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India's Tryst with the World: Rethinking India Series
As technology, trade and affordable travel make our planet a much more interconnected place, and India’s importance on the world stage grows, India’s foreign policy attracts greater interest and scrutiny than ever before, both within and outside the country.
How do we understand the evolution of India’s foreign policy from the early years after Independence to the present day? How should India position itself as it moves towards 100 years of independence in 2047? These are among the big questions India’s Tryst with the World seeks to address.
Recognizing that India’s foreign policy is ultimately driven by the strength of its people (not just the privileged few) and its economy as a whole, this book prises open the discussion on India’s place in the world, taking it far beyond traditional foreign policy mandarins.
A thoughtful mix of essays by some of India’s most respected diplomats, opinion makers and political leaders—including the late Manmohan Singh, Shashi Tharoor, Shivshankar Menon, Suhasini Haider and Kishore Mahbubani—this new volume in the acclaimed Rethinking India series could not be coming out at a more opportune time in history, with all the uncertainty wrought by wars on several fronts and political disruption caused by the rise of the Right the world over.
How do we understand the evolution of India’s foreign policy from the early years after Independence to the present day? How should India position itself as it moves towards 100 years of independence in 2047? These are among the big questions India’s Tryst with the World seeks to address.
Recognizing that India’s foreign policy is ultimately driven by the strength of its people (not just the privileged few) and its economy as a whole, this book prises open the discussion on India’s place in the world, taking it far beyond traditional foreign policy mandarins.
A thoughtful mix of essays by some of India’s most respected diplomats, opinion makers and political leaders—including the late Manmohan Singh, Shashi Tharoor, Shivshankar Menon, Suhasini Haider and Kishore Mahbubani—this new volume in the acclaimed Rethinking India series could not be coming out at a more opportune time in history, with all the uncertainty wrought by wars on several fronts and political disruption caused by the rise of the Right the world over.
232 pages, Hardcover
Published June 23, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 11, 2025
In an age where nations are no longer shielded by their borders but instead shaped, challenged, and redefined by global currents, a country’s foreign policy becomes not merely a diplomatic tool but an ideological mirror. "India’s Tryst with the World" emerges as a compelling intellectual artefact attempting to decode how a diverse, democratic, economically uneven, yet aspirational nation imagines its place in the global order. It is not written as a triumphal manifesto nor as a pessimistic prophecy, but as a reflective anthology that insists foreign policy is not crafted only inside closed-door war rooms, it is born from the pulse, resilience, anxieties, and ambitions of over a billion people.
The book seeks to reposition foreign policy away from bureaucratic jargon, elite think-tank discourse, and party-aligned rhetoric, arguing instead that India’s global identity is inseparable from:
🪙 Domestic social and institutional health
🪙 Economic legitimacy and innovation capability
🪙 Strategic autonomy in a multipolar world
🪙 Ethical consistency in international dealings
The book does not romanticize non-alignment nor dismiss it as outdated rhetoric. Instead, it frames the shift toward multipolar pragmatism as inevitable yet identity challenging. India wants to be a stabilizer, not a spectator; a rule shaper, not a rule-taker.
India’s foreign engagements often attempt a moral middle path supporting democracy while negotiating with autocracies for security and energy. The essays acknowledge this paradox without pretending it is clean or unproblematic.
Repeatedly, contributors argue that foreign policy cannot compensate for domestic fragility. Democratic erosion, unemployment, inequality, human rights concerns, and media polarization directly weaken diplomatic influence.
The China factor is treated not as a panic button but as a structural, permanent, and unavoidable strategic rivalry. The book also rehabilitates the idea of India as an anchor for the Global South, not just a regional power.
✍️ Strengths :
✔ Intellectual honesty avoids forced optimism and nationalist propaganda.
✔ Multiple lenses like economic, moral, strategic, social, and journalistic adds more depth to the book.
✔ Relevance to present moment linking them to post-pandemic, rising nationalism, and fractured geopolitics.
✔ Humanized foreign policy which is people-centric rather than elite-centric.
•••
✒️ Areas for Improvement :
✖ Some chapters feel deeply analytical, others feel like polished op-eds.
✖ Foreign policy’s link to farmers, labourers, and rural youth remains underexplored beyond conceptual statements.
✖ Geopolitical transitions discussed more qualitatively than empirically.
