Amit Shah Inaugurates India's First Immersive Language Museum at National Library, Kolkata

PTI, July 19, 2026, Kolkata: The Museum of Word, India's first immersive language museum, was inaugurated today at the National Library, Kolkata, by Amit Shah, Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Government of India, in the august presence of Suvendu Adhikari, Chief Minister of West Bengal, Swapan Dasgupta, Minister of Finance, Government of West Bengal, Gouri Sankar Ghosh, Minister-in-Charge, Department of Mass Education Extension and Library Services, Government of West Bengal, Govind Mohan, Union Home Secretary, Vivek Aggarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Government of India, Lily Pandeya, Joint Secretary (Museums), Ministry of Culture, Government of India, Dr Mahesh Dixit, Director, Intelligence Bureau, Government of India, K. S. Murali, Director General, National Council of Science Museums, and other distinguished dignitaries.

The Museum of Word is a landmark initiative of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, dedicated to celebrating India's unparalleled linguistic and literary heritage.

Housed in the historic Belvedere House within the National Library campus, 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 location of 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, whose origins date back to the Calcutta Public Library established in 1836 and which has been housed in Belvedere House since 1948, provides an apt setting for this first-of-its-kind institution.

Developed with a sanctioned outlay of Rs 41 crore, the project is being implemented in phases.

Phase I, comprising approximately 2,282 square metres of exhibition space on the first floor at a cost of Rs 15 crore, was inaugurated today.

The subsequent phases will include additional galleries on the ground floor 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.

K. S. Murali, Director General, National Council of Science Museums, proposed the Vote of Thanks, expressing his sincere gratitude to the distinguished dignitaries and all those whose invaluable support and contributions were instrumental in the successful realisation of the Museum of Word.

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.