October 11, 2026
Gautam Sengupta, a distinguished archaeologist and former Director General of the
Archaeological Survey of India (2010-13), passed away on October 11, 2026. He made
outstanding contributions to the study of India’s past, to heritage conservation, and to the
advancement of historical research. His notable service included General President of
the Indian History Congress, Trustee for the Indian Museum, Kolkata, member of the
Advisory Board to Live History India, and his involvement in the Centre for Archaeological
Studies and Training, East India (CASTEI).
Gautam’s work was particularly important in expanding the scope of archaeological
research in eastern and north-eastern India. He helped bring into focus regions, sites, and
categories of material evidence that had often remained peripheral to the larger narratives
of Indian archaeology. His interests expanded from early settlements, terracotta
traditions, and sculptural remains to the history, languages, and urban centers of
medieval Bengal. These interests were reflected in his Ganga-Brahmaputra and Beyond:
Exploring Art and Iconography of Eastern and North-Eastern India (2023). His broader
interests were reflected in noteworthy co-edited volumes that brought together scholars
working or different periods and regions and encouraged approaches that connected
archaeological discoveries with broad historical questions. These publications included
Past and Present: Ethnoarchaeology in India (2006), edited with Suchira Roychoudhury
and Sujit Som; Archaeology of the Early Historic South Asia (2008), edited with Sharmi
Chakraborty; Archaeology in India: Individuals Ideas, and Institutions (2009), edited with
Kaushik Gangopadhyay; and Custodians of the Past: 150 years of the Archaeological
Survey of India (2012), edited, while he was Director of ASI, with Abha Narian Lambah.
Gautam’s scholarship, institutional leadership, and quiet commitment to a plural and
evidence-based understating of the past will always be remembered. A long-standing
friend and valued supporter of AIIS, he served as a Founding Trustee of the AIIS India Trust
and as a member of our Indian Advisory Committee. We remain deeply grateful for his
invaluable support, dedicated service, and lasting contributions to the institute.