would recommend this highly to any non-fiction readers.
UC was a gigantic American Corporation. Among other products, they made Sevin, a pesticide. By introducing this product to the Indian farm, the company felt they would be enlightening the farmer and also the saving their crops from wide spread insect infestation. No one in the chain of company experts took into account droughts or Monsoons. Eventually the cash cow UC envisioned failed. The plant was slowly being shut down and only operated with a small maintenance staff. Unfortunately, the maintenance necessary was not being done and the tanks holding the MIC (which were never suppose to be filled to capacity) were deteriorating,
Doninique Lapierre tells a very even-sided story. Laying out the facts without making any judgments as to who was at fault. He introduces you to all the main characters and I became attached to so many of the people that lived in the shadow of the Pesticide Plant.
This was not only a story of the disaster, but a story of the people. I would recommend this highly to any non-fiction readers.
April 11, 2020
I had really high expectations from the book considering it is co-authored by one of the authors of 'Freedom at Midnight'. Sadly, despite having a very tragic human tale at its core, I was left unimpressed by the book. The weak character development gives reader a nagging feeling of incompleteness in the narrative. The last hundred pages manage to redeem the book to some extent with the portrayal of aftermath of the tragedy.
I feel this is one of those books which could have been really great but instead just manages to be a decent quick read. It is still an interesting read, especially for the younger Indians, most of whom are unaware of the epic proportions of the tragedy that befell one of the well known cities.
I feel this is one of those books which could have been really great but instead just manages to be a decent quick read. It is still an interesting read, especially for the younger Indians, most of whom are unaware of the epic proportions of the tragedy that befell one of the well known cities.
August 3, 2022
Reading Challenge 2022: 31. Un libro sobre un desastre provocado por el ser humano.
La noche del accidente suena como una historia de terror, sobretodo por lo inmediato que es el efecto del gas y la muerte instantánea de personas y animales al respirar el contaminante.
Recuerdo que cuando llevé en la materia de diseño de plantas y la materia de calidad siempre se menciona Chernobil como ejemplo de cuando toda la instrumentación de emergencia y de seguridad fallan, y nunca se menciona Bhopal... Ahora entiendo el porqué: no fue un accidente provocado por las fallas del sistema, fue una gran negligencia hacia todas las normas de seguridad habidas y por haber (y lo más estúpido es que todos los sistemas de emergencia estaban desactivados para ahorrar dinero :/ )
La noche del accidente suena como una historia de terror, sobretodo por lo inmediato que es el efecto del gas y la muerte instantánea de personas y animales al respirar el contaminante.
Recuerdo que cuando llevé en la materia de diseño de plantas y la materia de calidad siempre se menciona Chernobil como ejemplo de cuando toda la instrumentación de emergencia y de seguridad fallan, y nunca se menciona Bhopal... Ahora entiendo el porqué: no fue un accidente provocado por las fallas del sistema, fue una gran negligencia hacia todas las normas de seguridad habidas y por haber (y lo más estúpido es que todos los sistemas de emergencia estaban desactivados para ahorrar dinero :/ )
August 30, 2019
It's a very simple to read book.
It starts off building the story(though it's not fiction) and giving each character an identity. When reading books like these you need to feel what the characters must have experienced in a tragedy as big as this and the author is on point with that.
The book progress and brings all the characters together and then builds up the events as they happened towards the day this Gas tragedy struck.
And the aftermath too is well written, since you've been invested in the stories of all the individuals you feel for them you want them to survive and you want the careless employees to be put to justice. He does not demonize a single person or gives them a one dimensional approach, it's all up to you on how you interpret their motivations.
What I took away from the end was, our government could have handled things better, they didn't. The aftermath and the compensation could have been handled better, out government failed. Our treatments for the next gen could have been better but our government failed.
It's more of our failure than theirs.
It starts off building the story(though it's not fiction) and giving each character an identity. When reading books like these you need to feel what the characters must have experienced in a tragedy as big as this and the author is on point with that.
The book progress and brings all the characters together and then builds up the events as they happened towards the day this Gas tragedy struck.
And the aftermath too is well written, since you've been invested in the stories of all the individuals you feel for them you want them to survive and you want the careless employees to be put to justice. He does not demonize a single person or gives them a one dimensional approach, it's all up to you on how you interpret their motivations.
What I took away from the end was, our government could have handled things better, they didn't. The aftermath and the compensation could have been handled better, out government failed. Our treatments for the next gen could have been better but our government failed.
It's more of our failure than theirs.
September 8, 2022
This was a truly heartbreaking book to read because of the topic obviously and also the fact that the whole timeline leading upto this disaster was like a ticking timebomb; this was not just an unfortunate accident at a chemical plant where highly volatile materials were used but a catastrophe that was years in the making! From the very first step when Union Carbide were given permission to build a fertilizer factory to 2nd Dec 1984 when it imploded so tragically, every decision that was made was questionable and just one more factor that led to the final result.
