India’s First Private Train - The Delhi-Lucknow Tejas Express.

Photo By:-By Rajendra B. Aklekar - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, 

                       Delhi-Lucknow Tejas Express will be India's first train operated by private sector. The Railways, despite protests from its unions, is going ahead with its 100-day agenda of handing over operations of two of its trains to the private sector.

1.    The Delhi-Lucknow Tejas Express. (Train number 12585/12586)

2.    The Mumbai-Ahmedabad Tejas Express (Train number 80383/80384)

                       Tejas Express is India's first semi-high speed fully air conditioned train which is capable of running at a maximum speed of 200 KMPH, but the maximum operating speed allowed is 130 kmph due to track and safety constraints.

                       Here is all you need to know about India’s First Private Train, The Delhi-Lucknow Tejas Express.

1.    The train is expected to start its operation from October 4^th 2019.

2.    The Tejas Express will depart from Lucknow Junction at 6.50 am and reach New Delhi at 1.35 pm. On the return journey, it will leave from New Delhi at 3.35 pm and will arrive in Lucknow Junction at 10.05 pm. 

3.    The train will have aircraft-like personalized LCD entertainment-cum-information screens fitted at the back of every seat, on-board Wi- Fi facility, comfortable seats, mobile charging points, automatic doors and CCTV cameras.

4.    The seats will have an orange and yellow colour scheme that will match the exteriors of the train.

5.    Tejas coaches are fitted with LED lights and fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) interior panels, modular toilets and smart windows with motor-operated venetian blinds.

6.    The new Tejas Express train will have 23 chair cars and executive class coaches.

7.    According to the Northern Railway's timetable, Tejas Express will run for five days a week between New Delhi and Lucknow. It will not run on Thursday and Sunday.

8.    The total distance it will cover will be 512 kms.

9.    Coaches will have bio-vacuum toilets, water level indicators, tap sensors, hand dryers, integrated braille displays, local cuisine, celebrity chef menu, tea & coffee vending machines, magazines, snack tables, fire & smoke detection and suppression system.

10. The Tejas Express has redesigned seats with eco-leather. Toilets are equipped with soap dispensers, touch-less water taps, odour-control systems and occupancy indicators.

11. Each coach will have RO water filter and will be provided on demand to passengers. Packaged drinking water bottle for each passenger will also be there for travelers.

12. Passengers can book tickets in Delhi-Lucknow Tejas Express via IRCTC website www.irctc.co.in or its mobile app. There will be no booking at railway reservation counters.

13. Passengers can also book tickets through IRCTC authorized agents. Train tickets of Delhi-Lucknow Tejas Express will be available through online travel portals such as Paytm, Ixigo, PhonePe, Make My Trip, Google, Ibibo, Railyatri etc.

14. Delhi-Lucknow Tejas Express trains will have advance reservation period of 60 days. No concessions, privileges or duty passes will be allowed on these trains.

15. Children of age 5 years and above will be charged the full fare.

16. Delhi-Lucknow Tejas Express will follow dynamic fare rule. Train will have different series of fares for lean, busy and festive seasons. The fares will be around 50% less than the price of flight tickets on the same route even during the peak season.

17. There will be no tatkal quota or premium tatkal quota in these trains. There will be only general quota and foreign tourist quota. 

18. Passengers can book the tickets of chair car on first-cum-first-serve basis. For group bookings 78 seats in one AC chair car will be available.

19. One has to book tickets via online at least three days prior from the date of journey.

20. High quality food and beverages will be provided to the passengers on board in the train. Food charges will be compulsory and will be collected when tickets are booked. Free tea and coffee will be available in trains from vending machines.

21. For the passengers of the Delhi-Lucknow Tejas Express, IRCTC plans to offer exclusive doorstep baggage collection and drop services. IRCTC is planning a scheme whereby it will ferry the luggage of passengers from their homes to their seats and from the seat to their destination on a payment basis. This is to ensure that passengers can travel without being concerned about their luggage. All luggage will be insured.

