This Centre for Southeast Asian Studies is named after an eminent scholar of Southeast Asian Studies, Professor Nehginpao Kipgen. Prof Kipgen was the founder of this centre in 2016, with the vision of making Southeast Asia a cornerstone of teaching and research at the Jindal School of International Affairs and beyond. The Centre is carrying on Prof Kipgen’s legacy after his untimely demise in 2021 under a young and committed team who are committed to contributing towards South East Asian Studies.

Southeast Asia, a sub-region of Asia, consists of countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. These countries are Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Timor Leste (East Timor), Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

These countries share historical, political, economic, cultural and social ties, and all but Timor Leste (East Timor) are members of the regional bloc called the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). This regional bloc has undertaken several initiatives to integrate its members, including developing a single market that would ensure the free flow of goods, services, investment and skilled labor, and the free flow of capital. The region is far from being homogeneous and encompasses different political institutions, diverse economic structures, and a variety of languages and cultures, including ethnicities and religions. Due to its geopolitics, geostrategic location and fast-growing economy, the region has generated considerable interest from its neighboring countries in Asia and beyond Asia, including countries in the Western world.