The location of the proposed factory was the first inappropriate choice because the Kali grounds where it was built was adjacent to the settlements of hundreds of mostly migrants, most of whom were forced to leave their own villages in search of work and sustenance. Methyl isocyanate or MIC which was a critical component of the fertilizer, Sevin, which was to be a panacea for all ills affecting agricultural crops, was so dangerous that other countries where Union Carbide was operating chose not to store it at their factories but procure just what was needed for manufacture when they needed it. In Bhopal however, not only were tanks built for storage but the production capacity was much higher than the market for the product which meant high quantities of this toxic chemical were just stored for a long time. While stringent safety measures were put in place in America and Indian engineers were trained in these as well, no one really checked that they were being followed or that they were enough for this factory. No knowledge about how poisonous the hydrogen cyanide gas that would be released in case of breakdown of the MIC was made available. In other words the true extent of the danger was unknown. So much so that even the doctors trying to treat the victims of the leakage had no clue what to do because how exactly the chemical ravaged human beings was not known!
You get an idea of why this enterprise was considered a savior with no questions asked by the locals most affected by it when you read about how terrible their living conditions were with most resorting to sending their children to work in beedi and matchbox manufacturing units despite the side effects of the fumes the kids would be exposed to. For them and even other educated Indian engineers etc, Union Carbide represented not just a steady income but was a matter of prestige too.
This makes the fact that no one was held accountable for the death of so many thousands truly unbelievable. The factory was not operational and had not been for a long while when the leakage happened so those on watch did not even panic at the signs of trouble because they had no idea of the enormity of what was going to happen and believed that in the absence of production, there was no chance of leakage. The problem with this thinking was that safety measures were also not operational at the time and so there was nothing standing between the fumes and the people living right in their path. Just a whiff was enough to cause such severe burning and breathlessness that the victims had no chance. The factory sirens were modified to be heard only internally so those outside didn't realize they had to flee for their lives.
The state chief minister, worried about his re election, told the police commissioner from the comfort and safety of his mansion, to put up barricades so people wouldn't leave, causing more panic! Even the numbers of the dead were drastically reduced and reported so as not to deter future foreign investment! Probably why the tragedy was attributed to a 'mistake' by a worker who was then never even held responsible. Then there were the ambulance pushers, American lawyers who promised millions in compensation to the victims, hoping to take their own cut in legal fees. Whereas in reality, the victims and their families did not see even the paltry amount finally decided upon for years. The scenes of suffering in the aftermath of the gas leak are truly horrific. In fact, people in the area had been drinking from wells poisoned by toxins for years and continue to do so.
It's obvious that the victims were the poorest of the poor and that's why everyone involved got away. For Union Carbide, India was another guinea pig to test the effectiveness of their fertilizer. Their claims that this kind of disaster would never occur in America were subsequently proven false but they weren't held to account even then with all the main players enjoying secure retired lives!
In the midst of all this indifference, the only hope for humanity were those who voluntarily helped, risking their own lives. They were of course those locals who were luckier than their neighbours and weren't struggling in agony to breathe. The medical student who provided resuscitation to a child and succumbed to the toxins himself, the shop owner who gave his shamianas and tents to make a makeshift hospital, the hotel owner who fed the thousands in hospital, the people of the village who saved and consoled their neighbours irrespective of religion, these were the true heroes of the moment.
Reading this makes one realize how little value is given to the lives of some individuals considered dispensable; or maybe their lives are not even a consideration when these big ventures are planned by the government. The picture portrayed here seems to be from a neutral standpoint because no side is presented as more favorable than the other; they were all culpable equally. A truth that did not help the victims of this disaster in any way. Not just that, the lack of any serious investigation meant that there was no scope of this serving as a lesson in the future even. That's probably the worst thing of all.
The location of the proposed factory was the first inappropriate choice because the Kali grounds where it was built was adjacent to the settlements of hundreds of mostly migrants, most of whom were forced to leave their own villages in search of work and sustenance. Methyl isocyanate or MIC which was a critical component of the fertilizer, Sevin, which was to be a panacea for all ills affecting agricultural crops, was so dangerous that other countries where Union Carbide was operating chose not to store it at their factories but procure just what was needed for manufacture when they needed it. In Bhopal however, not only were tanks built for storage but the production capacity was much higher than the market for the product which meant high quantities of this toxic chemical were just stored for a long time. While stringent safety measures were put in place in America and Indian engineers were trained in these as well, no one really checked that they were being followed or that they were enough for this factory. No knowledge about how poisonous the hydrogen cyanide gas that would be released in case of breakdown of the MIC was made available. In other words the true extent of the danger was unknown. So much so that even the doctors trying to treat the victims of the leakage had no clue what to do because how exactly the chemical ravaged human beings was not known!
