A unique figure in Indian history, he made major contributions in three fields - mathematics, law, and higher education.

A holder of Masters degrees in both Mathematics and Natural Sciences, he was one of the first Indians to publish research papers in British journals.

He started new departments for post graduate study in various disciplines, raised funds to create new chaired professorships and build facilities, hired outstanding professors in diverse fields of study (including Asia's first Nobel Prize winning scientist Sir C.V. Raman), and supported graduated students in their efforts to pursue advanced research.

He is often called "Banglar Bagh" ('The Bengal Tiger') for his high self-esteem, courage and academic integrity.

[5] Ashutosh Mukherjee was born on 29 June 1864 at Bowbazar, Calcutta (today's Kolkata) in a Hindu Brahmin family.

[8] Mukherjee's grandfather came to Jirat from another village named Digsui, situated also in the Hooghly District and settled down there.

Brought up in an atmosphere of science and literature at home, young Ashutosh went to the Sisu Vidayalaya at Chakraberia, Bhowanipore and showed an early aptitude for mathematics.

[9] In November 1879, at the age of fifteen, Mukherjee passed the entrance exam of the Calcutta University in which he stood second and received a first grade scholarship.

Protests and hartals erupted across Bengal and other cities, led by a group of students headed by Mukherjee at Calcutta high court.

In 1904, he was appointed a puisne judge of the High Court, and subsequently served as its acting Chief Justice for a couple of years.

[10] His third mathematical paper (1886), "A Note on Elliptic Functions" was praised by the distinguished British mathematician and Arthur Cayley as a contribution of "outstanding merit.

[2] By 1888, Mukherjee was a lecturer in mathematics for the recently established Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS).

Jurist, and author V. Sudhish Pai notes: "Mukherjee built a highly successful career with a combination of intellect and industry.

"[1] When Mukherjee became a judge at the age of forty, "his senior colleague Justice Rampini told Asutosh that his enthusiasm would perhaps abate with advancing years.

Asutosh had said in reply that he would not be justified in continuing as a Judge should his enthusiasm for doing justice diminish or his capacity for work decline.

Despite these strained circumstances, Mukherjee went on to create a culture of academic excellence and built a superb research university.

He served as President of the Board of Studies in Mathematics for 11 years, and represented his university in the Bengal Legislative Council from 1899 to 1903.

Eminent academics hired during his time included: He supported graduated students in their efforts to pursue advanced research.

Graduates of the university at this time included Satyendra Nath Bose of the Bose–Einstein Statistics fame (after whom fundamental particles "bosons" are named), Meghnad Saha who developed the "Saha Ionization Equation," and renowned radio physicist Sisir Kuma Mitra who pioneered space research in India - all three became Fellows of the Royal Society (FRS).

Ashutosh had no peer in the whole of Europe.In 1910, he was appointed the president of the Imperial (now National) Library Council to which he donated his personal collection of 80,000 books which are arranged in a separate section.

Having served as a fellow and subsequently as a vice-president of the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science since the 1890s, in 1922 he was elected President of the IACS and held the office until his death.

Apart from his fellowships and memberships in several international academic bodies, he was recognised by an award of the title of Saraswati in 1910 from pandits in Nabadwip, followed by that of Shastravachaspati in 1912 from the Dhaka Saraswat Samaj, Sambudhagama Chakravarty in 1914 and Bharat Martanda in 1920.

[1] Mukherjee was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Star of India (CSI) in June 1909,[22] and knighted in December 1911.

[23] In his lifetime, he was appointed to numerous academic societies: The Government of India issued a stamp in 1964 to commemorate Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee for his contribution to education.