National Museum to have new DG within 15-days: Minister

National Museum, which was mired in controversy over the sudden transfer of its former Director General Venu Vasudevan, is likely to have a new Director General in a fortnight.
Speaking to reporters on the sideline of inauguration of a special exhibition 'Cosmology to Cartography: A cultural journey of Indian Maps' at National Museum here, Union Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma said that the selection process for the purpose has already started.
"Within 15 days a new person would join... The Process of selection is already going on. We will get (a new Director General) very shortly," Sharma said.
The development comes in the wake of sudden transfer of Vasudevan, a senior IAS officer who was credited for bringing in new vibrancy to the National Museum at New Delhi, to Union Youth Affairs and Sports Ministry in May this year.

Presently, a Joint Secretary in Union Culture Ministry is holding the charge of Director General of National Museum.
Earlier, addressing the gathering, Sharma said "India has got a lot to deliver not only to our people but also to the world and diaspora also. India will continue to lead and have much more exhibitions and knowledge information proceedings."

Recalling how our ancient 'Munis' used to count trillions and trillions, he said that the present generation now is dependent on calculators for the purpose.
In his address, US Ambassador to India Richard Rahul Verma said that maps dating back over 500 years, which are displayed in the exhibition, are as accurate as the satellite maps.

"It seems that they have constructed some of these maps in the 1500's and 1600's and if you were to compare them with the satellite maps we have today, how accurate they were," he said.
Later, to a question on how he is looking at taking forward the Indo-US Cultural relations, Verma said that he spoke to the Minister about things that can be done in the context of Museums.
The exhibition charts the journey from mythological visions of the Universe, gradually reaching the accurate scientific representation of modern India illustrated through maps.
Prashant K Lahoti, who collects rare maps said that a total of 72 maps are on display, which includes a early 15th century old cosmic map and a map printed in 1482 even before Vasco Da Gama reached India.