•••
In conclusion, the book succeeds not because it answers all questions, but because it forces the right conversations to begin outside policy circles. It reminds us that a nation does not earn global stature through muscle, slogan, or diplomacy alone, it earns it through social justice, economic resilience, intellectual autonomy, and moral coherence. As India moves toward 2047, the question is no longer Can India rise? but On what values will India choose to rise? If nations are remembered not merely for power but for what they contributed to the human condition, then this book subtly urges India to choose its legacy before history chooses it for us.
•••
📍 Ideal Reader Profile :
This book is for readers who enjoy policy-oriented thinking, public intellectual debate, and ideological tension. It may not appeal to readers seeking narrative history, simplified analysis, or a solutions-driven blueprint.
The book seeks to reposition foreign policy away from bureaucratic jargon, elite think-tank discourse, and party-aligned rhetoric, arguing instead that India’s global identity is inseparable from:
🪙 Domestic social and institutional health
🪙 Economic legitimacy and innovation capability
🪙 Strategic autonomy in a multipolar world
🪙 Ethical consistency in international dealings
The book does not romanticize non-alignment nor dismiss it as outdated rhetoric. Instead, it frames the shift toward multipolar pragmatism as inevitable yet identity challenging. India wants to be a stabilizer, not a spectator; a rule shaper, not a rule-taker.
India’s foreign engagements often attempt a moral middle path supporting democracy while negotiating with autocracies for security and energy. The essays acknowledge this paradox without pretending it is clean or unproblematic.
Repeatedly, contributors argue that foreign policy cannot compensate for domestic fragility. Democratic erosion, unemployment, inequality, human rights concerns, and media polarization directly weaken diplomatic influence.
The China factor is treated not as a panic button but as a structural, permanent, and unavoidable strategic rivalry. The book also rehabilitates the idea of India as an anchor for the Global South, not just a regional power.
✍️ Strengths :
✔ Intellectual honesty avoids forced optimism and nationalist propaganda.
✔ Multiple lenses like economic, moral, strategic, social, and journalistic adds more depth to the book.
✔ Relevance to present moment linking them to post-pandemic, rising nationalism, and fractured geopolitics.
✔ Humanized foreign policy which is people-centric rather than elite-centric.
•••
✒️ Areas for Improvement :
✖ Some chapters feel deeply analytical, others feel like polished op-eds.
✖ Foreign policy’s link to farmers, labourers, and rural youth remains underexplored beyond conceptual statements.
✖ Geopolitical transitions discussed more qualitatively than empirically.
•••
In conclusion, the book succeeds not because it answers all questions, but because it forces the right conversations to begin outside policy circles. It reminds us that a nation does not earn global stature through muscle, slogan, or diplomacy alone, it earns it through social justice, economic resilience, intellectual autonomy, and moral coherence. As India moves toward 2047, the question is no longer Can India rise? but On what values will India choose to rise? If nations are remembered not merely for power but for what they contributed to the human condition, then this book subtly urges India to choose its legacy before history chooses it for us.
•••
📍 Ideal Reader Profile :
This book is for readers who enjoy policy-oriented thinking, public intellectual debate, and ideological tension. It may not appeal to readers seeking narrative history, simplified analysis, or a solutions-driven blueprint.
December 25, 2025
Book- India's Tryst with the world💚
Edited by - Salman Khurshid & Salil Shetty
Published - @penguinrandomhouse
This is a fat book carrying edited essays and conceptual paragraphs delivering economic visibilities that had been seen and policies that failed for better results and uprise into a willing height leading India to top of lists at global level.
Some popular personalities like, Manmohan Singh, Shahshi tharoor, Hamid Ansari entitled their thoughts and represented them, which is what you get to read in book.
The book brings us the truths scribbled by foreign Policy makers, economists, and opinion makers. More likely , this hardcover is uncovering the evolved India, through 200 pages max.
Book is divided into 3 sections , dividing chapters to read and understand easily.
A few chapters I felt to engage with undivided attention as I was able to relate the written script in the book. Since Modi government came into existence, Where India is making its place in world is pretty discussed. I find the book intersting as it brought vision about India's Policy making and explaining terms of geopolitics, India's relation with China - How and why things went so so, with trading and Business exports and border sharing conversation, India-U.S relationship,
Section 3 is quite intersting and amazed for it comes up as a concluding thing for section 1 and 2 , it Clears the blurry queries and questions with clarity of Solutions to Challenges that ever appeared to India's economic state and well being.
