Arundhati Roy emphasizes the insidious impact of nuclear weapons beyond their actual use. She argues that their mere existence affects our thought processes, behavior, and societal structures profoundly. This presence shapes our dreams and experiences, instilling a sense of madness into our lives. The psychological grip of nuclear weapons is so deep that they influence human existence in fundamental ways.

Roy characterizes nuclear weapons as the ultimate form of colonialism, likening their pervasive influence to whiteness itself, suggesting they exert a tyrannical control over societies. Rather than being only a military threat, she describes them as pervasive entities that inflict a deeper existential damage, reshaping how we think and live. The emotional and psychological ramifications of nuclear armament extend beyond the physical landscape, making them agents of disorder and colonization.