A landmark step towards preserving and showcasing the ecological and cultural legacy of the Sundarbans was witnessed on International Museum Day as the soft launch of the upcoming Sundarban Museum was successfully held at iLEAD.
The event unveiled the vision, galleries and immersive experiences of the international-quality museum being developed on Gosaba Island in the Sundarbans. The museum aims to present the biodiversity, heritage, livelihoods and environmental significance of the world’s largest mangrove forest and UNESCO World Heritage site through an engaging and technology-driven experience.
The soft launch ceremony was graced by Lt. Col. Anant Sinha, Director, The Asiatic Society, Kolkata, Prabir Mahapatra, Seretary, Tagore Society for Rural Development (TSRD) and Sayantan Kanjilal, grandson of Padmashri Tushar Kanjilal and member of Tagore Society for Rural Development (TSRD) and iLEAD Chairman Pradip Chopra, along with distinguished guests, academicians and conservation enthusiasts.
During the event, guests were introduced to the museums planned 14 galleries, each dedicated to different aspects of the Sundarbans. The galleries will cover themes including the boats and ships of the Sundarbans, stories of pirates, tribal communities, forest products, handicrafts, cyclones, climate change, conservation efforts, local livelihoods and the future challenges facing the region.
The museum will also feature immersive technological experiences, including AI-supported films, VR and AR installations and 3D projections recreating the atmosphere of the mangrove forest. Visitors will be able to experience realistic depictions of the Sundarbans ecosystem, including projections of the Royal Bengal Tiger, crocodiles and other wildlife accompanied by a specially designed forest soundscape.