India's future of environment, path to resilience and in a networked world , where it lies and where it can lead with possiblities, is a part of this book.
Anyone who is a economic enthusiast, learning about Policy making and laws, and want to learn about leading India's economy and collect a overview to the vision of rethinking India, should pick this book today and read it.
Thanking @penguinrandomhouse and @salmankhurshid100 and salil shetty for the book ✨
#bookstagramerakshu
#bookreviewsbyakanksha
#bookstagramindia
#bookstgramcommunity
#nonfictionbookrecommendations
Edited by - Salman Khurshid & Salil Shetty
Published - @penguinrandomhouse
This is a fat book carrying edited essays and conceptual paragraphs delivering economic visibilities that had been seen and policies that failed for better results and uprise into a willing height leading India to top of lists at global level.
Some popular personalities like, Manmohan Singh, Shahshi tharoor, Hamid Ansari entitled their thoughts and represented them, which is what you get to read in book.
The book brings us the truths scribbled by foreign Policy makers, economists, and opinion makers. More likely , this hardcover is uncovering the evolved India, through 200 pages max.
Book is divided into 3 sections , dividing chapters to read and understand easily.
A few chapters I felt to engage with undivided attention as I was able to relate the written script in the book. Since Modi government came into existence, Where India is making its place in world is pretty discussed. I find the book intersting as it brought vision about India's Policy making and explaining terms of geopolitics, India's relation with China - How and why things went so so, with trading and Business exports and border sharing conversation, India-U.S relationship,
Section 3 is quite intersting and amazed for it comes up as a concluding thing for section 1 and 2 , it Clears the blurry queries and questions with clarity of Solutions to Challenges that ever appeared to India's economic state and well being.
India's future of environment, path to resilience and in a networked world , where it lies and where it can lead with possiblities, is a part of this book.
Anyone who is a economic enthusiast, learning about Policy making and laws, and want to learn about leading India's economy and collect a overview to the vision of rethinking India, should pick this book today and read it.
Thanking @penguinrandomhouse and @salmankhurshid100 and salil shetty for the book ✨
#bookstagramerakshu
#bookreviewsbyakanksha
#bookstagramindia
#bookstgramcommunity
#nonfictionbookrecommendations
November 16, 2025
In India’s Tryst with the World, the newest contribution to the Rethinking India series, foreign policy is treated neither as a mystery nor as a specialist’s monopoly. The volume positions India’s global engagement as an evolving national conversation, one that stretches from the early architecture of nonalignment to the present landscape of contested multipolarity. The editors, Salil Shetty and Salman Khurshid, assemble voices that have shaped or closely observed these transitions, creating a record that is both reflective and quietly interventionist.
The essays foreground a central idea: India’s external posture cannot be separated from its internal health. Diplomatic ambition, they argue, loses credibility if domestic inequality deepens or democratic institutions erode. This linkage recurs across contributions, whether in Manmohan Singh’s economic lens, Shivshankar Menon’s strategic reading of a world marked by intensifying rivalry, or Suhasini Haider’s emphasis on the pressures placed on diplomacy by rapid political change.
The book’s strength lies in its willingness to linger on complexities rather than resolve them. India’s search for autonomy, the recalibration demanded by China’s rise, the ethical dilemmas of dealing with illiberal powers, and the persistent tension between moral leadership and realpolitik appear not as contradictions to be smoothed over but as conditions that define India’s global presence.
Published at a time when international alignments shift with unnerving speed, India’s Tryst with the World reads like an invitation to think more seriously about the world India is entering. It situates foreign policy within the larger question of what kind of republic India intends to be by 2047, and how that aspiration will shape rather than simply respond to the global order.
The essays foreground a central idea: India’s external posture cannot be separated from its internal health. Diplomatic ambition, they argue, loses credibility if domestic inequality deepens or democratic institutions erode. This linkage recurs across contributions, whether in Manmohan Singh’s economic lens, Shivshankar Menon’s strategic reading of a world marked by intensifying rivalry, or Suhasini Haider’s emphasis on the pressures placed on diplomacy by rapid political change.
