Coimbatore: Children and parents are being put to hardship because the Periyar Knowledge Centre, which was recently inaugurated by Chief Minister Vijay, is being given holidays on government holiday days.
The Periyar Knowledge Centre in Coimbatore was built during the previous DMK regime at a cost of Rs. 300 crore on 1.98 lakh square feet and was opened on the 16th by the current Chief Minister Vijay. It has now become another landmark of Coimbatore. This library and science centre, located adjacent to the Coimbatore Semmozhi Park complex, has become a centre that nurtures children’s scientific curiosity and thinking.
The space-related tools and machines here, along with everything from how much a person would weigh on each planet, including Earth, Mars, and Mercury, to the suits worn by astronauts, a model of the artifacts discovered at Keeladi, where archaeological research is currently under way as a testament to the antiquity of the Tamils, and a grand library with seating and reading facilities—all of these have become part of this world of knowledge under one roof.
In this situation, a large number of people are expected to visit over the four-day consecutive holiday period of Ayudha Pooja and Vijayadashami. However, leave had been granted in observance of Ayudha Pooja and Vijayadashami. Unaware of this, many children and parents came in person only to find it locked and returned disappointed.
In this regard, members of the public said: Libraries should function on holidays. Only then will it be convenient for students to come and go. If they are kept locked like a government office, there is certainly little chance of many people coming. The Periyar Knowledge Centre should definitely be open on weekly holidays, including Sundays. Only if it is opened like that will the purpose of the project be fulfilled. Otherwise, if it merely functions like an office, children’s interest will also decline,” they said.
Science communicator and librarian readers’ circle president K. Lenin Bharathi said, “Science centers and libraries should continue to operate even on holidays. There is no holiday for knowledge or scientific thinking. Science centers and libraries are important public educational institutions that help develop people’s knowledge, improve students’ skills, and foster a scientific mindset. They should function on all days of the week.
Science centers help school and college students understand scientific concepts directly through demonstrations, experiments, and science exhibits. Students who come with their families on holidays also get the opportunity to experience and learn about science. This experience enhances students’ thinking skills and creativity. Education does not end with school or college.
Libraries that operate continuously cultivate the habit of reading among children and young people. This improves language skills, thinking ability, and creativity. When government offices, schools, and colleges are on holiday, many students and the general public get the opportunity to spend their leisure time usefully,” he said.