Raja dinkar kelkar museum launches multilingual digital audio guide

Time of India

18-05-2025

Pune: To mark
on May 18, the
in Pune unveiled a multilingual smart digital audio guide, offering visitors a fresh, immersive experience through its eight galleries. Developed in Marathi, Hindi, and English, the audio guide responds to a global call by the International Council of Museums (ICOM), which urged cultural institutions to celebrate the day with initiatives centered on the theme "The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities.
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"
"This isn't just a guide to exhibits, it's a layered narrative," said Sudhanva Ranade, museologist and director of the museum. "It took us nearly six months to complete, and it covers everything from the story of how this museum came into being to the extraordinary vision of its founder. Visitors will now be able to experience all eight galleries in the museum through a fresh, immersive lens."
The initiative was inaugurated by Sonali Deshpande, chairperson of persistent systems, who became the first visitor to take the audio tour.
The guide, which is accessible via a simple QR code scan, walks users through 35 specially curated artefacts. High-quality audio explains each object's history, material, function, and cultural context.
Cloud-powered and mobile-driven, the system is designed for use on personal smartphones. It incorporates geofencing technology, ensuring the guide functions only within museum premises.
"Visitors can begin their journey the moment they scan the QR code on the standee at the entrance," said Ranade.
"The content is multilingual, and we are working on adding more languages such as German, Russian, Japanese, and other regional Indian languages so that international and non-Maharashtrian or Hindi-speaking visitors can share the knowledge."
Developed in collaboration with Persistent Foundation and Glorytel Digital LLP, with active participation from the museum's staff, the project reflects the institution's commitment to innovation, research, and accessibility.
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"This is a homegrown innovation," Ranade said. "Our team put in extensive effort to ensure authenticity and historical accuracy. The goal was to move beyond static displays and offer storytelling that truly brings the artefacts to life."
In addition to providing rich information about the artefacts, the guide features social media integration, allowing visitors to share photos, tag the museum, and offer real-time feedback.
Founded in 1962 by Dinkar Gangadhar Kelkar, the Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum in Shukrawar Peth houses over 20,000 artefacts, with around 2,500 currently on display. From musical instruments and lamps to intricate sculptures and everyday household items, the collection offers a window into pre-industrial Indian life.
"We've requested our tech partners to support us further as we move toward developing a state-of-the-art Museum City in Bavdhan," said Ranade. "By merging this heritage with technology, the museum will continue to educate and inspire a new generation of visitors locally and globally."