Amit Shah opens India's first immersive language museum Shabdalok in Kolkata
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday inaugurated the Museum of Word, also known as Shabdalok, at the Library campus in Kolkata, and said a
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday inaugurated the Museum of Word, also known as Shabdalok, at the Library campus in Kolkata, and said a country’s language carries its heritage and offers a window into its culture. Developed by the Library under the Union Culture Ministry, Shabdalok is billed as India’s first immersive language museum. It showcases the country’s linguistic heritage and traces the evolution of oral and written traditions through interactive, technology-driven exhibits. Read Full Story Addressing the gathering, Shah said that besides learning one’s mother tongue, every student should also learn at least one more Indian language to better appreciate the country’s cultural diversity.
“Our language carries our heritage, and through languages you can understand a country’s culture,” he said. He also underlined the role of libraries in nation-building. Shah said the country’s future does not depend only on the number of students in colleges and universities, but also on how many people use libraries. Referring to Bengal’s intellectual legacy, Shah said the state had produced some of the country’s greatest litterateurs, scientists, revolutionaries and scholars. He expressed confidence that Bengal would once again emerge as a guiding force for the nation. “I have been closely monitoring West Bengal for the last nine months, and it is becoming the ‘prakash stambh’ (guiding light) of the country,” he said.
Shah also said he was confident that the vision of a “Sonar Bangla” would be realised under the leadership of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. “I am fully confident that under the leadership of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, the commitment of building a Sonar Bangla will be fulfilled,” he said. The first phase of the museum chronicles the diversity of Indian languages, scripts and literature. Instead of being a conventional repository, it has been designed as an immersive cultural experience with digital displays, holograms and motion-sensor technology to engage visitors. The museum has nine galleries that explore different facets of the history of languages and their influence on India’s civilisation and culture.
It presents language as a living entity that has continuously shaped society and been shaped by it. Shabdalok celebrates India’s 22 official languages and traces their journey from oral traditions and ancient manuscripts to printed works and modern electronic texts, highlighting the country’s enduring linguistic diversity. Overall, the museum seeks to bring together India’s language heritage, cultural history and evolving traditions in one interactive public space. Ends With PTI inputs
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