09-18-2003, 05:30 PM
The indian presence today in Ankara is minimal. Neither is there any trace of past historical connections.This is astonishing in one respect. India has been immensely influenced by the Turks over several centuries. Most of the Islamic invaders were of Turkish origin including the so called Moghals. That there should be little visibility of India or its traditions in Turkey is rather strange, especially when one remembers that the slave markets of Central and Western Asia were filled with Indian slaves captured in successive conquests. However,a slave loses his identity the fastest amongst all other categories of emigrants, cut off as he is involuntarily from the source of his traditions.
Regardless of history, the visit to Turkey by an Indian PM is of immense significance. Turkey has excellent relations with Israel , so India's new found overtures to the Jewish state do not raise any eyebrows here. Speaking of which i wonder why nobody in the Terrorist state finds Turkey's close relations with Israel objectionable.
[url="http://headlines.sify.com/2507news1.html?headline=PM's~visit~a~rare~treat~for~Indians~in~Turkey~"]PM's visit a rare treat for Indians in Turkey[/url]
By Smita Prakash in Ankara
Regardless of history, the visit to Turkey by an Indian PM is of immense significance. Turkey has excellent relations with Israel , so India's new found overtures to the Jewish state do not raise any eyebrows here. Speaking of which i wonder why nobody in the Terrorist state finds Turkey's close relations with Israel objectionable.
[url="http://headlines.sify.com/2507news1.html?headline=PM's~visit~a~rare~treat~for~Indians~in~Turkey~"]PM's visit a rare treat for Indians in Turkey[/url]
By Smita Prakash in Ankara