Through the centuries, sculpture in India has been a dominant expression of the people and their land. Today, India provides a cultural continuity that has survived a long and diversified history, in which changes have occurred, old images and artistic expressions have been altered and new elements and influences have been absorbed, enriching and variegating the cultural strands without ever breaking them. Sculpture, especially as an art form, was granted extensive patronage by the Indus Valley Civilization, the Mauryas, the Satavahanas, the Sungas, the Kushans, the Guptas, the Chalukyas, the Rashtrakutas, the Pallavas, the Cholas, and still continues to thrive in contemporary India. "Indian Sculpture" is a richly illustrated book that reproduces some of the finest examples of Indian sculpture, with an extensive commentary on the importance of the art of carving, modelling and casting in the Indian civilization for over 4000 years.