From ancient trade winds to modern geopolitics, a relationship that shapes Asia’s future 

For centuries, India and Southeast Asia have been bound by trade, culture and ideas that travelled freely across oceans. In the post-colonial era, India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) reimagined their relationship within a rapidly evolving global order. 

A Partnership at a Crossroads 

Today, as the world grapples with unprecedented geopolitical, economic and environmental challenges, this age-old partnership has gained new urgency. How can India and ASEAN collaborate strategically in the Indo-Pacific? How can they deepen cooperation, foster prosperity and strengthen people-to-people links in the twenty-first century? 

From Shared Past to Shared Future 

With the insight of a seasoned diplomat, Ambassador Gurjit Singh traces this remarkable journey—from history to policy to a shared future. Engaging, accessible and timely, The Durian Flavour reveals why India and ASEAN matter to each other, and why their partnership matters to the world.