The initial museums set the stage for contemporary venues dedicated to keeping, assessing, and exhibiting artworks, natural phenomena, and historical artifacts. Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a speech to a large audience at Pragati Maidan during the inauguration of the Indian Energy Efficiency Campaign (IECC). During his address, he unveiled an ambitious proposal to build “Yuge Yugeen Bharat,” which would be the largest museum in the world. The main objective of this museum is to exhibit the rich and dynamic history of India, highlighting its diversity.
Museums as sites of cultural heritage preservation, serve to bring communities together and hold immense cultural value. In the modern age, museums have evolved beyond their traditional roles, becoming not only repositories of cultural insights but also powerful platforms for political discourse and historical narratives. Thanks to digitisation, these institutions have broken free from physical constraints, offering virtual museum tours that enable us to explore their treasures from anywhere in the world.
The Cabinet of Curiosity is the predecessor of modern museums. Delving into the history of museums and art galleries adds a profound layer of context to their transformation. Originally established during the colonial era, many of these institutions served the interests of the ruling powers, often housing cultural artifacts and treasures plundered from other nations. Over time, there has been a gradual shift towards recognising the importance of repatriation and restitution, with a growing emphasis on cultural exchange and shared heritage. Today’s modern museums are striving to become more inclusive, bridging the gap between history and contemporary perspectives, while providing access to diverse audiences worldwide, irrespective of their geographical location.
Considering India’s ambition to construct the world’s largest museum, let us explore the history of some of the current largest museums in the world.
The Louvre, Paris 
In terms of size, this is the largest museum on earth with 73,000 square feet of space. The Louvre Palace went through many renovations, ultimately becoming the abode of cultural and historical significance that we know it as today. Reputed for holding art pieces from antiquity to the 19th century.
This museum had quite a revolutionary opening and was only accessible to the public after the French Revolution. It is estimated that it would take three months to view every art piece in the museum with no breaks. Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa is the star attraction for every visitor. Notable works include, The Mona Lisa and Venus De Milo Antonio Canova’s Psyche revived by the cupid, Da Vinci’s sculptor The dying slave.
The State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg – Russia
The Dance by Henri Matisse, The Return of the Prodigal Son by Rembrandt van Rijn, The Knight at the Crossroads by Viktor Vasnetsov are notable artworks in this Museum. Initially started off as a private installation by Catherine the Great, following the revolution in 1917, the museum and its artifacts became public. It has 3 million artifacts in its collection.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York 
The Metropolitan Museum of Art or The Met popularly known for hosting the Met Gala – a private, annual exhibit and the biggest social fundraising acts for the institution. With over 5,000 years of art in its collection, The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s main attraction and most publicised collection is the Costume Institute.
The Vatican Museums, The Vatican City
The smallest sovereign state, is home to one of the largest museums. This museum has collections passed down from the papacy and important masterpieces from the Renaissance period. Founded in the 16th century, this museum has over 20,000 artworks on display for the public.
Tokyo National Museum 
Operated by the National Institute of Cultural Heritage, the Tokyo National Museum in Japan hosts a comprehensive collection from Asia, especially focusing on ancient and mediaeval Japanese art. This is the oldest national museum and one of the largest art centres in Japan.
For a long time, museums were inaccessible to the public, and the collections were amassed for private viewing only. The cultural significance of museums is immense, and announcing the establishment of the world’s largest museum in India is beneficial on many fronts. The discourse surrounding establishment of cultural centres like Museums must be looked at from all frontiers. It can be a great boost for tourism and economic development, and at the same time, this aspiration puts India among the largest cultural hubs in the world.
Throughout history, museums have often been veiled in exclusivity, with collections amassed solely for private viewing. However, the cultural significance of these institutions is undeniable, and the recent announcement of India’s plans to establish the world’s largest museum holds immense benefits on multiple fronts.
The discourse surrounding the creation of cultural centres like museums requires a comprehensive examination from all angles. Notably, it has the potential to foster a significant boost in tourism and spur economic development. Simultaneously, this ambitious endeavour positions India among the foremost cultural hubs globally.
