Indian National Identity and Foreign Policy

“An important and deeply researched book that offers a compelling critical account of a significant actor in India’s colonial and post-colonial history. This fine piece of original scholarship is likely to define debates surrounding Panikkar’s life and work for years to come.” —Paul McGarr, FRHistS, FRAS, Associate Professor in US Foreign Policy, University of Nottingham Shedding light on the role of India within twentieth-century international relations, this book explores the life and career of Kavalam Madhava (K. M.) Panikkar (1894–1963), an Indian historian, statesman and diplomat. Having been involved in Indian intellectual and political life throughout the transition from the British Empire to the Nehruvian era, Panikkar was an important figure in the evolution of the modern Indian state. Based on over four years of extensive research both in India and Europe, and the analysis of public writings and unpublished archival documents, this book examines Panikkar’s role in the Indian national movement, the governance of several Princely states, and India’s foreign policy, notably with China. Not only do the authors critically re-evaluate Panikkar’s intellectual and political thoughts, but also his influence on the broader issue of India’s path towards independence. Offering a valuable contribution to modern Indian diplomatic history and wider international relations, this comprehensive book emphasises Panikkar’s importance in shaping the modern idea of India and crucial elements of Indian foreign policy. Mauro Elli is Associate Professor of Contemporary History in the Department of Historical Studies at the University of Milan ‘La Statale’, Italy. He is a member of the Secretariat for the International Commission of History of International Relations, an affiliated body of the International Committee of Historical Sciences. Rita Paolini oversees research support in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Politecnico di Milano, Italy. Previously, she was a Research Fellow at the University of Milan, where she obtained her Ph.D. in Contemporary History, and she was affiliated to Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, India.