India and Central Asia: Classical to Contemporary Periods

The volume in the collection of the papers contributed in the International Seminar on "India and Central Asia: Classical to Contemporary Periods" and some papers published in the Quarterly Dialogue of the Astha Bharati, Delhi. The Central Asia forms part of our immediate neighbourhood in East Central Asia and extended neighbourhood in the West. India was geographically nearer to the Central Asian Republics before Partition of the country in 1947. Apart from common contiguous borders, climatic continuity, similar geographical features and geo-cultural affinities, India and Central Asia have long traditions of socio-cultural, political and economic contacts since remote past. Their relations have been multi-dimensional, deep, old and continuous. We have common concerns about international terrorism, religious extremism and drug-trafficking. India and Central Asian Republics may develop mutually beneficial trade relations as the latter ones are very rich in energy resources. The two regions also have geo-strategic importance for each other. The book highlights all these aspects in the papers contributed by the scholars of India and Central Asian Republics.