Although very late when compared to the rest of the world and the other states in India, Nagaland finally opened its first technology innovation hub and a space education centre in Dimapur on Sep. 28. The opening comes along with the first planetarium in the state. For a state that is known for the frenzied rush by its citizens to get jobs in the public offices a.k.a, government offices the opening of the centres is indeed a milestone and the changed mindset of the political leaders in the state.
Earlier the same location had a science centre and museum e. The two additional centres to the existing science centre and museum comes after 14 years since it was opened in 2004. Why the duration between the two is important is because it highlights how far behind the state is when it comes to technology and innovation. It is no doubt a milestone but is comes after 57 years since Yuri Gagarin’s first space flight.
It comes after 49 years after man first landed on the moon. A planetarium is finally opened in Nagaland 43 years after India launched its first artificial satellite, Aryabatta, into space. Nagaland opened its first technology innovation hub 27 years after India inaugurated the first indigenously- built super computer, PARAM.
The big corporations and defence firms had no doubt made notable strides in the field of science and technology all around the world. However the push that came after the first personal computers were released was from hobbyist and enthusiasts. The Homebrew Computer Club that was formed by enthusiasts in the Silicon
Valley area in 1975 has gone down in the annals of history. The club conducted meetings where they exchanged more than just ideas –parts, circuits etc. It also became the place where they showed their skills with their demos and prototypes. The founders of Apple Inc. were also part of this club. The Commodore PET and
Apple II were released for consumers by 1977 and the rest is history.
Coming back to India, it is a well accepted fact that country was not among the big clubs in the field of technology earlier. There were too many technological restrictions against India since the nuclear test of 1975. However this technological apartheid —as it is also referred to —became a blessing in disguise for India.
Scarcity always propels innovation. The giant leaps that ISRO continues to make are evidences of it. The indigenously built supercomputer is another example. Nagaland needs such personalities. The many engineering and technological graduates running from pillar to post trying to get government jobs instead should push forward this kind of initiative.
The majority of these graduates studied through scholarships provided by the government. So instead of holding the government to ransom forming into associations and demanding jobs, they should be the torchbearers of technological innovation in the state.
Then the dream of making Nagaland a manufacturing hub will also be realised. At least the politicians have delivered in this case, but are the people ready to take it up. It is always better to be late than never but if the mindset of the people does not change then it will always be never.
