Mr Sabyasachi Mukherjee, UK Visiting Fellow 2003-04, Curator (Conservation), Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sanghrahalaya, for training in paper conservation and museum management at the V&A and other UK museums.
Mr Sabyasachi Mukherjee: has been serving as the Director General and Secretary of the Board of Trustees 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. Mr Mukherjee is also Core Faculty for the Postgraduate (Diploma) Program in Museology & Conservation.
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.