Budha Rashmi Mani named as Director General of National Museum

Noted archaeologist Budha Rashmi Mani was on 25 July 2016 appointed as Director General of National Museum for three years or till attaining the age of 70 years. His appointment was approved by Appointments Committee of Cabinet.

He had retired as Additional Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in 2015.

About Budha Rashmi Mani
• Earlier, he had supervised the excavation work in the disputed Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid site in Ayodhya in 2003.
• During his 30-year stint with the ASI, he led excavations in Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.
• Mani is also General Secretary of the Indian Archaeological Society where he edits the journal Puratattva.
• A BHU alumnus, Mani did his PhD on the Kushanas.

Background
Mani and his team courted controversy in 2003 when their excavation report stated that features of a 10th-century temple were found beneath the site where the 16th-century Babri Masjid stood until its demolition in 1992.

The Allahabad High Court later directed the ASI to replace Mani as leader of the excavation team.