19 July 2026:The Museum of Word, India's first immersive language museum, was inaugurated today at the National Library, Kolkata, by Shri Amit Shah, Hon'ble Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Government of India, in the august presence of Shri Suvendu Adhikari, Hon'ble Chief Minister of West Bengal; Shri Swapan Dasgupta, Minister of Finance, Government of West Bengal; Shri Gouri Sankar Ghosh; Minister-in-Charge, Department of Mass Education Extension and Library Services, Government of West Bengal; Shri Govind Mohan, Union Home Secretary; Shri Vivek Aggarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Government of India; Mrs. Lily Pandeya, Joint Secretary (Museums), Ministry of Culture, Government of India; Dr. Mahesh Dixit, Director, Intelligence Bureau, Government of India; Shri 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.
Visitors embark on an engaging 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.
Developed with a sanctioned outlay of ₹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 ₹15 crore, 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 ceremony was attended by distinguished dignitaries from diverse fields, senior government officials, academicians, linguists, authors, cultural practitioners, and students from various schools. Shri 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.
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