The successful soft launch of the upcoming Sundarban Museum at iLEAD marked a significant milestone in the preservation and exhibition of the ecological and cultural legacy of the Sundarbans on International Museum Day.

The vision, galleries, and immersive experiences of the world-class museum being built on Gosaba Island in the Sundarbans were unveiled at the event. Through an engaging, technologically advanced experience, the museum seeks to convey the biodiversity, heritage, livelihoods, and environmental significance of the world’s largest mangrove forest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The soft launch ceremony was graced by Lt. Col. Anant Sinha, Director, The Asiatic Society, Kolkata, Prabir Mahapatra, Secretary, Tagore Society for Rural Development (TSRD), 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.

Prominent academicians like Simran Sanghera, Principal, Asian International School, Kolkata, Madhumita Maiti, Principal, La Martiniere for Boys Middle School, and Shuktara CCA Coordinator of Jyotirmoyee Girls’ High School were also present.

The museum’s 14 galleries, each focusing on a distinct facet of the Sundarbans, were presented to visitors during the event. The Sundarbans’ boats and ships, pirate tales, tribal communities, forest products, handicrafts, cyclones, climate change, conservation efforts, local livelihoods, and the region’s upcoming challenges are just a few of the topics that will be covered in the galleries.

Additionally, the museum will offer immersive technology experiences, such as films with AI support, VR and AR installations, and 3D projections that mimic the mangrove forest’s ambience. The Royal Bengal Tiger, crocodiles, and other wildlife projections, along with a specially created forest soundscape, will provide visitors with realistic representations of the Sundarbans ecosystem.

The full museum layout was revealed during the soft launch, which also explains why UNESCO designated the Sundarbans as a World Heritage Site. The esteemed guests watched a selection of AI films from each gallery. Notable dignitaries are expected to attend the museum’s official opening, which is scheduled for August 2026 around Independence Day.

Priyanka Dutta