Mr Sabyasachi Mukherjee, UK Visiting Fellowship, 2003-4, for training in paper
conservation and museum management at the V&A and other UK museums.
Sabyasachi Mukherjee: Director General & Secretary, Board of Trustees(CSMVS)
Core Faculty, Postgraduate (Diploma) Program in Museology & Conservation
Sabyasachi Mukherjee has been serving as the Director General of the Chhatrapati
Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS), Mumbai, since 2007. CSMVS is one
of India’s premier cultural and educational institutions and is renowned for its
outstanding collection and innovative educational programmes. Located within the
Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai—a UNESCO World Heritage
Site—the Museum campus stands as a landmark of cultural preservation and
innovation. The Museum is also affiliated with the University of Mumbai and has
successfully conducted a Postgraduate Diploma Programme in Museology and Art
Conservation since 2009, recognised as one of the most successful of its kind in
India.
Since assuming leadership, Mukherjee has spearheaded extensive modernisation
initiatives at CSMVS, including the refurbishment of the Museum’s historic Heritage
Building. His visionary leadership has earned the Museum two UNESCO Asia-
Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation, in 2010 and again in 2022. An
accomplished curator and scholar, Mukherjee has conceived, curated, and produced
numerous art exhibitions in India in collaboration with the British Museum, Victoria
and Albert Museum, Berlin State Museum, and many others. He has also authored
and edited several publications and led projects focused on heritage conservation,
academic exchange, global co-curation, archival research, and collection sharing
with leading international museums. His recent publication, “The Lost Stupa of Kahu-
jo-daro: An Attempt at Reconstruction,” has been widely acclaimed for its scholarly
insight and contribution to South Asian art history. A frequent lecturer and active
member of international museum networks, Mukherjee serves on several
professional committees, including the World Museum Directors Group (Bizot Group)
and the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Standing Committee. He is
also a Fellow of the Charles Wallace India Trust, the Nehru Trust, and the Salzburg
Global Seminar.
In recognition of his exceptional contributions, the University of Edinburgh, UK,
conferred upon Sabyasachi an Honorary Doctorate for his transformative impact on
the CSMVS, turning it into a vibrant and engaged cultural hub in Mumbai. His
outstanding work also earned him a coveted election as an International Honorary
Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2022. In a joint
statement, the Chairman and President of the Academy remarked, “This honour
signifies the high regard in which you are held by leaders in your field and members
throughout the United States.”
Mr Mukherjee has also been the recipient of the Bombay Management Association’s
Special Jury Mention for his remarkable efforts in preserving Indian culture and
elevating the museum’s prestige. Additionally, he has been honoured with the
Citizen of Mumbai Award by the Rotary Club of Mumbai and the Mewar Ratna Award
by the Mehrangarh Museum Trust. Over the years, Mukherjee has received
numerous honours and awards from various organisations and institutions,
recognising his invaluable contributions to India’s cultural heritage and museum
development.