You get an idea of why this enterprise was considered a savior with no questions asked by the locals most affected by it when you read about how terrible their living conditions were with most resorting to sending their children to work in beedi and matchbox manufacturing units despite the side effects of the fumes the kids would be exposed to. For them and even other educated Indian engineers etc, Union Carbide represented not just a steady income but was a matter of prestige too.
This makes the fact that no one was held accountable for the death of so many thousands truly unbelievable. The factory was not operational and had not been for a long while when the leakage happened so those on watch did not even panic at the signs of trouble because they had no idea of the enormity of what was going to happen and believed that in the absence of production, there was no chance of leakage. The problem with this thinking was that safety measures were also not operational at the time and so there was nothing standing between the fumes and the people living right in their path. Just a whiff was enough to cause such severe burning and breathlessness that the victims had no chance. The factory sirens were modified to be heard only internally so those outside didn't realize they had to flee for their lives.
The state chief minister, worried about his re election, told the police commissioner from the comfort and safety of his mansion, to put up barricades so people wouldn't leave, causing more panic! Even the numbers of the dead were drastically reduced and reported so as not to deter future foreign investment! Probably why the tragedy was attributed to a 'mistake' by a worker who was then never even held responsible. Then there were the ambulance pushers, American lawyers who promised millions in compensation to the victims, hoping to take their own cut in legal fees. Whereas in reality, the victims and their families did not see even the paltry amount finally decided upon for years. The scenes of suffering in the aftermath of the gas leak are truly horrific. In fact, people in the area had been drinking from wells poisoned by toxins for years and continue to do so.
It's obvious that the victims were the poorest of the poor and that's why everyone involved got away. For Union Carbide, India was another guinea pig to test the effectiveness of their fertilizer. Their claims that this kind of disaster would never occur in America were subsequently proven false but they weren't held to account even then with all the main players enjoying secure retired lives!
In the midst of all this indifference, the only hope for humanity were those who voluntarily helped, risking their own lives. They were of course those locals who were luckier than their neighbours and weren't struggling in agony to breathe. The medical student who provided resuscitation to a child and succumbed to the toxins himself, the shop owner who gave his shamianas and tents to make a makeshift hospital, the hotel owner who fed the thousands in hospital, the people of the village who saved and consoled their neighbours irrespective of religion, these were the true heroes of the moment.
Reading this makes one realize how little value is given to the lives of some individuals considered dispensable; or maybe their lives are not even a consideration when these big ventures are planned by the government. The picture portrayed here seems to be from a neutral standpoint because no side is presented as more favorable than the other; they were all culpable equally. A truth that did not help the victims of this disaster in any way. Not just that, the lack of any serious investigation meant that there was no scope of this serving as a lesson in the future even. That's probably the worst thing of all.
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February 17, 2024
After 2 months I'm finally done, but boy I'm glad I took so much time for this. There was so much context to everything leading up to the accident that when it happened I really did feel the despair of the Khali Grounds. I felt like I too lived in the bustees.
I will say this though, I got lost time-wise A LOT. How old was Padmini when getting married? I felt like I needed a little reminder each chapter telling me where we were at.
Super detailed, well-written, and fast to read. I sure learned a lot. Also, companies will ALWAYS put safety 3rd. It's the individual's responsibility to uphold safety for themselves and to hold businesses accountable to top standards.
I will say this though, I got lost time-wise A LOT. How old was Padmini when getting married? I felt like I needed a little reminder each chapter telling me where we were at.
Super detailed, well-written, and fast to read. I sure learned a lot. Also, companies will ALWAYS put safety 3rd. It's the individual's responsibility to uphold safety for themselves and to hold businesses accountable to top standards.
August 15, 2020
At the stroke of midnight, when the world slept, Bhopal awoke to death.
What happens when the hope which you saw could free you from clutches of poverty would eventually destroy your entire life and community? What happens when the city which saw an industrial marvel as a jewel on its head would subsequently kill almost a hundred thousand people and still affects most living in the surrounding? Yes, this happened in the heart of India in the so-called city of Begums - Bhopal.
We look to an industry with hope, and there are sceptics.
Industrial technologies help to reduce labour and economic cost and make our lives easier. So was the story of Union Carbide - a pesticide giant plunge into India to free its peasants from the little creatures that destroyed their crops. Indian government desperate to solve the crisis welcomed the foreign company leaving environmental concerns. But with the sales declining and cost-cutting measures in place, safety was compromised, and we know what happened in that - Five Past Midnight in Bhopal.
Five Past Midnight in Bhopal written by marvellous authors Dominique Lapierre & Javier Moro is one such book that makes you move and feel the catastrophe happened during the unfortunate night of December 2, 1984. The book successfully makes you feel the life of Odya Bustee - a slum near the industry (most affected) and workers of the factory and negligence of management to the safety of the factory eventually the city. The books successfully place the right dose of judgement without being biased to either side. It highlights the nuances of human nature, where politics and greed over dead bodies forced them to act in strange ways. One such event was when the government declared a financial package, one Hindu and Muslim women fought claiming over a dead body. It was resolved by examining his circumcision.
The event also reminds us of the classic case of government failure. The government could have handled the situation better, but it failed as it has over time. I highly recommend the book addressing a significant event which gave rise to India's environmental concerns, eventually directing the government to enact the Environment Protection Act and other subsequent acts.
What happens when the hope which you saw could free you from clutches of poverty would eventually destroy your entire life and community? What happens when the city which saw an industrial marvel as a jewel on its head would subsequently kill almost a hundred thousand people and still affects most living in the surrounding? Yes, this happened in the heart of India in the so-called city of Begums - Bhopal.
We look to an industry with hope, and there are sceptics.
Industrial technologies help to reduce labour and economic cost and make our lives easier. So was the story of Union Carbide - a pesticide giant plunge into India to free its peasants from the little creatures that destroyed their crops. Indian government desperate to solve the crisis welcomed the foreign company leaving environmental concerns. But with the sales declining and cost-cutting measures in place, safety was compromised, and we know what happened in that - Five Past Midnight in Bhopal.
Five Past Midnight in Bhopal written by marvellous authors Dominique Lapierre & Javier Moro is one such book that makes you move and feel the catastrophe happened during the unfortunate night of December 2, 1984. The book successfully makes you feel the life of Odya Bustee - a slum near the industry (most affected) and workers of the factory and negligence of management to the safety of the factory eventually the city. The books successfully place the right dose of judgement without being biased to either side. It highlights the nuances of human nature, where politics and greed over dead bodies forced them to act in strange ways. One such event was when the government declared a financial package, one Hindu and Muslim women fought claiming over a dead body. It was resolved by examining his circumcision.
The event also reminds us of the classic case of government failure. The government could have handled the situation better, but it failed as it has over time. I highly recommend the book addressing a significant event which gave rise to India's environmental concerns, eventually directing the government to enact the Environment Protection Act and other subsequent acts.
March 30, 2011
I wish Dominique Lapierre wrote my history books because he has an amazing writing style that makes stories and characters come to life. This book revealed to me those historical events spaced out over years that ultimately led to the deadly gas leak which turned Bhopal into a gas chamber on Dec 3, 1984.
Lapierre's writing summarizes the history very well but he also familiarizes us with the cast of this terrible human drama, the resilient heroes and those that through their greed and negligence contributed to this massacre of innocents. Those who predicted the disaster and cried themselves hoarse but in vain.
The dialogue in the book is very effective in my opinion. The book itself is a fruit of patient research as Lappiere himself says - here is one dialogue that stands out for me.
"The numerous safety systems with which this type of plant is equipped enable us to control any of the MIC's potentially dangerous reactions," the project leader assured him (him refers to Eduardo Munoz, the Argentine engineer who fought to limit the size and dangers of the plant during its design). "You have absolutely no need to worry. Your Bhopal plant will be as inoffensive as a chocolate factory."
While many have heard about the 1984 'gas tragedy', what is outrageous and not that well known is the aftermath ! Since 1984 thousands have died and are afflicted with cancer, brain damage, birth defects that came from drinking contaminated water for decades. Carbide's papers show that they knew the chemicals left abandoned at the plant would get into the ground water but they never issued a warning, nor did anything about it. Today a whole new generation of maimed, debilitated children stand testimony to what this corporation has done to innocent people.
Lapierre's writing summarizes the history very well but he also familiarizes us with the cast of this terrible human drama, the resilient heroes and those that through their greed and negligence contributed to this massacre of innocents. Those who predicted the disaster and cried themselves hoarse but in vain.
The dialogue in the book is very effective in my opinion. The book itself is a fruit of patient research as Lappiere himself says - here is one dialogue that stands out for me.
"The numerous safety systems with which this type of plant is equipped enable us to control any of the MIC's potentially dangerous reactions," the project leader assured him (him refers to Eduardo Munoz, the Argentine engineer who fought to limit the size and dangers of the plant during its design). "You have absolutely no need to worry. Your Bhopal plant will be as inoffensive as a chocolate factory."
While many have heard about the 1984 'gas tragedy', what is outrageous and not that well known is the aftermath ! Since 1984 thousands have died and are afflicted with cancer, brain damage, birth defects that came from drinking contaminated water for decades. Carbide's papers show that they knew the chemicals left abandoned at the plant would get into the ground water but they never issued a warning, nor did anything about it. Today a whole new generation of maimed, debilitated children stand testimony to what this corporation has done to innocent people.
