88 years ago, an Indian doctor became China’s hero. Now, AI makeover will tell his story

An Indian doctor, Dr Dwarkanath Kotnis, became a symbol of India-China friendship 88 years ago when he traveled to China as part of an Indian medical mission during the Second Sino-Japanese War. A nine-foot marble statue of Dr Kotnis, now surrounded by stone panels depicting Indian motifs, stands at the North China Military Region Martyrs Cemetery in Shijiazhuang, the capital of China's Hebei province.

The memorial, established in the 1970s, houses memorabilia, letters, and information about Dr Kotnis and three other Indian doctors who served in China. Authorities plan to introduce AI and interactive technologies to the memorial hall to make the Indian medical mission's history more accessible to visitors. The project aims to modernize the memorial amid China's broader efforts to upgrade cultural institutions.

Kotnis, whose Chinese name is Ke Dihua, learned Chinese and became deeply involved in local society. He married a Chinese nurse, Guo Qinglan, and had a son, Yinhua. Despite the dangers, he continued working in China until his death in 1942. Dr Kotnis' legacy has influenced his family, with several members pursuing careers in medicine.

His extended family in Mumbai continues to visit his memorial in Shijiazhuang, remembering his humanitarian role and the respect bestowed upon him by the Chinese.