'Sleeping Buddha' bridges India, Tajikistan 

A unique statue of 'Sleeping Buddha' at a museum in Tajikistan's capital in Dushanbe showcases ancient cultural and historical ties between both the countries and attracts a number of visitors to this central Asian nation. Vice President Hamid Ansari, who arrived in Tajikistan on a four-day visit, was amazed by this grand artifact when he visited National Museum on Sunday. "It is a wonderful and memorable experience. The reclining Buddha is an amazing piece of art which has been restored diligently... It shows that we are all part of one cultural regime where people and idea have travelled back and forth for a very very long time," he said. The replica of 'Sleeping Buddha' is around 13 meters long and 5.5 tonnes in weight is show cased in this state-of-the-art grand National Museum which was inaugurated late last month by Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon. The original 'Sleeping Buddha' is kept in National Museum of Antiquities here. This remarkable historical piece was excavated by Soviet archaeologists in 1996, from a Buddhist monastery complex in Ajina Teppa in southern Tajikistan. Ajina Teppa was an important location on the ancient Silk Route connecting China with Europe and central Asia with the Indian seaports. Ansari was also "deeply impressed" by the historical art pieces showcased in the museum. "I have been deeply impressed by the historical artifacts in this grand museum. In particular, I am amazed with the statue of the lying Buddha and must congratulate the Government of Tajikistan for reassembling the pieces and putting it on display. This statue is a reminder of the ancient ties between India and Tajikistan," he wrote in visitors' book at the museum. He further mentioned that the cross fertilisation of ideas, ideology, commerce and people-to-people contact at that point of time is evident from the artifacts kept in the museum. "In modern days, we have built a strong collaboration between our two countries and I hope these enduring contacts will remain a civilisational stream," he wrote. A large number of tribes including Buddhists were said to be living in Tajikistan during seventh century AD, when Arabs had invaded central Asian region. The purpose of Ansari's visit is to cement bilateral ties between the two nations by extending cooperation in multiple sectors including trade and counter-terrorism measures. Ansari, who arrived in Tajikistan on a maiden visit after assuming the office of Vice-President, will return Delhi on April 17. India, Tajikistan to hold wide ranging talks on terror, trade Vice President Hamid Ansari will hold high-level talks with top Tajik leadership on Monday during which the issue of terrorism emanating from Pakistan and Afghanistan and trade ties are likely to top the agenda. The two countries will also discuss ways to boost trade ties, cooperation in capacity building in areas of information technology enabled services and entrepreneurship development during the wide-ranging talks. "One area of common interest between two of us and of high priority is the problem of terrorism emanating from the territory between us and them - which means Pakistan and Afghanistan. Tajikistan has enormous interest in the stability of Afghanistan. We have the same kind of interests, same kind of concerns," Ansari said on Sunday. The Vice President will hold individual meetings with Tajik Prime Minister Akil Akilov, Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi, Minister of Economic Development and Trade Sharif Rahimzode, Defence Minister Colonel General Sherali Khayrulloev and Chairman of Upper House of Tajik bicameral Parliament Shukurjon Zuhurov. Ansari, who is on a four-day goodwill visit to Tajikistan, is the first Indian Vice-President to ever come to the central Asian country. Both the countries share "close and cordial" relations for over 21 years since Tajikistan's independence following dissolution