February 7, 2008
A good read. It is a rare book that captures the humanity and the horror of an industrial accident. This one does it well. And it balances the perspective from the viewpoint of reason. What should have been, what did not and why "Bhopal and Union Carbide" would forever be a part of the Indian political and social motif any time when mega-industrial complexes are being talked about. I was too young when Chernobyl happened, but I recall buying a National Geographic magazine and then going online to comprehend the magnitude of the disaster. It is difficult to convey devastation in words to someone who one hopes would never have to experience it. This book is worth a buy.
January 2, 2024
Desgarrador. Una tragedia que desconocía hasta que llegó el libro a mis manos. Lapierre, junto con Moro, es capaz no solo de describir la India como si estuvieras allí (cosa que ya hace en otros de sus libros) sino que pone perfectamente rostro al desastre. Nos cuenta todos los pasos que se tomaron hacia el desastre: la construcción de una fábrica sobredimensionada a pesar de los informes económicos (motivada por la codicia), el hermetismo de Unión Carbide, una plantilla cada vez menos cualificada y sistemas de seguridad apagados por los malos resultados económicos llevan al terrible desenlace de la violenta muerte de decenas de miles de personas y las graves consecuencias ambientales que aún sufre la zona 40 años después (de las cuales, la mayoría de agente implicados se desentienden). El libro puede parecer un poco repetitivo, pero ayuda a no perderse en los detalles y quedarse con las ideas clave de la historia. Un buen libro no solo por lo emocionante y ameno que es leerlo, sino para que el dolor de las víctimas no caiga en el olvido.
October 4, 2016
Ho appena finito di leggere l'ultima riga e sono qui che rifletto su quanto tutto ciò che accade sia surrealmente reale. Il libro è stupendo e descrive la tristemente storia vera di una delle apocalissi umane più agghiacciante della fine del XX secolo: la tragedia di Bhopal. La Pierre da voce a quanto è successo, le scelte consapevoli e inconsapevoli che sono state fatte per arrivare alla catastrofe avvenuta la notte tra il 2 e il 3 dicembre del 1984.
Il libro inizia proprio dal motivo principale che ha iniziato quel lungo viaggio, di come una buona intenzione, se gestita male e dando voce al vile denaro, si sia rivelata una soluzione sbagliata se messa nelle mani di speculatori senza scrupoli. Il fatto stesso che per salvare l'agricoltura mondiale dall'infestazione dei vari insetti e parassiti (tanto di capello a guardare solo da questo lato), si sia arrivati alla creazione di una sostanza assurda, quale: l' isocianato di metile. Mic. Ma io dico...appena vedi che per realizzare il pesticida, devi usare una sostanza che fa si il suo lavoro, ma che se anche solo viene a contatto con una goccia d'acqua è peggio della bomba atomica...magari due domandine me le farei...ebbene se le sono fatte si, ma quelle sbagliate. E cosi il racconto fluido e avvincente, che ti lascia con una smorfia di schifo sul volto ad ogni pagina svogliata, indaga e rivela la storia di queste scelte fatte male, che hanno coinvolto l'India e più precisamente a Bhopal, raccontando la storia di una famiglia di poveri contadini e del loro arrivo a Bhopal, dei sogni degli ingegneri e dei cittadini indiani che erano grati alla UCC per aver scelto il loro paese quale sede di un'industria di quel genere. Le storie intrecciate tra il lusso sfacciato americano e la povertà indiana: camminando nei basti (baraccopoli) un giorno, o nella fabbrica della UCC dove fabbricavano il Mic, o a Kanahwa Valley in America, per poi tornare di nuovo a Bhopal la notte di quel disastro atroce che ha mietuto vittime e che ti lascia spiazzato.
E' un libro che si legge molto bene, non è assolutamente paragonabile a un saggio, ma le descrizioni tecniche che ci sono, sono fatte molto bene, meticolose ma non troppo, che aiutano a capire fino in fondo le intenzioni e ciò che ne è derivato di tutta la storia. Sicuramente leggero altri libri di La Pierre.
Il libro inizia proprio dal motivo principale che ha iniziato quel lungo viaggio, di come una buona intenzione, se gestita male e dando voce al vile denaro, si sia rivelata una soluzione sbagliata se messa nelle mani di speculatori senza scrupoli. Il fatto stesso che per salvare l'agricoltura mondiale dall'infestazione dei vari insetti e parassiti (tanto di capello a guardare solo da questo lato), si sia arrivati alla creazione di una sostanza assurda, quale: l' isocianato di metile. Mic. Ma io dico...appena vedi che per realizzare il pesticida, devi usare una sostanza che fa si il suo lavoro, ma che se anche solo viene a contatto con una goccia d'acqua è peggio della bomba atomica...magari due domandine me le farei...ebbene se le sono fatte si, ma quelle sbagliate. E cosi il racconto fluido e avvincente, che ti lascia con una smorfia di schifo sul volto ad ogni pagina svogliata, indaga e rivela la storia di queste scelte fatte male, che hanno coinvolto l'India e più precisamente a Bhopal, raccontando la storia di una famiglia di poveri contadini e del loro arrivo a Bhopal, dei sogni degli ingegneri e dei cittadini indiani che erano grati alla UCC per aver scelto il loro paese quale sede di un'industria di quel genere. Le storie intrecciate tra il lusso sfacciato americano e la povertà indiana: camminando nei basti (baraccopoli) un giorno, o nella fabbrica della UCC dove fabbricavano il Mic, o a Kanahwa Valley in America, per poi tornare di nuovo a Bhopal la notte di quel disastro atroce che ha mietuto vittime e che ti lascia spiazzato.
