Ms Nilanjana Som, UK Visiting Fellowship, 2014-15, while consultant on a documentation project, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS), Mumbai, to study documentation and display, particularly of arms and armour, in UK museums.
Nilanjana Som is now the Curator of the Arts collection at CSMVS, overseeing a diverse range that includes costumes-textiles, jewellery, arms-armour, and decorative arts. She also holds charge of the vast numismatic collection that includes Indian as well as foreign coins.
Nilanjana co-curated the exhibition ‘Networks of the Past: A Study Gallery of India and the Ancient World’, an exhibition conceived primarily as an educational display which explores connections and cross-influences within the ancient world, from the Mediterranean to the Pacific – and consists of approximately 250 archaeological objects and works of art.
Nilanjana co-curated the exhibition and co-authored the book ‘Ancient Sculptures: India Egypt Assyria Greece Rome.’ Additionally, she curated temporary exhibitions showcasing the collections of CSMVS, such as ‘Masters: A Glimpse of the European Arts Collection’ in 2023 and ‘Enduring Memories: 100 Years with the Tata Collection‘ in 2022.
Holder of dual Masters in Museology and (Medieval) Indian history from the University of Delhi, she has been involved in permanent galleries, temporary exhibitions, collection management, and other programs since joining the Museum in 2015. In 2022, she participated in the British Museum’s International Training Programme, suppored by the Marie-Louise Motesicsky Charitable Trust. During that programme she spent time in whole group sessions for a detailed overview of all aspects of the Museum’s work, both front of house and behind the scenes. She also spent time in the Asia department. Nilanjana spent her partner placement at National Museums Northern Ireland. She also worked with the ITP 2022 participants to develop a 15-object trail based on a story they wanted to share based on the British Museum collection.
Nilanjana is part of the Editorial team of the CSMVS Research Journal and has contributed an article titled ‘Arts of Qajar – a small Persian treasure in the CSMVS’ to it. Her fascination with museums lies in the multitude of stories each object holds and the unique contribution each of these objects makes to the human story.