NEW DELHI: India’s influence in Southeast Asia was through “winning hearts and not conquering territories”, unlike several colonialist powers, senior BJP leader Vinay Sahasrabuddhe has said.
Buddhism is India’s “greatest gift” to Southeast Asia, Sahasrabuddhe, who is also the president of the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR), said at an event here.
“Hinduism and Buddhism both spread to these states from India and for many centuries co-existed there with mutual toleration,” he said.
The people in these region accepted only those influences and practices that were suitable to their local cultures, the BJP leader said.
“Unlike several other colonialist powers, the Indian influence was through winning the hearts of the people and not through conquering territories. It was more humane. India’s cultural influence grew in a more peaceful way,” he said.
Talking about culture sharing between India and the region, he said unlike the Hindu kingdoms within the Indian sub-continent, the Tamil kingdoms of the peninsula’s southeastern coast did not have culture restrictions on crossing the sea. This led to more exchanges through the sea routes into Southeast Asia, Sahasrabuddhe said.
Two concepts, in particular, found ready acceptance in the region: universal kingship and the fusion of kingship and notions of divinity, Sahasrabuddhe said. PTI
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