Union Home Minister Amit Shah. File
| Photo Credit: ANI
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday (July 19, 2026) inaugurated the Museum of Word at the National Library campus in Kolkata and said that a country’s language carries its heritage and offers a window into its culture.
Developed by the National Library under the aegis of the Union Culture Ministry, India’s first immersive language museum, also known as Shabdalok, celebrates the country’s rich linguistic heritage and showcases the evolution of its oral and written traditions through interactive and technology-driven exhibits.
Addressing the gathering, Mr. Shah said that besides learning one’s mother tongue, every student should also learn at least another 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.
The Home Minister also stressed the importance of libraries in nation-building, saying the country’s future does not depend only on the number of students in colleges and universities, but also on how many people make use of libraries.
Referring to Bengal’s intellectual legacy, Mr. Shah said the State had produced some of the country’s greatest litterateurs, scientists, revolutionaries and scholars, and expressed confidence that it 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.
Praising the BJP government in the State, Mr. Shah said he was confident that the vision of a “Sonar Bangla” (golden Bengal) 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. Rather than a conventional repository, it has been designed as an immersive cultural experience that uses digital displays, holograms and motion-sensor technology to engage visitors.
The museum features nine galleries exploring different facets of the history of languages and their influence on India’s civilisation and culture. It seeks to present language as a living entity that has continuously shaped and been shaped by society.
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.
Published – July 19, 2026 05:03 pm IST