E' un libro che si legge molto bene, non è assolutamente paragonabile a un saggio, ma le descrizioni tecniche che ci sono, sono fatte molto bene, meticolose ma non troppo, che aiutano a capire fino in fondo le intenzioni e ciò che ne è derivato di tutta la storia. Sicuramente leggero altri libri di La Pierre.
Want to read
May 30, 2016The Dark Side of Globalization
"The Bhopal gas leak was cited by many as a paradigm of how influential multinationals exploit
developing countries;—developing countries import hazardous technology in spite of a conspicuous
absence of an environmental law framework and legal infrastructure to handle its potentially
disastrous consequences.
The most ironic aspect of globalization in the 1980s and ’90s was that in their quest for economic development, developing nations sacrificed the human rights of the lowest rungs of their societies. Foreign companies were accused of committing some of the most heinous
crimes—from homicide and rape to forced labour.
Bhopal was undoubtedly the darkest reflection of globalization. It forced citizens to seriously weigh the costs of globalization against its benefits, particularly when modern technology was imported into an archaic legal set-up, as was the case with India."
~ Zia Mody
"The Bhopal gas leak was cited by many as a paradigm of how influential multinationals exploit
developing countries;—developing countries import hazardous technology in spite of a conspicuous
absence of an environmental law framework and legal infrastructure to handle its potentially
disastrous consequences.
The most ironic aspect of globalization in the 1980s and ’90s was that in their quest for economic development, developing nations sacrificed the human rights of the lowest rungs of their societies. Foreign companies were accused of committing some of the most heinous
crimes—from homicide and rape to forced labour.
Bhopal was undoubtedly the darkest reflection of globalization. It forced citizens to seriously weigh the costs of globalization against its benefits, particularly when modern technology was imported into an archaic legal set-up, as was the case with India."
~ Zia Mody
October 24, 2009
Comme à son habitude, Dominique Lapierre nous délivre là une grande enquête.
Où on voit que la cupidité, la négligence, l'ignorance, l'ambition... peuvent faire des milliers de victimes.
Mais on voit aussi, que lors de grands désastres, certains se comportent vraiment comme des sains.
Où on voit que la cupidité, la négligence, l'ignorance, l'ambition... peuvent faire des milliers de victimes.
Mais on voit aussi, que lors de grands désastres, certains se comportent vraiment comme des sains.
August 28, 2018
Puoi trovare questa recensione anche sul mio blog, La siepe di more
Mezzanotte e cinque a Bhopal parte da lontano, spiegandoci quanto sia stata devastante l’azione degli insetti nell’agricoltura, soprattutto nelle zone più povere del mondo, e quanto sia stata rivoluzionaria la scoperta degli insetticidi, che permettono di salvare molto più raccolto.
Sembrava tutto fantastico: si era addirittura avuto l’idea di portare uno stabilimento della Union Carbide Corporation in India, a Bhopal, per produrre direttamente in loco l’insetticida che avrebbe salvato i raccolti di migliaia di contadini.
Purtroppo, la voglia di profitto, la sciatteria e la superficialità dell’essere umano ci hanno messo lo zampino e il sogno è bruscamente finito con la morte di migliaia di persone e l'avvelenamento dell’ambiente, che ha causato malformazioni, malattie e altre morti. Infatti, per fabbricare il Sevin, l’insetticida in questione, è necessario l’isocianato di metile, uno dei gas più pericolosi usati nell’industria chimica: nella loro tracotanza, nessuno dei dirigenti della Carbide e dei politici locali aveva pensato ai pericoli che correvano le zone abitate limitrofe e a prendere provvedimenti per scongiurarli.
Quando si perde di vista l’essere umano come beneficiario ultimo di tutto quello che facciamo, le storie non hanno mai un lieto fine. Dominique Lapierre e Javier Moro raccontano puntualmente come si è arrivati al disastro e quanto tremendo fu l’arrivo della nube di gas in piena notte e in mezzo a diversi festeggiamenti che avevano radunato molte persone (se siete sensibili a queste narrazioni, vi consiglio di fate attenzione perché il resoconto è molto crudo).
Dopo l’incidente, è iniziato il rimpallo di responsabilità che ha fatto sì che ancora oggi l’area non sia stata ancora bonificata e le conseguenze della contaminazione siano arrivate fino a oggi.
