Amit Shah inaugurates India’s first immersive language museum ‘Shabdalok’ in Kolkata

Kolkata: The Museum of Word, India's first immersive language museum, at the National Library, Kolkata, is a landmark initiative of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, dedicated to celebrating India's unparalleled linguistic and literary heritage.

Shah inaugurated the Museum of Word, the first of its kind in India, which traces the evolution of language.

Developed at 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, technology-driven exhibits.


Housed in the historic Belvedere House within the National Library campus in Kolkata, the museum presents an immersive exploration of the evolution, diversity, and enduring legacy of India's languages. Spread across nine thoughtfully curated galleries, it showcases the history, development, and contemporary status of nearly 380 languages, encompassing the 121 languages recorded in the Census of India 2011, while also recognising several historical languages that are no longer in everyday use.

Through cutting-edge immersive technologies, interactive installations, audio-visual presentations, and a rich collection of artefacts, the museum offers one of the most comprehensive narratives of India's spoken and written traditions.

The Museum of Word has been designed to showcase the vast diversity of India's languages, scripts and storytelling traditions. The museum uses cutting-edge immersive technologies, including AI, AR/VR experiences, acoustically designed hallways and gesture-reading sensors, to bring the country's oral and written literary heritage to life.

Shah said that besides learning one's mother tongue, every student should also learn at least one other Indian language to better appreciate the country's cultural diversity. He 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 effectively they make use of libraries.

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, state Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta, Minister Mass Education Extension and Library Services Gouri Sankar Ghosh, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Secretary-Ministry of Culture (Government of India) Vivek Aggarwal, Lily Pandeya, Joint Secretary (Museums), under Union Ministry of Culture, Dr. Mahesh Dixit, Director, Intelligence Bureau, Government of India; K. S. Murali, Director General, National Council of Science Museums, and other distinguished dignitaries were present at the programme.

The museum within the National Library creates a unique synergy between the preservation of books and manuscripts and the living traditions of language, literature and knowledge. The National Library, dates back to the Calcutta Public Library established in 1836 and has been housed in Belvedere House since 1948.

The museum is unique with journey through nine thematic galleries-First Word, My Mother Tongue, Navrasa, Journey of Languages, Honouring the Legends, Oral Traditions, Performing Traditions, Global Dialogue, and Public Library Movement. Together, these galleries present a compelling account of India's linguistic and cultural evolution, beginning with the earliest symbols of the Indus-Saraswati Civilization and the revived Gunjala Gondi script, and tracing the development of speech, scripts, literature and communication across millennia.

The museum honours eminent poets, writers, philosophers, scholars and storytellers who enriched India's literary traditions, celebrates the country's vibrant oral and performing heritage, explores linguistic exchanges with the wider world, and highlights the vital role of public libraries in preserving, disseminating and democratising knowledge.

With outay of Rs 41 crore, the project is being implemented in phases. Around 2,282 square metres of exhibition space on the first floor in the first phase was inaugurated today. The subsequent phases will include additional galleries on the ground floor, a Souvenir Shop and Café, and a façade projection mapping programme, further enriching the visitor experience and strengthening the museum's role as a national centre for linguistic and cultural engagement.

The inauguration of the Museum of Word marks a significant milestone in India's efforts to preserve, promote and celebrate its unparalleled linguistic diversity. As a first-of-its-kind cultural institution, the museum offers an immersive platform for visitors to explore the evolution of language, literature and communication while fostering a deeper appreciation of the country's rich multilingual heritage. By blending history, culture and technology, the Museum of Word is poised to emerge as a premier centre for learning, research and public engagement, inspiring present and future generations to cherish and preserve India's enduring legacy of languages.


The Museum of Word will remain open to visitors from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM on all days except Mondays. Entry to the museum will be free for all visitors until August 15, 2026