This work investigates whether Indian diplomatic practice is a derivative of European colonial models or if it is rooted in indigenous historical and cultural frameworks. Deep K. Datta-ray, an academic who gained unique access as an embedded observer within India's Ministry of External Affairs, challenges the prevailing Eurocentric view of Indian statecraft. He posits that the foundational logic of Indian diplomacy is derived from the Mahabharata, tracing this influence from pre-Mughal history through the modern era using a combination of ethnographic observation and historical analysis.

Scholars and practitioners recognize this book as a significant contribution to the study of non-Western diplomatic traditions. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose and the author's unique position as an embedded researcher within the Indian government.