This book proceeds from the co-existence of Indian secrecy over its diplomatic records that stifles academic inquiry and the release of significant materials from foreign archives which offers the fascinating possiblitity of understanding India`s external policy trhough the primary sources of others. Words written by the American, British, French and Soviet diplomats does not just chronicle a quarter century of international politics, it helps to understand the driving themes of the bilateral relations, the respective expectations and the way India tried to pursue its national interest during the Cold War.