Greek
Influence on Indians: The Aftermath of Alexander's Invasion
Dr.
Amartya Kumar Bhattacharya
BCE
(Hons.) ( Jadavpur ), MTech ( Civil ) ( IIT Kharagpur ), PhD ( Civil
) ( IIT Kharagpur ), Cert.MTERM ( AIT Bangkok ), CEng(I), FIE,
FACCE(I), FISH, FIWRS, FIPHE, FIAH, FAE, MIGS, MIGS – Kolkata
Chapter, MIGS – Chennai Chapter, MISTE, MAHI, MISCA, MIAHS, MISTAM,
MNSFMFP, MIIBE, MICI, MIEES, MCITP, MISRS, MISRMTT, MAGGS, MCSI,
MIAENG, MMBSI, MBMSM
Chairman
and Managing Director,
MultiSpectra
Consultants,
23,
Biplabi Ambika Chakraborty Sarani,
Kolkata
– 700029, West Bengal, INDIA.
E-mail:
dramartyakumar@gmail.com
Website:
https://multispectraconsultants.com
Alexander's
invasion left a permanent impression on the Indians. The first major
impact of Alexander's invasion on the Indians is the Gandhara School
of Art which produced sculptures with Greek styles but with Indian
subjects. The statues of Lord Buddha produced by the Gandhara School
of Art are characterised by their elaborate depiction of the folds of
Lord Buddha's dress. This came to be considered the norm for statues
and images of Lord Buddha, so much so that statues of Lord Buddha are
made in this way even in modern times.
The
second major impact of Alexander's invasion was the kingdom of
Bactria ( Bahlika to the Indians, Balkh in modern Afghanistan ). This
kingdom was to the south of the Oxus ( Amu Darya, Vakshu to the
Indians ). King Milinda, to use his Pali name, took a great interest
in Buddhism and the record of his conversation with the Buddhist monk
Nagasena is preserved in the Pali Milindapanha.
©
Bhattacharya International Buddhist Foundation, 2020.
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