"From Kanchi to Cambodia – Greater India revisited”
 
A new book about India and Cambodia

By Reinhard Hohler, Chiang Mai, Thailand

According to media news from Chennai, India, a Tamil Brahmin letter dated to 2nd century CE excavated from Phu Khao Thong in Thailand, Mahabaratha scenes in Angkor Wat in Cambodia, a bilingual inscription at Kandahar and the many forms of Lord Ganesha in South East Asia, all provide evidence of India's cultural influence in Asia.

The book, "From Kanchi to Cambodia – Greater India revisited," is an attempt to explore how the 2,000-year-old traditions and culture of India amalgamated in the cultures of many countries in Asia, said T.K.V. Rajan, an archaeologist and its author.

New approach

"The idea of the book is to leave behind the Euro-centric or America-centric approaches, as the East has been deeply influenced by India for thousands of years," he says hoping that the book will be a starting point to study the archaeological linkages in Asian countries.

India's influence was not purely on religious lines.

Role of trade

Trade was also an important element in India's ties with South East Asian countries, he explained, emphasising the fact that India's trade with ASEAN countries was bound to expand by leaps and bounds in the immediate future.

The book was released here on Sunday by T.S. Sridhar, Additional Chief Secretary, School Education Department, and the first copy was received by N. Kamakoti, Managing Director, City Union Bank.