The perspective of historical interpretation here, as in the previous volumes of the PHISPC series, is interpretative pluralism. While it insists on the critical and rigorous examination of historical sources and the rule of evidence for all factual statements, it does not insist on any specific interpretative perspective: whether orientalist, nationalist, liberal, Marxist, modernist, or traditionalist – for history as a story can, perhaps, never be uniquely or finally told.

This book: Volume 1, Part 5, in two sections, is intended to review the history of science, philosophy and culture in Indian civilization in the context of civilizational contacts with the Iranic, Semitic, and Hellenic worlds and comparable developments in them. Methodologically, historical, multidisciplinary, and pluralistic, it seeks to represent critically the scientific, philosophical, and cultural ideas and values as they emerged in the historical course of civilizations.

Its Section 1: Cultural Contacts and Movements carries 22 scholarly essays covering a wide range of specificities, like Pythagoras in India – Alexander and the Hellenistic Empire – Greek Authors on Ancient India – Ancient Indian Trade with the Roman World – Prophet Zarathustra, the Avesta and the Vedas – Migrations from Central Asia: the Kushans – The Religious Universe of the Kushan Empire – Art in the Kushan Empire – The Kushans and the Sun-Cult – Kushan Archaeology vis-à-vis Kushan Civilization in Afghanistan – Sakas in India.

Section 2: Science, Philosophy and Culture, in 19 essays, examines -- besides the Role of Science in Ancient Civilizations: Indic, Iranic, Semitic and Hellenic -- Ancient Indian Taxonomy of Knowledge, Mathematics, Astronomy, Anatomy and Surgery, Aromatic Plants and their use in Cosmetics and Perfumes, Upanisadic Spirituality, Philosophical Systems (like Vaisesika and Theravada of Abhidhamma), Music and Dance, and Art Traditions, among others.

Dr G.C. Pande (1923-2011) thinker, scholar, writer regarded internationally as an authority on Buddhism and ancient Indian culture, held professorial positions at several universities; besides having been the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Allahabad (1978-84).