bapu tower
An immersive tribute to Mahatma Gandhi's journey & Bihar’s pivotal role in the freedom movement
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overview
Bapu Tower, inaugurated on October 2nd, 2024, on Mahatma Gandhi's 155th birth anniversary by the Honourable Chief Minister of Bihar, stands as a heartfelt tribute to the Great Mahatma. Located in the historic city of Patna, the museum offers an immersive journey through Gandhiji's life—tracing his early years in Porbandar, his transformative experiences in London and South Africa, his pivotal role in India's freedom struggle, and his enduring principles of peace, non-violence, and harmony.
behind the work
Designing for a space that’s mostly ramps? That’s a challenge. This project demanded creative problem-solving to craft exhibits that worked seamlessly within circular, narrow, and sloping environments. With limited visual documentation of historical events, imagination took center stage—text descriptions were transformed into vivid illustrations, filling the gaps where imagery was missing. Even from a distance, prior museum experiences shaped the design approach, emphasizing the importance of spatial storytelling. This project was a test of adaptability, balancing architectural constraints with the need to deliver compelling, immersive narratives.
The design of Bapu Tower Museum adopts an experiential narrative approach, offering visitors a chronological journey through Mahatma Gandhi's life and India's struggle for independence. The museum underscores Gandhi's enduring message of non-violence (ahimsa), rural self-reliance (gram swaraj), and secularism. These values are brought to life through the narratives of his actions and writings.
The creation of Bapu Tower Museum involved extensive research, iterative design, and collaboration across disciplines. Design Habit (Museum Design Team), in partnership with BRMA (Content Research and Planners) and Archival Experts from the Bihar government, led the project from conception to inauguration.
The location holds deep historical significance, as Bihar played a crucial role in shaping the Indian freedom movement. The Champaran Satyagraha of 1917, led by Mahatma Gandhi, was his first major act of civil disobedience in India and became a defining moment in the country's struggle for independence. The events leading to the Champaran Satyagraha are detailed through individual exhibits in Ramp 1. Bihar was also home to prominent leaders who stood against colonial oppression and contributed to key movements. Their contributions are highlighted across various moments in the Indian independence timeline. Each exhibit is framed within the broader historical narrative of India and the world. Techniques such as History Walls, immersive AV shows, mural walls, embedded interactives, and layered panels provide visitors with a comprehensive understanding of the socio-political context.
Through the use of multimedia techniques such as holographs, projection mapping, and recreated environments, the museum brings pivotal moments to life. The narrative unfolds across two galleries, five ramps, and a 360° film, thoughtfully designed to offer a seamless and immersive journey through the historical landscape. Gandhiji's writings and speeches are interwoven with these exhibits, offering a profound insight into his ideals and their relevance today. This multi-sensory approach enables visitors to engage deeply with the stories of struggle, resilience, and the collective fight for India's freedom.
year
2021 - 2024
timeframe
3 years
location
Patna, India
analog tools
Narrative Planning + Concept Illustration + Archival Research
digital tools
Photoshop + AutoCAD + SketchUp + Procreate
category
Museum Design
01
Sketches – Mapping content onto the layout and using initial sketches to convey the visual language, conceptual direction, and the integration of technology. One key design element was the recreation of a London street from the Victorian era, allowing visitors to feel as though they were walking through London of that time. This immersive experience invites them to trace Gandhi’s steps and understand the profound cultural shift faced by a young vegetarian from Gujarat navigating a foreign city
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Design Process – From content mapping to visualization—creating rendered visualizations for client approval, followed by developing full-scale artworks along with material and finishing descriptions for production handover
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Execution of the design and the final output of the space. This section captures pivotal phases such as his days in London while studying law and how those life experiences shaped his worldview, all brought to life through immersive storytelling
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The Bihar Journey – Beyond traditional galleries, the museum utilizes unique ramp spaces, transformed into chronological exhibits that guide visitors through key historical moments. This ramp is entirely dedicated to Bihar's pivotal role in the Indian freedom struggle, highlighting the Champaran Satyagraha—the first movement led by Mahatma Gandhi in India
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Gandhi’s First Encounter with Indigo Farmers and Bihar’s Advocates – Showcasing the design journey from initial sketches to the completed design, featuring interactive displays for in-depth content across multiple languages and a projection-mapped film to enrich the narrative
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The Plight of Indigo Farmers – This exhibit brings to life the harsh realities faced by indigo farmers, who were forced to cultivate indigo under exploitative conditions. From concept sketches to the completed design—the exhibit uses embedded text panels, projection-mapped films, and immersive set elements, including cutouts, murals, and trompe-l'œil effects, to transport visitors back in time and immerse them in the farmers' lived experiences
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Bihar’s Role in the Rowlatt Act Movement – Tracing the design evolution from initial sketches to the completed exhibit, with embedded text panels, detailed sets, cutouts, murals, and trompe-l'œil effects to capture the scale and impact of the movement. With no existing visual documentation, the design process relied on extensive research of written records to visualize and spatialize the historical events, bringing them to life for visitors
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Gandhi’s Arrival in Bihar – A pivotal moment marking Gandhi’s first visit to Bihar. With no visual documentation available from the time, the concept was derived from written accounts to depict how crowds gathered at the station platform, eagerly awaiting his arrival
