He received his Bachelors in Arts (BA) in history in 1958 from Kirori Mal College, Delhi University and then earned his doctorate from Department of History, Delhi University in 1969. Mukhia worked at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi as Professor of Medieval History at the Centre for Historical Studies. He was rector of JNU from 1999 to 2002 and retired in February 2004.[citation needed].
Understanding India: Indology and Beyond, Harbans Mukhia, Jaroslav Vacek, Prague, 2012. ISBN978-80-246-2031-2
The History of Technology in India, vol II, Medieval India, New Delhi, 2012.
Festschriften
Rethinking a Millennium: Essays for Harbans Mukhia: perspectives on Indian history from the 8th to the 18th century (Hardcover); editor Rajat Dutta ISBN978-81-89833-36-7