The digital world is more than devices and data—it’s about people, access, and justice.
Despite India having nearly the world’s largest digitally appropriated user population of the Internet and digital tools: more than 50% of India’s population has never used the internet and 75% lack meaningful connectivity. Critical questions arise: who has access to the Internet, who controls and benefits from this access? Who is able to represent themselves digitally, whose narratives are shared with what intention? Where are the bounds between physical reality and the online world, as digital tools are increasingly integrated into daily lives and activities?
Even a person who is not using digital tools is directly affected by the surrounding digital ecosystem or ongoing digital integration– by design, life, policy, economy and so on. There is a clear need to contextualise, localise and economise digital tools for community access and active participation.
The Museum of Digital Society is our attempt to visualise and make visible both the traditional and digital methods or models of knowledge creation and knowledge management existing in numerous forms across the country. Prioritising narratives from marginalized communities, the museum is aligned with a larger mission showcasing how digital tools can be used for poverty alleviation, developing systems of communication, and leveraging rural wisdom on business and lifestyle. Rather than charity or purely development, this lens focuses on real change through social and entrepreneurial involvement.
Thus we highlight stories of inclusion– rural women entrepreneurs, barefoot engineers, digital libraries, community networks– as well as showcase innovative and people-driven prototypes for ensuring last mile Internet access. Fostering culturally-rooted and context-specific solutions, the museum as a repository links communities to each other, contributing to and drawing from the larger surrounding knowledge economy.
“It is a place for people to experiment and engage with experiences, in the name of a museum.”
- Osama Manzar