Amit Shah Unveils Museum of Word in Kolkata to Revitalise Cultural Heritage

"Major step to revitalise country's cultural heritage": Amit Shah inaugurates newly built 'Museum of Word' in Kolkata

Kolkata, July 19

Speaking on the occasion, Shah described the 'Museum of Word' as a major step toward revitalising the country's cultural heritage.

He framed the project as a key achievement under the central government's ongoing efforts to protect and promote the country's cultural identity.

"This is a momentous day for the nation's culture, as PM Modi marks a significant milestone in the resolve to revitalise the country's cultural heritage. The culture of any nation or region, and its expression, cannot exist without language, and language itself cannot exist without words born of emotion. Unless our future generations understand this journey. That the cultural revitalisation of this country cannot truly take place. I am fully confident that this 'Museum of Word' will address a fundamental need in this process of cultural resurgence and will succeed in its mission," he said.

Shah further emphasised the critical need for preserving native languages, saying that a nation's vernacular identity must actively shape public character rather than existing purely as a sentimental attachment.

He also urged the people not to lose the traditional language, adding that while language is scientific, it is based on necessity and natural evolution.

"Every person has an attachment to their mother tongue and rightly so. Here, one realises that this attachment should not remain merely an emotion but should become an integral part of our character; we also come to understand that, as Indians, we may have forgotten our traditional attire. We must ensure we do not lose our language as well. Those who view language through a scientific lens should understand that language is a science that evolved organically. While language is indeed scientific, it developed based on necessity and natural evolution," he said.

Furthermore, the Union Home Minister urged the Culture Secretary to integrate modern computing and Artificial Intelligence (AI) with the nation's linguistic heritage to ensure traditional languages thrive in the digital era.

"We have never placed restrictions on ideas. We engaged in dialogue with the scriptures, held philosophical debates, and continuously embraced innovation alongside tradition. Having just toured the entire museum. I see that it beautifully chronicles the journey of the word. I urge the Culture Secretary to extend this narrative to the realms of computers and AI, ensuring our languages gain full acceptance in the modern era. We have never shied away from innovation; we have never retreated from it. We are a people who embraced whatever was auspicious, integrating it with our own goodness to amplify its positive impact manifold," he said.

— ANI