The Nagaland Science Centre in Dimapur, which was in news for the fire incident, has nothing much to offer for children as many interactive exhibits are not functional.
Recently, the Nagaland Science Centre in Dimapur made headlines after a fire broke out in one of its rooms. Thankfully, the incident was brought under control, but for many of us, that was perhaps the first time in years the Science Centre found itself in the news.
As people remember the fire, I hope we also remember the condition of the Centre itself.
Last week, my daughter, an LKG student, was assigned a simple summer vacation project: visit three places and write a short report. One of those places was the Nagaland Science Centre. Like any parent, I was excited. Science centres are meant to be places where children touch, experiment, ask questions, and discover how the world works.
Sadly, what greeted us was not the vibrant learning space we had imagined. Many of the interactive exhibits, which should be the heart of any science centre, were either not functioning or appeared to have been out of order for quite some time. Instead of encouraging curiosity through hands-on learning, many of the displays simply stood as silent reminders of what they once were.
The outdoor science park was equally disappointing. Grass had grown unchecked in many areas, and the surroundings looked neglected. A place designed to inspire young minds felt as though it had been forgotten.
I do not know which department or agency is directly responsible for maintaining the Science Centre, nor is this article intended to point fingers. Rather, it is a humble appeal. If we have only a handful of government-funded educational and recreational facilities in Dimapur, shouldn't we preserve and improve the ones we already have?
For many children in Nagaland, this is their first—and perhaps only—experience of a science museum. The impression they take home matters. A working exhibit can ignite a lifelong interest in science. A broken one risks doing just the opposite.
Dimapur has no shortage of shopping complexes and cafés, but meaningful public recreational spaces for families remain scarce. Parks are few, educational attractions are limited, and safe places where parents and children can spend quality time together are even fewer. That makes the Science Centre far more valuable than we often realize.
The recent fire understandably drew public attention. The real story is not merely about a room that caught fire, but about an institution that quietly needs restoration, maintenance, and renewed investment.
Imagine what the Science Centre could become with upgraded exhibits, functioning experiments, well-maintained gardens, regular maintenance, and fresh educational displays. It could once again become a place where children laugh, learn, and leave inspired rather than disappointed.
This article is not written out of criticism but out of hope. Hope that the concerned authorities will see the Science Centre not as another government building to be maintained, but as an investment in the next generation of Nagaland's scientists, engineers, teachers, and innovators.
Sometimes the greatest service we can render to our children is not building something new, but caring for what we already have.
The Science Centre deserves that care. More importantly, our children deserve nothing less.
Mughalu Kinimi