Union Home Minister Amit Shah addresses the inauguration ceremony of the Museum of Word (Shabdalok) at the National Library campus in Kolkata, Sunday, July 19, 2026.
| Photo Credit: PTI
Highlighting that a country’s language carries its heritage and offers a window into its culture, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday (July 19, 2026) inaugurated the Museum of Word at the National Library campus here and called it a step to preserve the virasat (heritage) of India.Developed by the National Library under the aegis of the Union Culture Ministry, the first immersive language museum in the country, also known as Shabdalok, celebrates India’s rich linguistic heritage and showcases the evolution of its oral and written traditions through interactive and technology-driven exhibits.“Our Prime Minister [Narendra Modi] has prioritised both Vikas (development) and virasat (heritage). This museum is a step to preserve India’s rich linguistic and cultural heritage. Our language carries our heritage, and through languages you can understand a country’s culture,” Mr. Shah said, addressing the inauguration event. 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 society while also being shaped by it.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 using digital displays, holograms, and motion-sensor technology to engage visitors.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. “Our officials are also working to digitise over 1 lakh manuscripts that they have collected; Bengal was the centre of India’s cultural revolution, but it lost its way in the middle. Foreign powers occupied them. It is time to revive our culture,” Mr. Shah said. The Union Minister also praised the newly formed Bharatiya Janata Party government in West Bengal. “I have been closely monitoring West Bengal for the last nine months, and it is becoming the prakash stambh (guiding light) of the country. I am confident that the vision of a sonar Bangla (golden Bengal) would be realised under the leadership of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari,” Mr. Shah said. Published - July 19, 2026 05:03 pm IST