Per maggiori informazioni e per fare qualcosa di concreto se vi va, vi lascio il sito di The Bhopal Medical Appeal.
Mezzanotte e cinque a Bhopal parte da lontano, spiegandoci quanto sia stata devastante l’azione degli insetti nell’agricoltura, soprattutto nelle zone più povere del mondo, e quanto sia stata rivoluzionaria la scoperta degli insetticidi, che permettono di salvare molto più raccolto.
Sembrava tutto fantastico: si era addirittura avuto l’idea di portare uno stabilimento della Union Carbide Corporation in India, a Bhopal, per produrre direttamente in loco l’insetticida che avrebbe salvato i raccolti di migliaia di contadini.
Purtroppo, la voglia di profitto, la sciatteria e la superficialità dell’essere umano ci hanno messo lo zampino e il sogno è bruscamente finito con la morte di migliaia di persone e l'avvelenamento dell’ambiente, che ha causato malformazioni, malattie e altre morti. Infatti, per fabbricare il Sevin, l’insetticida in questione, è necessario l’isocianato di metile, uno dei gas più pericolosi usati nell’industria chimica: nella loro tracotanza, nessuno dei dirigenti della Carbide e dei politici locali aveva pensato ai pericoli che correvano le zone abitate limitrofe e a prendere provvedimenti per scongiurarli.
Quando si perde di vista l’essere umano come beneficiario ultimo di tutto quello che facciamo, le storie non hanno mai un lieto fine. Dominique Lapierre e Javier Moro raccontano puntualmente come si è arrivati al disastro e quanto tremendo fu l’arrivo della nube di gas in piena notte e in mezzo a diversi festeggiamenti che avevano radunato molte persone (se siete sensibili a queste narrazioni, vi consiglio di fate attenzione perché il resoconto è molto crudo).
Dopo l’incidente, è iniziato il rimpallo di responsabilità che ha fatto sì che ancora oggi l’area non sia stata ancora bonificata e le conseguenze della contaminazione siano arrivate fino a oggi.
Per maggiori informazioni e per fare qualcosa di concreto se vi va, vi lascio il sito di The Bhopal Medical Appeal.
August 30, 2020
"It was a silent, insidious and almost discreet massacre. No explosion had shaken the city, no fire had set its sky ablaze"
These lines capture the nature of the Bhopal gas tragedy, which is no less a massacre than the Jallianwalah Bagh massacre where intent or in this case lack of intent (for safety) destroyed over 200 thousand lives and the perpetrators were never brought to justice.
The book, which is part epic and part amazing piece of investigative journalism, is a hard hitting account of the history, the context and the hour by hour reporting of the tragedy. It traces the journey of the union carbide plant which was considered to be the game changing gift for the Indian farmers, the Americans who brought the prestigious plant to India, the history and the life of the people living in the area surrounding the plant- their personal journeys, their daily ups and downs and their dreams, and ultimately interweaves the lives of these millionaire Americans with these poor daily wage earners leading to a tragic twist of fate.
I love Dominique Lapierre's style of writing real human stories and building a connection with all the characters- all of whom are real people who were impacted by the tragedy. We get to live their lives beyond the context of the Bhopal plant, making the final moments all the more difficult.
Reading the book feels like sitting on a time bomb and waiting for it to explode. You know it's going to happen, but you don't know when and how, but when it finally does it drains all hope and leaves you gutted. The book is difficult to read.
Moreover, there is no happy ending as this is real life. You end with a feeling of despair and frustration at the injustice meted out to those affected by the massacre from all sides- the billion dollar corporation, the opportunistic politicians and the filthy lawyers.
Although, the writers try to give impartial view, reading certain portions made me feel they went easy on certain Carbide officials. The book tries to steer clear from passing judgements which it leaves to the justice system - which while is good in spirit is also frustrating as a reader because it leaves one with more questions than answers in the end.
These lines capture the nature of the Bhopal gas tragedy, which is no less a massacre than the Jallianwalah Bagh massacre where intent or in this case lack of intent (for safety) destroyed over 200 thousand lives and the perpetrators were never brought to justice.
The book, which is part epic and part amazing piece of investigative journalism, is a hard hitting account of the history, the context and the hour by hour reporting of the tragedy. It traces the journey of the union carbide plant which was considered to be the game changing gift for the Indian farmers, the Americans who brought the prestigious plant to India, the history and the life of the people living in the area surrounding the plant- their personal journeys, their daily ups and downs and their dreams, and ultimately interweaves the lives of these millionaire Americans with these poor daily wage earners leading to a tragic twist of fate.
I love Dominique Lapierre's style of writing real human stories and building a connection with all the characters- all of whom are real people who were impacted by the tragedy. We get to live their lives beyond the context of the Bhopal plant, making the final moments all the more difficult.
