New Delhi: What would you ask Mahatma Gandhi if you could speak to him face to face? Did the Partition break him emotionally? Why did he leave South Africa? What did he think people misunderstood most about him? Why did he never become Prime Minister?At the Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya on Wednesday, that impossible conversation suddenly felt within reach. The museum unveiled an AI-powered HoloBox featuring a tall 3D avatar of Mahatma Gandhi, transforming a quiet gallery into an interactive encounter with history.It is the third such AI-powered HoloBox at the museum after previous ones featured Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and former President A P J Abdul Kalam.Inside the dimly-lit room, one side briefly traces the Mahatma’s life, from his birth in 1869 to his assassination in 1948. At the centre stands the holographic Gandhi inside a glass enclosure, appearing on a towering screen dressed in his familiar white dhoti, a wooden stick resting lightly in his hand. The rimless spectacles, frail frame and calm voice are all instantly recognisable.Then came the moment that caught visitors off guard. Among them was Harsh, who was visiting the museum with his wife for the first time. The moment they entered his name, the screen flickered to life. “Hello Harsh, I am Gandhi… Feel free to ask me anything about my vision and journey,” the reply came, the figure shifting gently as it spoke.The couple smiled instantly. Soon came questions on independence, sacrifice, South Africa and leadership. The responses followed almost immediately, making the interaction feel less like a museum installation and more like a personal conversation unfolding in real time.“It felt realistic,” Harsh later said. “Technology like this can genuinely make history more interesting for younger generations.”Another visitor, Parul, tried asking Gandhi what he would think of present-day India. The hologram could not respond, as the AI system is designed to answer only from Gandhi’s lifetime, experiences and documented writings. Museum officials said the database draws from historical research and material, such as Selected Works of Mahatma Gandhi.But when Parul asked what aspect of him was most misunderstood, the response came instantly. Gandhi’s voice replied that non-violence was often mistaken for weakness.“I was satisfied with the answers. It’s interesting because once you start asking one question, many more questions start coming to mind,” Parul said.Nripendra Misra, the chairman of the Prime Ministers’ Museum and Library, said, “Mahatma Gandhi is known to everyone, yet people still carry many unanswered questions about him. Non-violence was one of the core principles he rooted for, along with several other ideals that continue to spark curiosity even today. Being able to interact with him through this HoloBox and ask questions directly is a remarkable initiative by the museum.”Ashwani Lohani, director of the museum and library, said the initiative offers “a fresh way to connect people of all ages with the leaders who were pivotal in shaping India’s deep and enriching political landscape”. Lohani added that the museum plans to introduce a HoloBox featuring former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee by June.
