Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on Sunday inaugurated the first phase of the Museum of Word in Kolkata, describing it as a significant initiative to preserve India’s linguistic heritage and strengthen the country’s cultural renaissance. The museum has been developed by the Ministry of Culture to showcase the evolution of language through visual, auditory and immersive experiences.
Addressing the gathering, Shah said the museum gives concrete shape to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of cultural resurgence and will serve as a repository of India’s multilingual traditions for future generations.
“Today, this Museum of Word is giving concrete shape to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s resolve for the cultural renaissance of the nation,” he said.
He added that language, words and culture are deeply interconnected, and understanding this relationship is essential to preserving India’s civilisational heritage.
“Language is shaped by words, words are shaped by emotions, and culture is shaped by language. Without understanding this journey, the cultural renaissance of India cannot be complete,” Shah said.
The Union Home Minister said the museum traces the evolution of language from Omkar and Panini’s grammar to the Shruti and Smriti traditions, manuscripts, inscriptions, the printing press, digital archives and Artificial Intelligence, presenting India’s linguistic journey in an interactive format.
Calling for the integration of emerging technologies, Shah urged that the museum continue to evolve with the times.
“The Museum of Word should be expanded to encompass digital technologies and Artificial Intelligence, enabling Indian languages to evolve in line with the technologies of the future,” he said.
Highlighting India’s long tradition of embracing innovation while preserving its cultural roots, Shah said the country’s civilisation has remained resilient through centuries.
“We have never shied away from innovation and have always embraced all that is noble and auspicious. That is why, despite countless challenges and assaults, our cultural journey stands as steadfast as the Himalayas,” he said.
Shah lauded the Ministry of Culture for transforming India’s intangible linguistic heritage into a tangible and immersive experience.
“The Ministry of Culture has accomplished the significant task of transforming the invisible word into a visual, auditory, tactile and immersive experience,” he said.
The Union Home Minister said the museum preserves India’s dialects, manuscripts, inscriptions, folk traditions and literary heritage, enabling visitors to understand the country’s civilisational journey through language. He also encouraged young people to visit libraries and museums, describing them as centres of intellectual and cultural development.
Emphasising the importance of mother tongues, Shah outlined five principles for strengthening Indian languages. He said every family should become a child’s first school of learning, education should begin in the mother tongue, universities should emerge as centres of original thought, Indian languages should be digitally and AI-enabled, and libraries and museums should expand their outreach beyond physical spaces.
He also urged young people to learn at least one additional Indian language alongside their mother tongue to strengthen linguistic diversity.
Referring to West Bengal’s cultural legacy, Shah said the state has historically been a beacon of India’s civilisational consciousness and expressed confidence that it would once again emerge as a leading centre of intellectual and cultural thought.
He also noted that the inauguration coincides with the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram and highlighted the Centre’s decision to confer Classical Language status on Bengali in 2024, calling it an important recognition of the language’s rich heritage.
Concluding his address, Shah said the Museum of Word would play a vital role in building a culturally confident India.
“Let us resolve to build a Viksit Bharat by 2047 and restore India’s position as a Vishwa Guru, drawing strength from our words, our culture and our self-confidence,” he said.
