Intro -- Contents -- 1 Introduction -- 2 Pursuing the Idea of India -- 2.1 Traditional Family Life in Kerala -- 2.2 Innovation through Tradition: The Challenge of Western Education -- 2.3 The Oxford Years (1914-1918) -- 2.4 Reflections on the Idea of Nation -- 2.5 Back to India -- 2.6 History and Politics -- 2.7 Militant Journalism -- 2.8 The Role of Princely States -- 3 Politics and Diplomacy in Princely India -- 3.1 At the Service of the Maharaja -- 3.2 Local Episodes of a Unique National History -- 3.3 Princely States and the Federation: An Experience in Intra-Indian Diplomacy -- 3.4 Foreign Minister of a Princely State: The Need for Partition -- 3.5 Prime Minister in Bikaner: The Rush for Reforms -- 3.6 Endgame for Princely India -- 4 Independent India and the World -- 4.1 What Place for the New India? A Geopolitical Proposal -- 4.2 Indian-ness at Independence -- 4.3 Ambassador to China -- 5 The Chinese Experience -- 5.1 Korea -- 5.2 Tibet -- 5.3 Competing Revolutions -- 5.4 Asia and the West -- 6 From Indian History to the History of Civilisations -- 6.1 Twilight of a Political Career -- 6.2 The Scholar's Last Years -- 7 Conclusions -- Sources and Bibliography -- Index