Reading the book feels like sitting on a time bomb and waiting for it to explode. You know it's going to happen, but you don't know when and how, but when it finally does it drains all hope and leaves you gutted. The book is difficult to read.
Moreover, there is no happy ending as this is real life. You end with a feeling of despair and frustration at the injustice meted out to those affected by the massacre from all sides- the billion dollar corporation, the opportunistic politicians and the filthy lawyers.
Although, the writers try to give impartial view, reading certain portions made me feel they went easy on certain Carbide officials. The book tries to steer clear from passing judgements which it leaves to the justice system - which while is good in spirit is also frustrating as a reader because it leaves one with more questions than answers in the end.
November 15, 2025
Questo libro è un vero e proprio documentario scritto nero su bianco. Leggerlo è stato molto interessante, credevo che sarebbe stato un po' noioso in alcune fasi, invece conoscere molti dettagli su come si è arrivati a costruire una fabbrica enorme di pesticidi a Bhopal e alla sua rovina che ha inesorabilmente condotto verso un' immane tragedia è stato appassionante. Può sembrare un libro pesante, duro ma in realtà c'è tanta vita tra queste pagine, Padmini con la sua generosità e il suo coraggio mi è rimasta nel cuore, spero che adesso se la passi un po' meglio.
December 6, 2018
Nunca tinha ouvido falar sobre o maior desastre industrial da humanidade. O livro é bem escrito e detalhado. Confesso que o capítulo sobre pragas é meio chato, mas no geral o livro é ótimo. Ao invés de focar em sensacionalismo, apresenta um quadro do que era Bhopal, da complexa sociedade indiana e o que representava a Carbide, empresa produtora do Sevin. Relata todos os fatos que culminaram nessa tragédia.
April 14, 2020
The impact of the book cannot be expressed in words. It flows through the mind in the form of emotions. The author is able to bring the focus to the lives of people before and after being affected by this unfortunate even. What is more appreciable is to know the fact that the author is directly involved in setting up of medical help facility and the royalties from the book goes into treating victims of the disaster free of cost.
December 2, 2023
Una novela/denuncia sobre la tragedia de Carbide en Bophal y cómo quedaron sus vidas. Con esa manera de transmitir que tiene Lapierre.
No dejo de pensar qué habría ocurrido si algo así hubiera pasado en EE. UU.
Si las cosas se hubieran hecho como se tenían que hacer. Desde la construcción de la fábrica hasta el uso y mantenimiento de la misma.
Y, sobre todo, si la avaricia, el beneficio y la rentabilidad no fueran siempre el motor de todo.
No dejo de pensar qué habría ocurrido si algo así hubiera pasado en EE. UU.
Si las cosas se hubieran hecho como se tenían que hacer. Desde la construcción de la fábrica hasta el uso y mantenimiento de la misma.
Y, sobre todo, si la avaricia, el beneficio y la rentabilidad no fueran siempre el motor de todo.
July 14, 2017
Che dire di questa tragedia che ha colpito Bhopal nel dicembre 1984? Che, come si suol dire, piove sempre sul bagnato? Che a farne le spese sono sempre i più poveri? Che la loro vita vale così poco da non essere nemmeno risarciti?
Questo libro mi ha lasciato senza forze e senza parole ma è una condanna verso il profitto ad ogni costo, verso la sorte che bastona chi è già a terra, verso una giustizia che ancora deve veder nascere il sole. ...
Questo libro mi ha lasciato senza forze e senza parole ma è una condanna verso il profitto ad ogni costo, verso la sorte che bastona chi è già a terra, verso una giustizia che ancora deve veder nascere il sole. ...
Read
March 28, 2024Book about the gas incident in India in 1984.
This book managed to be educational about the factory itself and also show the human element of the disaster.
The first part which discusses pesticides and how Carbide made the decision to build the Bhopal factory was interesting even though I have zero interest in factories, multinational corporations, or agriculture.
This book managed to be educational about the factory itself and also show the human element of the disaster.
The first part which discusses pesticides and how Carbide made the decision to build the Bhopal factory was interesting even though I have zero interest in factories, multinational corporations, or agriculture.
January 27, 2026
This book is heartbreaking yet important to read.
It shows how carelessness and greed led to unimaginable suffering for ordinary people in Bhopal.
Overall, it’s a powerful reminder of why safety, responsibility, and humanity should always come first.
It shows how carelessness and greed led to unimaginable suffering for ordinary people in Bhopal.
Overall, it’s a powerful reminder of why safety, responsibility, and humanity should always come first.
July 4, 2024
Me sorprendió para bien
November 10, 2025
Desgarradora y devastadora histórica que cobro miles de vidas en Bhopal, India. Un evento casi tan desastroso como Chernobyl e igual de evitable.
January 24, 2022
Imprescindible la lectura de este libro, por un lado para conocer un poco más de la cultura india y por otro, y más importante, para no olvidar la tragedia de bhopal
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