Resemblance creates affinity, but once we probe into the likenesses, the subtle differences in identities stand clarified. True parallels among cultures do not appear by sheer coincidence; they exist more probably due to a common origin , or a similar course of historical development , or like goals, of the analogous cultures. The attempt to seek out the commonalities and features of similitude between tow compared civilizations dominates the attention of the historian. But it is a pleasant task to ascertain the ‘notes of harmony’ and check out the discordant notes from the symphony. On one plane, it generates better social understanding; and on another plane, the realization of common elements in experiences of different peoples, awakens to the laws of eternal truth. The task of the historian-that seeking of truth, thus, stands fulfilled with such studies.

The book is the second in the series of the publications of For a for Indo-Iranian Studies (FIIRST0, and academic association dedicated to furtherance of this discipline. The first publication entitled Dialogues between Cultures: India and Iran was awarded the World Prize for the Book of the Year of the Islamic Republic of Iran 2006.

The present volume shall also make a great contribution to Indo-Iranian Studies.

Atul Kumar Sinha(born 1955) is Professor in the Department of Ancient History and Culture, and Dean, Faculty of Advanced Social Sciences, M.J.P. Rohilkhand University, Bareilly (India). He specializes in the History of Ideas and Historiography, and Possesses interest in Indo-Iranian studies. He is the joint recipient of the World Prize for the Boook of the Year of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 2006 for the volume, Dialogues Between Culture: Indian and Iran.

He has to his credit more than 60 research publications including thirteen authored and edited volumes. He has participated in more than 50 international and national conferences and seminars, including the international colloquium on Thucydides at Athens and the international conference at the Academy of Art, Tehran.

He is the President of the For a for Indo-Iranian Studies (First), the secretary of the Indian Society for Greek and Roman Studies (ISGARS), and the President , Uttar Pradesh History Congress(UPHC).

Abhay Kumar Singh (born 1960) teaches it the Department of Ancient History and Culture, M.J.P. Rohilkhand University, BAeilly (India), since 1993. He also served as Professor of Ancient History in the North Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong , for a brief tenure. He specializes in the History of Ancient Indian contacts with the Persian and Greco-Bactrian region.

He has to his credit 27 research publications including one authored book and many edited volumes. Recently, he has been the joint recipient of the World Prize for the Book of the Year of the Islamic Republlic of Iran, 2006 from His Excellency, the President of Iran for the work, Dialogues Between Cultures: India and Iran. He has been the recipient of the Indian History Congress Prize (2004), and Professor I.G. Khan Memorial Prize (2006).

He has participated in more than 30 international and national conferences and seminars. He was invited in the UNESCO sponsored International colloquium on Afghanistan held at Montpellier (France). He presented papers in different seminars at the Academy of Art, Tehran and Imam Khomeini International University, Qazvin, and has also delivered invitation lecture at the Iranian Cultural Heritage Organisation, Tehran.

He is an elected Fellow of the Royal Numismatic Society, (British Museum, London), Secreatory of the Fora for Indo-Iranian Studies (FIIRST), the Treasurer of the Indian Society for Greek and Roman Studies (ISGARS), and the Life-Member, Uttar Pradesh History Congress (UPHC).He has been awarded the Associate ship of the India Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla.