Hindu civilization is never going to die. It will be retaining  continuity. The Bhagavad Gita will not cease to inspire men of action, and the upanisade men of thought. The most important characteristics of the Indian way of life is that it will retain its charms and a graciousness inspite of being affected by the west.

The whole of South-East Asia recieved most of its culture from India. Other influences from China and Islamic world were felt in South East Asia, but the primary impetus to civilization came from India. Indian historians, proud of their country's past often refer to this region as 'Greater India' and speak of Indian 'colonies'.

In its usual modern sense the term 'colony' is hardly accurate, however. Vijiya, the legendary Aryan conqueror of Ceylon, is said to have gained the island by the sword, but beyond this we have no real evidence of any permanent Indian conquest outside the bonds of India.

The India 'colonies' were peaceful ones, and the Indianized king of the region were indigenous chieftains who had learnt what Indian had to teach them. Indian culture influence spread through central Asia to China. But it was some 2000 year ago that Indian and China really met. The disntinctive civilization of China, Japan, Korea Tivet came through  the Buddhist influence. India also gave many practical gifts to Asia. Among these must be included rice, cotton, sugarcane, spices, the domestic birds, the game of chess and the decimal system.

The influence of Indian thought on western thought has been immense during the last one hundred and fifty years. The establishment of the Theosophical society and the influence of Swami Ramkrishna Paramhansa and Swami Vivekananda are pointers of the influence. But the greatest Indian influence on the west has been that of Indian religious literature through philosophy.

Goethe and many western scholars read Hindu scriptures in translations very avidly. Fichte, Hegel also imbibed Hindu thought through translations of the scriptures. The Indian influence was strongly felt in England and America. Some of the writers who were influenced were merson, Thoreau, Walt Whitman, Carlyle, Richard Jeffries and Edward Carpenter.

Indian's contribution of world's cultural stock has already been very large and it will continue and grow as in her new freedom her prestige and influence increase. For this reason if far no other we must take account of her ancient heritage in its success and its failures. For it is no longer the heritage of India alone but of all mankind.