The world of politics and bureaucratic appointments is at most times far removed from that of culture. But the sudden transfer of V Venu, National Museum director general, to the sports ministry last week has angered artists, scholars and arts administrators.
The world of politics and bureaucratic appointments is at most times far removed from that of culture. But the sudden transfer of V Venu, National Museum director general, to the sports ministry last week has angered artists, scholars and arts administrators.
"Venu's stewardship has seen a complete turnaround of the museum where several of its galleries that have been shut for years have been reopened. The museum is now a space for interesting exhibitions, matters regarding the conservation of heritage are now debated here, and above all, the museum has drawn in more members of the public than ever before," said art historian Naman Ahuja, curator of last summer hit exhibition,'The Body in Indian Art', the largest ever mounted at the museum, with 300 objects covering 4,000 years. Many of these, such as a page from the Shahnama, were shown to the public for the first time.
An online petition launched on Friday, which appealed to the prime minister to revoke the transfer order, has gathered messages of support from all over the world. "He has revitalised the National Museum, and should be given the time and resources to consolidate his excellent work, which is still in its initial phase," wrote poet Ranjit Hospkote. "It has been a most difficult post to fill. When someone is doing it with distinction, it is best that he continue," Leela Samson, the former Censor Board chief said. "I visited the National Museum in last one year more times than in last 10 years," Jeebesh Bagchi, part of the RAQS Media Collective, confessed. "Kindly stop the transfer...The best and most important exhibitions are taking place under his directorship,"wrote senior artist Nalini Malani. Abhijit Sengupta, former secretary culture, warned,"It would be a terrible mistake to remove him before his time."
During his two years at the museum, Venu started several initiatives to breathe life into it. Besides reopening galleries, new shows and a lecture series, he started the process of digitising the museum's two-lakh strong collection, recruited and trained docents to take visitors around, and started children's workshops. The result has been an increase of 9.6% in visitors and a rise of 112% in the sale of merchandise.
What has especially irked some is the fact that no replacement has been announced. "One wonders if they have quite thought through how difficult it will be to find a replacement. Or do they imagine that the nation's apex cultural institution does not need a head?"said.
Officials at the museum fear that Venu's abrupt transfer will jeopardise the eight large shows that had been planned for this year, and the trust it had carefully built with international museums and academic institutions.
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