India asean relations: an overview of India's look east policy

The most talked about relationship in Asia is the one between India and Southeast Asia. The cultural relations between India and Southeast Asia date back to the pre- historic period. Hinduism was brought to Southeast Asia in the first century AD across the sea route by Indian merchants. Expansion of Hinduism was followed by the spread of Buddhism. The Indian cultural evidence is visible even today in Southeast Asian religion, languages, architecture, foods etc. the space trade from West Asia and Persian Gulf to Indonesia and even beyond proved to be the significant mode of disseminating culture from India to Southeast Asia and this commercial link also facilitated the spread of Islam in the region.