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From antiquity to the present day, Central Asia has all along been an important region for India-politically, strategically, culturally and commercially. The region played an important role sometimes serving as a rendezvous or extension of India’s spiritual acquisitions, and sometimes playing as a buffer state or a ground for Great Game or Neo-Great Game affecting India’s political interests in a big way.

The Silk Road not only developed and enhanced trade and commerce between the East and the West, but was also a significant factor in facilitating cultural and social interaction across continents. Given the historic and cultural importance of this trans-continental route, the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), along with the Eurasia Division, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India had organised an International Seminar on “Cities, Roads and Caravansarais-An Emblem of Relations through the Ages” which was held during 8-12 January 2008. This volume contains the proceedings of the seminar.

‘Looking back’ is an age-old maxim for ‘going ahead’-as it is the past which often sustains and inspires the future. The cultural encounters at the Silk Road, imparting a continued impetus to the growth and development of ‘Dialogue between Civilizations’-ideally remain to be in the category of cross-fertilization and not negotiations. Whether by wars or through cultural linkages and brisk exchanges and interactions, India and its surrounding regions had richly contributed to the mosaic of regional and global cultures. It is here that the real significance of this research work lies.