Delhi University professor Karam Tej Singh Sarao addresses the seminar in Patna on Sunday. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey

Increased interaction between India and countries from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) is the need of the hour was the opinion of delegates at the final day of an international seminar in Patna on Sunday.

The delegates at the conclusion of the three-day seminar — Civilization Dialogue between India and Asean — deliberated on the shared cultural history of India and the Asean member nations.

Antonia Marika Vicziany, a faculty member of Asian political economy at Monash Asian Institute, Melbourne, Australia, said: “Perception about Indian culture and religious ideas need to be modified in the light of the new traditions in India and southeast Asia.”

She also said the level of interaction between India and Asean on cultural, religious and historical aspects have to be increased. The seminar has was organised by the external affairs ministry and Indian Council for Cultural Relations in association with Nalanda University and Bihar government. Scholars had come from different countries, including Australia and Cambodia, took part in the seminar.

Karam Tej Singh Sarao, a professor at Delhi University, spoke on a 10th century Cambodian shrine, Banteay Srei, a temple dedicated to Lord Shiv and widely acclaimed for its sculptures.

Lord Meghnad Desai, member of the governing board of Nalanda University and a renowned economist, spoke on Bhagavad Gita at the seminar.