India’s nuclear story is one of ambition shaped by scarcity. Born in the aftermath of its post-colonial era, the programme promised strategic autonomy by turning limited uranium and abundant thorium into lasting energy security. Carrying the optimism of self-reliance, it endured sanctions, isolation, and domestic politics that rarely gave it priority. Yet this three-stage vision lingers between possibility and reality. Can India transform this bold experiment into a pillar of its energy future?