Guwahati: In a major move towards connecting traditional knowledge with scientific innovation, the National Science Centre, Guwahati opened three new facilities on Thursday, with an estimated budget of Rs 1 crore entirely funded by the Government of India.
The program was chaired by Assam's Hon'ble Minister Keshab Mahanta. The new facilities include:
• A Medicinal Garden accommodating more than 120 species of medicinal plants, some of which are rare.
• A Traditional Medicines of Northeast India Gallery, the first in the Northeast and Assam; and
• An AI-based Online Ticket Booking System.
Addressing to Business Northeast, the Director of the Centre said, "Medicinal garden will be a living database of healing plants. People particularly students can retrieve in-depth scientific data such as the plant names, uses and medicinal properties." He further mentioned that the new gallery is "unique in nature" and displays traditional healing systems used by various tribal communities in the region, all under one roof.
Pointing to the blending of tradition and modernity, the Traditional Medicines Gallery has interactive displays, such as a touchscreen kiosk, flip-books, and even models of ancient surgical instruments utilized by Sushruta, the mythical father of Indian surgery. "This is the first such gallery in the entire Northeast India," the Director averred.
The novel online ticketing system, created as part of the Digital India mission, enables one to make their entry booking through a WhatsApp chatbot. Based on QR code scanning and a completely cashless interface, the system looks to streamline visitor experience and encourage digital access.
Adding more depth, a top official at the Science Centre commented, "Traditional medicine runs deep in the lives of Northeast India's indigenous people, where access to modern healthcare is still limited. With this gallery, we hope to heighten public consciousness regarding the importance of our heritage, while also showing the *scientific validation* behind these practices.
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She noted that all the traditional cures exhibited are exhibited in conjunction with their scientific mechanisms—i.e. , chemical analyses and regulatory processes, so that the knowledge is not only conserved but also responsibly disseminated.
Recently having been elevated to National Science Centre status in January 2024, the Guwahati centre is stepping up efforts to conjoin science, culture, and innovation for the region's people. @Nishit Sir NOVO
FIRST Business Portal addressing the potential of business capability of North East Region.
