India represented in this exhibition gallery refers to the current Republic of India and South Asia including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka. Southeast Asia refers to Indochina Peninsula and surrounding islands and islets encompassing today’s countries like

Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, and the Philippines.The Indian subcontinent is bordered by rugged mountain ranges such as the Himalayas while the remaining sides are surrounded by sea. The northwest region centering on the

Indus River withstood dynamic introduction of various foreign cultures as it suffered from the invasions of various ethnic groups. Around the fertile Ganges River basin, the key religions of India including Brahmanism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, etc. flourished. The western

India region around Deccan Plateau prospered as the heart of trade along the seashore. Southern India was the center of Dravidian culture. Based on native tradition, Southeast Asia generated a unique culture by selectively accepting the influence from China. From the

early years Before Christ, the region enjoyed dynamic exchanges with the Indian region, receiving Indian religions, political and social system, characters, etc. Around the 10th century, the influence of India and China waned and the regional characteristics in terms of

culture started to be brought to the fore. Khmer Kingdom of Cambodia and Sailendra of Indonesia serve as the direct evidence of the region’s political and economic prosperity and highly developed culture.