The volume is in celebration of the contributions of Prof. Ram Sharan Sharma to the field of Indian historical research. The essays take up various themes in Indian history examining some puzzling questions relating to the ancient history of India: the Harappan civilisation, Rigvedic chronology, early historical archaeology, history of urbanisation, nature of trade, medieval land grants and other aspects. With reference to numerous texts, it takes up ethics of consumption as obtained from a perusal of the Jatakas, kings and wives as upholder of propriety in the Matsyamahapurana, and the influence of the Arthashastra on the Kamasutra. Scholars throw light on the trade networks in early north-west India and Bactria and religion and politics of the Indo-Greek rulers, role of caste, gender and ideology on the making of traditional India, place of gold in ancient Indian material and religious culture, and art and society in early medieval era.