'Power and Purpose' offers a glimpse into 75 pivotal moments in India's foreign policy since Independence

With the world’s most populous country gearing up to claim its rightful place on the high table of the world’s comity of nations, the interest on India’s rise in economic and military might, along with its diplomatic strategy, has gained interest exponentially.

A carefully-curated book that divides the Indian foreign policy in its entirety from the time of Independence in 1947 to present times into four distinct ‘waves’ and further dissecting the four broad periods into 75 pivotal moments is a good read for anyone trying to understand Indian diplomacy and its impact through these events.

Besides the clarity of ideas, accurate chronicling and scholarly expertise, the book has a unique style. Power and Purpose: Rediscovering Indian Foreign Policy in Amrit Kaal by Harsh V Pant and Anant Singh Mann divides Indian foreign policy into 'State-building and the Nehruvian Outlook' from the 1947-1964 period, 'Regional Consolidation and Antagonisms' from 1964-1985, 'Opening up to the World' from 1985-2004 and 'On the Path to Global Leadership' from 2004 to the present. In that order, if the book begins with the event of India attaining independence and the Korean crisis in 1950, it ends with India’s G20 Presidency in 2023.

Some defining chapters event-wise, that have impacted Indian foreign strategy in a big way, could possibly be the Dalai Lama seeking political asylum in 1959, the India-Pakistan wars including Siachen and Kargil developments, the economic liberalisation in 1991, the Pokhran nuclear tests, the Quad, Kashmir, the G20 Presidency, and the evolution of India’s Look East policy, etc.

With the world currently caught in a global geopolitical and geo-strategic churn with a global power contestation between the US and China, wars raging in the Israel-Palestine and Russia-Ukraine regions, India as an emerging power becomes much more than an abiding interest for strategists, academics, practitioners, diplomats, students and others. It is in these aspects that the book is a worthy read.

Title: Power and Purpose: Rediscovering Indian Foreign Policy in Amrit Kaal
Author: Harsh V. Pant and Anant Singh Mann
Pages: 288
Price: Rs 425
Publisher: Rupa Publications India 

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