India, April 12 -- From Diplomacy to Knowledge Partnerships

India's engagement with Southeast Asia is undergoing a subtle yet significant transformation. While earlier phases were largely shaped by trade, strategic cooperation, and the "Act East" policy, a new dimension is emerging-one that places academic collaboration and civilisational dialogue at the centre of regional engagement. This shift reflects a growing recognition that enduring partnerships cannot be sustained through economic or geopolitical means alone.

At a time when the IndoPacific is increasingly defined not just by strategic competition but also by the contest over knowledge systems and cultural narratives, India's turn towards academic engagement carries deeper implic...