The Hon’ble Minister for Tamil Official Language, Tamil Culture, Hindu Religious and Endowments, Dr. M. Tamizhkkudimakan inaugurated new district museums at Tiruvarur on 6^th July 1998; at Nagappattinam on 25^th January on 1999 and at Kanchipuram on 24^th March 1999 organised by the then Principal Commissioner of Museums Mr. S. Rangamani, I.A.S.

Seminar on Coins, Siddha Medical Camp, New schemes on Holographic Gallery and Finger Printing of Bronzes

Revival and initiation of new schemes

Museum Administrations Reports are the authenticated published evidence to know the museum activities and new additions of the then period. The systematic publication of the Journal to fill up the void caused by the cessation of publication of the Museum Administration Reports since 1981 AD was started in 1999 AD.

There was revival of the Popular Lecture Series in 1999 AD with eminent scholars from India and abroad delivering the lectures.These were first delivered in 1873 AD.

A fillip was given to new Publications and reprinting of old publications which had gone out of print from 1999 AD onwards. Private sponsorship by a famous company that used to transport British from the early 19^th Century AD onwards of the title ‘Jain Images in the Government Museum, Chennai’ published in 2001 AD, brought this museum in line with the national policy and current international practice of attractingsponsorships to make museums self-sustaining (P&O Steam Navigation Co.). This has been followed up by a Bulletin of the Museum cataloguing all the Jain images in the district museums of the Department of Museums and the Site Museums of the Department of Archaeology. The quality of photography and printing has been made world class by going in for Desk Top methods in-house. The Web Site lists all our publications from the 19^thCentury AD onwards.

33 repatriated ethnic objects from the Rev. A. W. Brough’s collection from Australian Museum, Sydney - Restoration of art objects taken from colonies during the colonial period to the country of origin (home Country) - a historic first in the field of art.

On 28.2.2000 Australian High Commissioner to India His Excellency, Rob Laurie A.M. handed over 33 artefacts from the Rev. A. W. Brough’s collection from the Australian Museum, Sydney to the Special Commissioner & Secretary to Government, Tamil Development - Culture, Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department, Thiru S. Ramakrishnan, I.A.S., who in turn handed them over to Thiru. R. Kannan, I.A.S., Commissioner of Museums. These artefacts were collected by Rev.Anthony Watson Brough from Kanjikoil a village in Erode district during 1894 to 1934. Thiru. R. Kannan was Collector of Erode (then called Periyar District) from 1991to1993.

Mr. Vinod Daniel, Scientist, Australian Museum, Sydney offered his felicitations. A special exhibition of these artefacts was organised in the Gallery of Contemporary Art. It was inaugurated by His Excellency, Rob Laurie A. M., the Australian High Commissioner on 28.2.2000

Inauguration of District Museums at Ramanathapuram and Karur.

The district museums organised by Thiru. R. Kannan, I.A.S., Commissioner of Museums at Ramanathapuram and Karur were inaugurated by the Hon’ble Minister for Tamil Official Language, Tamil Culture Hindu Religious and Endowments, Dr. M. Tamizhkkudimakan on 22.03.2000 and 26.03.2000 respectively. Hon’ble Minister for Labour Welfare and Employment, Thiru A. Rahman Khan, Minister presided over the function at Ramanathapuram and the District Collector Thiru N. Muruganandam, I.A.S., presided over the function at Karur. Members of Parliament, Legislative Assembly and other dignitaries participated in the inaugural functions.

The Government Museum, Tirunelveli shifted to the heritage building on 1.4.2000.

Due to the efforts of Thiru R. Kannan, I.A.S., Commissioner of Museums the Government Museum, Tirunelveli was shifted from the rented building to a Government owned heritage building at St. Mark's Road, Palayamkottai, on 1.4.2000. After completing the display arrangements, this museum was inaugurated by the District Collector, Thiru K. Dhanavel, I.A.S., on 2.8.2000.

Thiru R.Kannan I.A.S. became Dr.R.Kannan after his Viva-Voce in May 2000