Indo-Central Asian Relations: From Early Times to Medieval Period

Due to geographical proximity and close cultural affinity and for reasons of a long history of exchange of ideas, men and commodities between India and Central Asia, a concealed chain of common currents of culture and fascinating flickers of similarities of ethos are noticed in numerous forms. At a time, when Central Asia is passing through a phase of reconnaissance and is constantly looking back and earnestly trying to search for its identity, it is interesting to note that every Central Asian State looks back to India for spinning the fabric of its historical and cultural splendour. It is here in India that most of men of different brands but of Central Asian origin showed their brilliance, acquired greatness, rose to prominence in India and some of them were even buried on its soil–be it Amir Khusrau, Mir Khwand, Haidar Dughlat, Bairam Khan, Abdur Rahim Khan-i-Khanan, Mansur, Nadir and a horde of others. Nothing can better testify to the age old ties existing between India and Central Asia than the latter’s search for its cultural roots, its identity and discovery of the traces of its past glory on Indian soil. A search into the inner recesses of Indian and Central Asian civilizations (with all their distinct deposits of new and varied dynasties and their subsequent transformation alongwith their own shades of origin and fusion had been long over due and could indeed be a purposive venture. This book attempts to address some of the aspects of these longstanding close friendly and diplomatic relations.