| Publication |
2010.
|
| Summary/Abstract |
While paying tribute to the role Rajan played in imparting a new Russian/Eurasian perspective to Central Asian studies in India, which was earlier largely Himalayancentric, the article highlights the uninterrupted character of Indo-Central Asian relationship extending over four millennia. The economic relations between the two regions of the world, however, have remained at a low level, far below their actual potential. The importance of relations with Central Asia has greatly increased due to India's growing energy demand. India may cooperate with China for reopening the Chang-Chenmo overland route along with the Kunming route connecting the Bay of Bengal with the Pacific to dissuade Beijing from developing Gwadar as a military base. Based on the richness of the historical ties successfully maintained between India and Central Asia, there can be no doubt about the strength of the motivation provided by the interconnection between geo-culture, geo-economics and geopolitics.
|