K. Natwar Singh has been described as a bibliophile with a sense of humour. His versatility is well known. In these essays, he has, in an elegant style, dealt with issues of national and international importance. He has summoned his vast experience to inform the reader of what ails us and how the ailments could be overcome. His vision of a democratic, secular and just India is Nehruvian. His formidable learning and his sensitivity have earned him the respect of the discernible both within and outside India. In this book, he demonstrates once again, that his pen has retained its power to delight and stimulate. His ideas and opinions carry conviction and weight. The book is refreshingly provocative and represents a genuinely civilized mind. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Author, Diplomat, Politician, K. Natwar Singh was born in Bharatpur, Rajasthan. He was educated at Mayo College, Ajmer; Scindia School, Gwalior; St. Stephen’s College, Delhi; Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. His thirty-one years in the Indian Foreign Service took him to Peking, New York, Warsaw, London, Lusaka and Islamabad. From 1966 to 1971, he was attached to the Prime Minister’s Secretariat. In 1983 he was Secretary General of the 7th Non-Aligned Summit and Chief Co-ordinator of the Commonwealth Summit, held in New Delhi. For his outstanding organisational qualities he was awarded Padma Bhushan in 1984. The same year he resigned from the Foreign Service to enter politics. He was a Member of the Lok Sabha from 1984 to 1989 and Minister of State for Steel, Fertilizer and External Affairs. In 1987 he was elected President of U.N. Conference on Disarmament and Development. The same year he led the Indian Delegation to the 42nd Session of the U.N. General Assembly. In 1989 he was leader of the Indian Delegations to the U.N. Conference on Chemical Weapons and the Paris Conference on Cambodia.