This book examines how India was placed and placed itself in the world during the first half of the 20th century in a period of global turmoil and set against the subcontinential contest for independence. In situating India in the world, it looks not just at current foreign policy studies, but also at geopolitics, World War experiences, theoretical and strategic approaches, early foreign policy institutional transitions and the role of Indian Civil and foreign displomatic services. The work explores history and theory with a focus on cosmoplitanism beyond nationalism.