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On World Heritage Day, India’s museums are reimagining heritage — not as relics of the past, but as living gateways where ancient wisdom and personal awakening meet.
The Kite Museum in Ahmedabad is dedicated to the city’s love for kites. (Source: X)
On World Heritage Day, as the world reflects on the importance of preserving cultural legacy, India’s evolving approach to heritage offers a compelling narrative. No longer confined to dusty artifacts and silent galleries, Indian museums today are becoming dynamic spaces where the past meets the present — not as a relic, but as a living, breathing reality.
From Static Displays to Living Ideas
“The heritage of a civilisation cannot be merely etched only in stone or be contained in scriptures,” says Shribala Chordia, Trustee, Amar Prerana Trust—Abhay Prabhavana Museum & Knowledge Centre. “It lives through the timeless principles that have shaped the spiritual and cultural identity of the people.”
According to her, museums must evolve beyond preservation. They must breathe life into heritage — creating immersive experiences where ancient concepts like karma, dharma, and ahimsa are not viewed as distant philosophies but as lived experiences. “Visitors aren’t passive observers,” explains Chordia. “They become participants, engaging with timeless wisdom that feels deeply relevant.”
Across India’s vast cultural landscape — spanning Jain, Buddhist, Vedic, and Sikh traditions — a shared value system endures. Modern museums, Chordia emphasizes, reveal this interconnectedness, helping visitors not just see history but feel a sense of belonging and pride.
Museums as Master Storytellers
Adding to this evolving narrative is the perspective of Shri Sheo Shekhar Shukla, Principal Secretary, Tourism, Culture, and Religious Trusts & Endowments Department, and Managing Director, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board, says, “Cultural storytelling is being beautifully reimagined, and museums are at the heart of this transformation.” Shukla observes, “They are no longer just places where artefacts are stored—they’ve become spaces where history comes alive, where myths, memories, and traditions are woven into powerful narratives that resonate with today’s generation.”
Museums like the Triveni Museum in Ujjain exemplify this shift. By blending mythology, art, and heritage into immersive experiences, they turn passive viewing into active participation. “It’s no longer about just viewing culture—it’s about experiencing it, questioning it, and being part of it,” notes Shukla. Museums today are storytellers in their own right, breathing life into the past and helping visitors internalize its enduring relevance.
Travel, Heritage, and the Human Connection
But the transformation of heritage spaces isn’t only about structures and exhibits. It’s also about the people who interpret, preserve, and embody these stories. As Jyoti Mayal, Chairperson, Tourism and Hospitality Skill Council (THSC), aptly points out, travel — and by extension, heritage exploration — is deeply personal. “Sometimes it’s not the destination that moves us, but the quiet pause it offers,” reflects Mayal.
“A moment in a stone corridor, the sound of footsteps echoing through time, the delicate details in a faded mural. These aren’t just things we see; they’re things we feel,” explains Mayal.
Mayal reminds us that behind every powerful heritage experience stands a network of skilled individuals — from guides and conservators to artisans. “Architecture has a quiet way of teaching,” she says, but it is the human element — the storytellers and craftsmen — that ensures the soul of culture continues to thrive. Through initiatives like Skill India and platforms like THSC, communities are being empowered, turning heritage into livelihoods and fostering pride in cultural stewardship.
“When a young person learns to interpret heritage with pride and finds a livelihood in storytelling, hospitality, or restoration, they don’t just find a job,” notes Mayal. “They find a deeper purpose.”
The Future of Heritage: Awakening, Not Just Admiration
True cultural revival, as these voices remind us, doesn’t begin with admiration. It begins with awakening — a personal transformation that museums, skilled interpreters, and dynamic heritage spaces are increasingly striving to inspire.
As we celebrate World Heritage Day, it’s clear that India’s approach to heritage is not about preserving the past in glass cases. It’s about creating living gateways — spaces where ancient wisdom and contemporary spirit meet, inspiring each visitor to carry forward the timeless stories that define us all.