The book’s strength lies in its willingness to linger on complexities rather than resolve them. India’s search for autonomy, the recalibration demanded by China’s rise, the ethical dilemmas of dealing with illiberal powers, and the persistent tension between moral leadership and realpolitik appear not as contradictions to be smoothed over but as conditions that define India’s global presence.
Published at a time when international alignments shift with unnerving speed, India’s Tryst with the World reads like an invitation to think more seriously about the world India is entering. It situates foreign policy within the larger question of what kind of republic India intends to be by 2047, and how that aspiration will shape rather than simply respond to the global order.
December 20, 2025
India’s Tryst with the World offers a timely and accessible reflection on how India sees itself beyond its borders. Rather than framing foreign policy as the preserve of experts, this book opens it up as a shared national concern, charting India’s journey from the ideals of non-alignment to the realities of today’s fragmented, power-shifting world. Curated by Salil Shetty and Salman Khurshid, the collection brings together thinkers and practitioners whose experiences lend both depth and urgency to the discussion.
A recurring thread through the essays is the idea that India’s voice abroad is only as strong as its foundations at home. Economic choices, social equity, and the health of democratic institutions are shown to be inseparable from diplomatic credibility. Whether through Manmohan Singh’s focus on growth and reform, Shivshankar Menon’s take on strategic competition, or Suhasini Haider’s insights into a fast-changing political climate, the contributors underline how domestic realities shape global standing.
What makes the book compelling is its refusal to simplify. It confronts the uneasy balance between independence and alignment, the challenge posed by China’s ascent, and the moral questions of engaging with authoritarian regimes. Instead of offering neat answers, the essays accept these tensions as part of India’s lived international experience.
At a moment when global equations are being redrawn almost daily, this volume feels less like a verdict and more like a call to reflection. It urges readers to think about the kind of nation India hopes to become by 2047, and how that vision will influence its role in an uncertain world, rather than merely reacting to it.
A recurring thread through the essays is the idea that India’s voice abroad is only as strong as its foundations at home. Economic choices, social equity, and the health of democratic institutions are shown to be inseparable from diplomatic credibility. Whether through Manmohan Singh’s focus on growth and reform, Shivshankar Menon’s take on strategic competition, or Suhasini Haider’s insights into a fast-changing political climate, the contributors underline how domestic realities shape global standing.
What makes the book compelling is its refusal to simplify. It confronts the uneasy balance between independence and alignment, the challenge posed by China’s ascent, and the moral questions of engaging with authoritarian regimes. Instead of offering neat answers, the essays accept these tensions as part of India’s lived international experience.
At a moment when global equations are being redrawn almost daily, this volume feels less like a verdict and more like a call to reflection. It urges readers to think about the kind of nation India hopes to become by 2047, and how that vision will influence its role in an uncertain world, rather than merely reacting to it.
November 2, 2025
”We have to have much greater confidence in the resilience of the people, their history and their core values, whether it is in the US or in India.”
- India's tryst with the World, Edited by Salman Khurshid & Salil Shetty
’India's tryst with the World’ addresses a pertinent issue as to how should India position itself when it marks 100 years of independence in the year 2047. It analyses how India's equation with global powers has shifted in recent years. Reading Dr Manmohan Singh's views on the decisive decade for India made me reflect on his economic reforms that stabilized the Indian economy.
”The actions of the US and Western powers normalized the process of undermining well-accepted norms and conventions at the global level.”
Edited by Salil Shetty and Salman Khurshid, the diverse essays from the brightest minds in the country encapsulate a comprehensive footing of India's place in the world amidst global uncertainties and socio-economic changes after the Covid-19 pandemic. Recognising the fact that India has to harness its population as it is ultimately driven by the strength of its people not just privileged few.
The book is very relevant considering the times we live in particularly due to its diversity that aims to provide a comprehensive view of India's place in the world. It also made me reconsider the fact of how our country tries to strike a balance between national priorities and being a global leader.
- India's tryst with the World, Edited by Salman Khurshid & Salil Shetty
’India's tryst with the World’ addresses a pertinent issue as to how should India position itself when it marks 100 years of independence in the year 2047. It analyses how India's equation with global powers has shifted in recent years. Reading Dr Manmohan Singh's views on the decisive decade for India made me reflect on his economic reforms that stabilized the Indian economy.
”The actions of the US and Western powers normalized the process of undermining well-accepted norms and conventions at the global level.”
