The Indian cultural influence in Southeast Asia has been a fascinating subject among historians. Beginning from pre-historic time, Indian culture flowed to Southeast Asia in gush and sometimes in tickles until the western hegemony was established in both the regions. The author in the book has exploded the myth that it was an Indian initiative and Southeast Asia was at the receiving end. The autochthonous society of Southeast Asia was of such a standard that it could assimilate elements of Indian culture. The whole process of Indian cultural influence was interaction between culture of India and Southeast Asia. A region of ethnic, cultural, linguistic, historical and physical mosaic; external influences have left deep imprints on the indigenous culture of Southeast Asia. Although it has received transfusion of these cultures adding nuances and shades of meaning through centuries, the region has not lost its idiom. As the culture of India consists of plurality of traditions, the part played by Orissa is portrayed in proper perspective. This is a region where cultural influences from different directions have been synthesized to produce a unique type of culture. Having a long maritime tradition, the people of Orissa had gone to Southeast Asia and left a cultural legacy. A number of similarities between Orissa and Southeast Asia could be found in different fields. The impact of Orissan religion, philosophy, social custom, art and architecture upon various countries of Southeast Asia is abundantly evident. The present author is not tempted too much to stress the claim of Orissa in cultural diffusion to southeast Asia, but has taken an objective view in pointing out Orissa’s contribution to the whole gamut of Indo-Southeast Asian relations. As a part of Indian subcontinent, it had created extensive commercial ties and trade networks with various parts of Asia. Through its numerous ports on the long coastline, Orissan contact had flowed out in successive waves to different countries.
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