Prof. (Dr.) Arup K. Chatterjee, Professor of English at Jindal Global Law School, O.P. Jindal Global University, has been invited to deliver a keynote for ASEAN Week 2025 at Cebu Technological University. The invitation — sent by Dr. Rhodora G. Magan, University Director for Internationalization and ASEAN Integration — highlights Prof. Chatterjee’s role in strengthening cultural dialogue between India and the Philippines and across the ASEAN region.
Event details
- Event: ASEAN Week 2025 (Keynote — online)
- Host: Cebu Technological University — Office of the University Director for Internationalization and ASEAN Integration.
- Keynote slot: Friday, 29 August 2025, 1:40–2:00 PM PST (livestreamed; 5-minute Q&A to follow). The letter lists the time as PST (Philippine Standard Time), which corresponds to 11:10–11:30 AM IST for audiences in India.
Why this matters
Cebu Technological University invited Prof. Chatterjee explicitly because they believe his insights “will greatly enrich our perspectives on how culture can serve as a unifying diplomatic force between India and Philippines and the broader ASEAN region.” This invitation underscores the international relevance of his work and the high regard in which international academic communities hold his perspectives on culture, diplomacy, and regional cooperation.
What this invitation testifies about Prof. Arup K. Chatterjee
- Recognized thought-leader: An invitation to keynote an ASEAN Week event demonstrates that Prof. Chatterjee’s scholarship and public-facing ideas resonate beyond national borders and are sought after by regional academic institutions.
- Authority on culture and soft diplomacy: The host explicitly frames culture as “a unifying diplomatic force” — a theme to which they believe Prof. Chatterjee can make a substantive contribution. That signals trust in his ability to connect literary/cultural scholarship with real-world diplomatic and educational agendas.
- Bridge-builder between India and ASEAN: Being asked to speak for an ASEAN celebration highlights his role as a cultural interlocutor — someone who can articulate and foster cross-regional understanding between India and Southeast Asia.
- Active presence in contemporary academic diplomacy: The invitation from the University Director for Internationalization and ASEAN Integration indicates that Prof. Chatterjee is regarded not only as a scholar but as a public intellectual whose participation advances institutional partnerships and international engagement.
Arup K. Chatterjee 