The book is an insider's account of the personalities and policies that shaped Indian diplomacy.
Former foreign secretary, Maharajakrishna Rasgotra joined India's external affairs ministry when Jawaharlal Nehru, Girija Shankar Bajpai, Sardar Patel were—with a mix of pragmatism and hope—creating the foreign policy of the newly independent nation. Looking back on those crucial years, Rasgotra assesses the influences of those personalities on events and their impact on the evolution of Indian diplomacy. For over three decades, Rasgotra's tenure covered a period of great change. A Life in Diplomacy provides a ringside view of the beginnings of ethnic violence in Sri Lanka, the last years of the Cold War, the negotiations on the formation of SAARC, and Mrs. Gandhi's assassination. The book is a compelling, authoritative account of a personal and professional journey; a reflective look at the leaders, events, and forces that formed relations between India and the world over fifty years.