Book excerpt: Contrary To The Commonly Held View That India`S Look-East Policy, Aimed At Establishing Itself As An Important Asia Pacific Power, Started In The 1990S Under The Regime Narasimha Rao, This Book Explains How India`S Engagement In The Region Really Began Centuries Ago. After Independence, India Surrendered Its Influence In The Region To China, Since Its Policy Of Non-Alignment Came In The Way Of Realistic Projection Of Power. In Fact, For India The Period Between 1950 And 1992 Was A Period Of Lost Opportunities.