Amit Shah inaugurates first phase of ‘Museum of Word’ in Kolkata

• Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah inaugurated the first phase of the ‘Museum of Word’ in Kolkata on July 19.

• Shah described the country’s first immersive language museum as a major step to revitalise the country’s cultural heritage.

Features of Museum of Word:

• Developed by the National Library under the aegis of the Union Culture Ministry, the ‘Museum of Word’ (Shabdalok) celebrates India’s rich linguistic heritage and traces the evolution of its oral and written traditions through interactive, technology-driven exhibits.

• The museum would educate future generations about India’s languages and culture, introduce them to the country’s rich civilisational heritage and serve as a powerful medium to carry forward India's linguistic and cultural renaissance.

• The first phase of ‘Shabdalok’ chronicles the diversity of Indian languages, scripts and literature. 

• Designed as an immersive cultural experience rather than a conventional museum, it uses digital displays, holograms, motion-sensor technology, audio-visual presentations and interactive installations to engage visitors.

• Its inaugural phase comprises nine galleries covering the origin of words, mother tongues, the evolution of languages, oral traditions, performing arts, contributions of great personalities to different languages, public dialogue and the history of public libraries.

• The museum celebrates 22 languages included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution and traces their journey from oral traditions and ancient manuscripts to printed works and modern electronic texts. 

• One of its key attractions allows visitors to trace the evolution of words over centuries, illustrating how their pronunciation, meaning and usage have changed over time.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants.)