The sudden overnight transfer of National Museum Director-General Venu Vasudevan to the Sports Ministry on Thursday has taken even the Ministry of Culture by surprise. Informed sources said Minister of Culture Mahesh Sharma was unaware of the decision taken by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.

“He was extremely popular and efficient and enjoyed the Minister’s confidence. He was instrumental in laying the foundation for a National Museum Institute in Noida, was opening new galleries and bringing in new exhibitions. His exit from the helm has taken us by surprise. In fact, we got to know of his transfer only after he told us,” said a senior Ministry official, asking this correspondent to direct all queries on the sudden transfer to the Appointments Committee.

The transfer of an efficient administrator, after the museum went without a head for many years, has taken many by surprise and this includes the Ministry of Culture under which the Museum is administered. The transfer also raises fundamental questions about the direction the government wants to give to culture and institutes of culture.