ABSTRACT
This conclusion presents some closing thoughts on the key concepts discussed in the preceding chapters of this book. The book that resulted from its four years of work stand as proof that the kind of cooperation envisioned Ferghana Valley is not only possible today, but highly productive and, no less important, deeply rewarding for all who choose to engage in it. The task the editors set for themselves was to present a portrait of the Ferghana Valley over time, a rich mosaic of the many overlapping realities that define a region which can, with justice, be considered "the Heart of Central Asia". The Ferghana Valley has always been a zone of social diversity and pluralism, with multiple identities existing side by side over the centuries. The Mughal emperor Babur waxes lyrical over the incomparably delicious fruits of his native Ferghana Valley. In India, Babur notes gratefully that his beloved pears and melons were available in Agra at the local market.
