About us
About us
The CIASS Journey
CIASS is an interdisciplinary policy think tank dedicated to advancing strategic understanding, policy dialogue, and academic engagement between India and Southeast Asia, with special emphasis on Northeast India. Based in Guwahati, Assam, the Centre works under the aegis of the Shankardev Education and Research Foundation.
CIASS is an interdisciplinary policy think tank dedicated to advancing strategic understanding, policy dialogue, and academic engagement between India and Southeast Asia, with special emphasis on Northeast India. Based in Guwahati, Assam, the Centre works under the aegis of the Shankardev Education and Research Foundation.
CIASS is an interdisciplinary policy think tank dedicated to advancing strategic understanding, policy dialogue, and academic engagement between India and Southeast Asia, with special emphasis on Northeast India. Based in Guwahati, Assam, the Centre works under the aegis of the Shankardev Education and Research Foundation.
Southeast Asia has long been one of the world's most vibrant regions for cultural interaction, maritime trade, and civilisational exchange, with India's ties to the region rooted in centuries of shared history in religion, commerce, migration, and philosophy. Northeast India occupies a unique position within this history: sitting at the intersection of South Asia, Southeast Asia, and East Asia, it serves as India's gateway to the region, carrying shared cultural practices, festivals, and trade networks that connect it to its Southeast Asian neighbours.
Southeast Asia has long been one of the world's most vibrant regions for cultural interaction, maritime trade, and civilisational exchange, with India's ties to the region rooted in centuries of shared history in religion, commerce, migration, and philosophy. Northeast India occupies a unique position within this history: sitting at the intersection of South Asia, Southeast Asia, and East Asia, it serves as India's gateway to the region, carrying shared cultural practices, festivals, and trade networks that connect it to its Southeast Asian neighbours.
Southeast Asia has long been one of the world's most vibrant regions for cultural interaction, maritime trade, and civilisational exchange, with India's ties to the region rooted in centuries of shared history in religion, commerce, migration, and philosophy. Northeast India occupies a unique position within this history: sitting at the intersection of South Asia, Southeast Asia, and East Asia, it serves as India's gateway to the region, carrying shared cultural practices, festivals, and trade networks that connect it to its Southeast Asian neighbours.
As India's Act East Policy, regional connectivity initiatives, and Indo-Pacific engagement have grown, so has the need for dedicated research on Northeast India's role in these developments. CIASS was established to fill that gap, bringing together academic rigour and policy relevance in service of a region that has long been understudied.
As India's Act East Policy, regional connectivity initiatives, and Indo-Pacific engagement have grown, so has the need for dedicated research on Northeast India's role in these developments. CIASS was established to fill that gap, bringing together academic rigour and policy relevance in service of a region that has long been understudied.
As India's Act East Policy, regional connectivity initiatives, and Indo-Pacific engagement have grown, so has the need for dedicated research on Northeast India's role in these developments. CIASS was established to fill that gap, bringing together academic rigour and policy relevance in service of a region that has long been understudied.
Vision
To emerge as a leading think tank for Indo-ASEAN strategic studies, fostering research, policy dialogue, and regional cooperation between India and Southeast Asia, with special focus on Northeast India.
Vision
To emerge as a leading think tank for Indo-ASEAN strategic studies, fostering research, policy dialogue, and regional cooperation between India and Southeast Asia, with special focus on Northeast India.
Mission
To produce impactful research, foster informed dialogue, and shape practical policy recommendations that strengthen Northeast India's ties with ASEAN and advance regional cooperation.
Mission
To produce impactful research, foster informed dialogue, and shape practical policy recommendations that strengthen Northeast India's ties with ASEAN and advance regional cooperation.
Our Objective
Driving Research with Purpose for Meaningful Regional Impact and Lasting Change
Research & Strategic Understanding
Interdisciplinary research on the social, cultural, economic, and strategic dimensions of Southeast Asia in relation to India.
Research & Strategic Understanding
Interdisciplinary research on the social, cultural, economic, and strategic dimensions of Southeast Asia in relation to India.
Policy Support & Advisory
Research-based inputs for governments and institutions engaging with Southeast Asia and regional cooperation.
Policy Support & Advisory
Research-based inputs for governments and institutions engaging with Southeast Asia and regional cooperation.
Centre of Excellence
Building CIASS into a premier centre for research, documentation, and strategic studies on the region.
Centre of Excellence
Building CIASS into a premier centre for research, documentation, and strategic studies on the region.
Capacity Building & Training
Seminars, conferences, workshops, and training programmes for researchers, students, officials, and practitioners.
Capacity Building & Training
Seminars, conferences, workshops, and training programmes for researchers, students, officials, and practitioners.
Collaborative Research & Publications
Joint projects, policy publications, and working papers on issues of regional significance.
Collaborative Research & Publications
Joint projects, policy publications, and working papers on issues of regional significance.
Documentation & Knowledge Dissemination
A growing repository of resources on Indo-ASEAN studies, borderland issues, governance, and culture.
Documentation & Knowledge Dissemination
A growing repository of resources on Indo-ASEAN studies, borderland issues, governance, and culture.
Board of Governors
Lt. Gen. Rana Pratap Kalita (Retd.)
Chairman
Lt. Gen. Rana Pratap Kalita (Retd.)
Chairman
Prof. R.P. Tiwari
Vice-Chancellor, Central University of Punjab
Prof. R.P. Tiwari
Vice-Chancellor, Central University of Punjab
Prof. Rajiv Mohan Pant
Vice-Chancellor, Assam University
Prof. Rajiv Mohan Pant
Vice-Chancellor, Assam University
Shri Munish Ningthoujam
Regional Director, ICCR Shillong
Shri Munish Ningthoujam
Regional Director, ICCR Shillong
Prof. Malini Goswami
Former Vice-Chancellor, Assam Women’s University
Prof. Malini Goswami
Former Vice-Chancellor, Assam Women’s University
Prof. Bhagat Oinam
Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Prof. Bhagat Oinam
Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Prof. Sudheshna Bhattacharya
Director, ABILAC Guwahati
Prof. Sudheshna Bhattacharya
Director, ABILAC Guwahati
Prof. Debahari Talukdar
Director, Gauhati University Center for Distance Education
Prof. Debahari Talukdar
Director, Gauhati University Center for Distance Education
Dr. Samiron Phukan
Senior Director, Aragen Life Sciences Hyderabad
Dr. Samiron Phukan
Senior Director, Aragen Life Sciences Hyderabad
Dr. Sanjeev Ningombam
Centre Head, Abdul Kalam Centre for Policy Research, IIM Shillong
Dr. Sanjeev Ningombam
Centre Head, Abdul Kalam Centre for Policy Research, IIM Shillong
Dr. Debojyoti Dutta
Member Secretary and Director, CIASS
Dr. Debojyoti Dutta
Member Secretary and Director, CIASS
Some glimpses from our past events
Northeast–ASEAN Connectivity Dialogue
Northeast–ASEAN Connectivity Dialogue
Regional Policy Roundtables
Regional Policy Roundtables
Strategic Studies Conclave, Shillong
Strategic Studies Conclave, Shillong
Border Trade & Diplomacy Workshops
Border Trade & Diplomacy Workshops
Border Trade & Diplomacy Workshops
Border Trade & Diplomacy Workshops
Stay Connected
Subscribe for research publications, policy briefs, event updates, and strategic insights on Northeast India and Southeast Asia.
Stay Connected
Subscribe for research publications, policy briefs, event updates, and strategic insights on Northeast India and Southeast Asia.