Edited by Salil Shetty and Salman Khurshid, the diverse essays from the brightest minds in the country encapsulate a comprehensive footing of India's place in the world amidst global uncertainties and socio-economic changes after the Covid-19 pandemic. Recognising the fact that India has to harness its population as it is ultimately driven by the strength of its people not just privileged few.
The book is very relevant considering the times we live in particularly due to its diversity that aims to provide a comprehensive view of India's place in the world. It also made me reconsider the fact of how our country tries to strike a balance between national priorities and being a global leader.
December 15, 2025
In an era marked by global uncertainty, shifting power equations and India’s growing international presence, India’s Tryst with the World arrives at a crucial moment. Part of the Rethinking India series, the book examines the evolution of India’s foreign policy from the years following Independence to the challenges and possibilities that lie ahead as the country approaches 2047.
The volume moves beyond traditional, elite-driven foreign policy narratives to argue that India’s global standing is ultimately shaped by the strength of its people and its economy. Through a series of thoughtful essays, it explores how technology, trade and global interconnectedness have transformed India’s engagement with the world.
What sets the book apart is its stellar lineup of contributors, including the late Manmohan Singh, Shashi Tharoor, Shivshankar Menon, Suhasini Haider and Kishore Mahbubani. Their perspectives bring depth, credibility and balance to the discussion.
Reflective rather than prescriptive, India’s Tryst with the World offers a timely and accessible exploration of India’s past, present and future on the global stage—making it an insightful read for anyone interested in contemporary Indian foreign policy.
January 21, 2026
In an era where borders blur and global conversations grow louder, India’s Tryst With The World stands tall as a thoughtful, dignified reflection of India’s evolving voice on the world stage. Curated by Salman Khurshid and Salil Shetty, and powered by the wisdom of nation builders like Dr. Manmohan Singh, Shashi Tharoor and Nirupama Rao, this book is both timely and timeless.
What I truly admired is its holistic, balanced view of India’s foreign policy, tracing its journey acknowledging perspectives across previous and current governments without bias. It reminds us that India’s global strength lies not just in diplomacy or strategy, but in its people, economy and democratic spirit.
Insightful, patriotic and deeply intellectual, this book invites us to reflect on where India has been, where it stands today, and how it must shape its path as it moves towards 100 years of Independence in 2047. A must-read for every citizen who believes India’s story with the world is still being written.
What I truly admired is its holistic, balanced view of India’s foreign policy, tracing its journey acknowledging perspectives across previous and current governments without bias. It reminds us that India’s global strength lies not just in diplomacy or strategy, but in its people, economy and democratic spirit.
Insightful, patriotic and deeply intellectual, this book invites us to reflect on where India has been, where it stands today, and how it must shape its path as it moves towards 100 years of Independence in 2047. A must-read for every citizen who believes India’s story with the world is still being written.
November 28, 2025
India's Tryst With The World, edited by Salman Khurshid and Salil Shetty, examines the evolution of India's foreign policy and envisions its future as the nation approaches its centenary in 2047. It highlights that India's foreign policy stems not only from elite aspirations but also from the strength of its diverse population and economy.
Moreover, the text argues that India is increasingly emerging as a decisive voice in global affairs,
capable of shaping conversations
on critical issues. Contributions from distinguished figures such as former Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh, Shivshankar Menon, Nirupama Rao, Suhasini Haider and many more enrich the narrative and elevate the discourse to a masterful level.
Overall, the book presents thought-provoking ideas and proposals, inviting readers to consider the complexity and potential of India’s future in international relations.
Moreover, the text argues that India is increasingly emerging as a decisive voice in global affairs,
capable of shaping conversations
on critical issues. Contributions from distinguished figures such as former Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh, Shivshankar Menon, Nirupama Rao, Suhasini Haider and many more enrich the narrative and elevate the discourse to a masterful level.
Overall, the book presents thought-provoking ideas and proposals, inviting readers to consider the complexity and potential of India’s future in international relations.
December 17, 2025
Foreign policy is a document which decides the fate of the country next coming years on both domestic and international platforms. It's one of the important instrument of democracy. This is a compilation of thoughtful essays which analysed India's strategy and how to become the next influencial power away from its traditional methods of diplomacy. This literature is a academic work, it also needs prior knowledge on the policy debates. Although It is central to the thought inducing process of understanding and analysing the views of India on global platforms.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews