In a first for the nation, Chhattisgarh is setting up a digital museum in Nava Raipur dedicated to the memory and valor of its tribal freedom heroes. The initiative, personally envisioned by Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai, is designed to preserve the stories of resistance, sacrifice, and pride that shaped the state’s history. The museum will immortalize the legacy of warriors such as Veer Narayan Singh of Sonakhan, who led one of the earliest revolts against British oppression and was martyred for the cause of freedom.
Situated in Sector 24, Nava Raipur, the museum stands as a tribute to these unsung heroes. Principal Secretary Sonmoni Borah revealed that this world class facility, built at a cost of Rupees 50 crore, will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during Chhattisgarh’s silver jubilee of statehood. It is India’s first fully digital museum, integrating storytelling with cutting edge visual technology. Through interactive digital screens, projection mapping, and advanced VFX installations, visitors will relive the historic tribal uprisings of Halba, Sarguja, Bhopalpatnam, Paralkot, Tarapur, Lingagiri, Koee, Meria, Muria, Rani Chauris, and Sonakhan, along with landmark movements like the Jungle and Jhanda Satyagrahas.
Thematic galleries divide these moments of resistance into fourteen digital sectors, providing a multidimensional experience where history becomes immersive. Visitors can scan QR codes to access mobile based narratives, ensuring accessibility and engagement. At the entrance, Saraguja artisans have carved intricate wooden panels depicting tribal life. A magnificent installation of a 1400 year old Sal Mahua Saja tree, its leaves digitally inscribed with stories of fourteen revolts, symbolizes the deep rooted resilience of tribal identity.
Within the museum, lifelike bronze sculptures of Birsa Munda, Gaind Singh, Rani Gaidinliu, and Veer Narayan Singh evoke the spirit of defiance and devotion. Facilities such as selfie points, accessibility features for differently abled visitors, seating for senior citizens, and tribal art flooring enhance the experiential charm.
The museum is both memorial and manifesto. As Chief Minister Sai affirmed, it will serve as a global center of Chhattisgarh’s tribal culture, inspiring future generations with the moral and cultural strength of their ancestors. In aligning technology with tradition, the state is not merely preserving history but animating it, allowing a new India to learn from voices that once echoed through its forests, voices of freedom, dignity, and identity.
