The Unfinished Quest: India’s Search for Major Power Status from Nehru to Modi by T. V. Paul

AN AUTHORITATIVE ANALYSIS OF INDIA’S JOURNEY TO THE GLOBAL STAGE.

Why has India, despite its growing economic might and strategic importance, yet to attain the status of a recognized "great power"? In The Unfinished Quest, renowned international relations scholar T. V. Paul provides a sweeping, rigorous examination of India’s trajectory from 1947 to the present day.

This book charts the "checkered path" India has traveled—spanning the eras of Nehru to Modi—evaluating both the profound successes and the persistent constraints that have hindered its global ambitions. Paul establishes clear benchmarks for status and power, offering readers a sophisticated framework to understand:

• The Status Dilemma: The motivations and barriers that have shaped India’s foreign policy over decades.

• The China–India Rivalry: A new perspective on how the two nations compete for influence in the Indo-Pacific.

• India as a "Swing Power": An exploration of India’s pivotal role in mitigating China’s aggressive rise and the importance of leveraging its demographic dividend.

Combining deep historical context with modern geopolitical analysis, The Unfinished Quest is an essential read for students of political science, policy makers, and anyone looking to understand India’s evolving role in the international hierarchy.