22. IRCTC will be free to advertise inside and outside the coaches. It will also be at liberty to make modifications inside the rake without making structural changes or any changes that affect safety.

Happy New Year 2012

                               New Year 2012 is here. With the advent of new year, a new era has begun and with it comes new hopes and new possibilities. Every year teaches us some of life's most important lessons, and with that learning we put our step forward into the new year. And, when we celebrate this very special occasion the happiness just doubles.


GoodLightscraps.com

                              Each moment in a day has its own value. Morning brings HOPE, Afternoon brings FAITH, Evening brings LOVE, Night brings REST, Lets Hope we will have all of them everyday , in this new year 2012.
                              Now is the time to act, open up on this new years eve and tell every person you come across, even if it is a stranger, to spread love, affection and warmth around them.



GoodLightscraps.com Make this new year special by planting a tree, feeding hungry people, adopting a lonesome street dog, helping your house maid by giving some warm clothes for her children, take a vow to never bribe or accept any bribe to get your work done, Make it even more special by telling your beloved that your love for him/her will be like wine, it will get more refined and more precious with time. And when you are done, welcome the early sun of the new year with open arms and full vigor. So, buckle up and welcome the new year.

                             May this new year bring wisdom and honesty among our politicians, May this new year bring happiness and content among Indians.

                             On this new year take a new plunge into the ocean of hope and optimism and free yourself from all your grudges, sadness.

                            On this new year's eve lets salute the brave people of Japan who first survived the nuclear strikes and then the worst natural disaster, Tsunami.

                             New Year is the time to unfold new horizons and realize new dreams, to rediscover the strength and faith within you, to rejoice in simple pleasures and gear up for the new challenges. New Year is meant for celebrations and spending joyous time with loved ones. May the beauty of New Year be with you forever and your wishes of peace, health, and happiness ring true.

The Game that was Evolved in Jabalpur

                    
                              The game of snooker was conceived in Jabalpur.The origins of the game of snooker are generally regarded as being in the latter half of the 19th century.
                             Billiards had been a popular activity amongst British army officers stationed in India who took the idea from the Indian game carrom, and variations on the more traditional billiard games were devised. One variation was to add coloured balls in addition to the reds and black which were used for pyramid pool and life pool. This gave birth to the game of snooker.The word snooker also has military origins, being a slang term for first-year cadets or inexperienced personnel.  It is generally accepted that a Colonel Sir Neville Chamberlain conceived the game in the British Army Officer's Mess in Jubbulpore (Jabalpur) India, in 1875.
                              One version of events states that Colonel Sir Neville Chamberlain of the Devonshire regiment was playing this new game when his opponent failed to pot a ball and Chamberlain called him a snooker. It thus became attached to the billiards game now bearing its name as inexperienced players were labelled as snookers.
                              As billiards was only a two player game, new games such as life pool and pyramid pool were developed in order to accommodate more players. Eventually, these two games were combined to form snooker.
                              Snooker is a cue sport that is played on a large green baize-covered table with pockets in each of the four corners and in the middle of each of the long side cushions. A regular (full-size) table is 12 × 6 ft (3.7 × 1.8 m). It is played using a cue and snooker balls: one white cue-ball, 15 red balls worth one point each, and six balls of different colors yellow (2 points), green (3), brown (4), blue (5), pink (6) and black (7). A player (or team) wins a frame(individual game) of snooker by scoring more points than the opponent(s), using the cue ball to pot the red and coloured balls. A player wins a match when a certain number of frames have been won.

HAPPY DIWALI

Hi All,
          Wishing each one of you a very happy and prosperous deepawali. May this year brings you lots and lots of happiness in life and fulfill all your dreams. 
          May This Diwali be as bright as ever.
          May this Diwali bring joy, health and wealth to you.
          May the festival of lights brighten up, you and your near and dear ones lives.
          May this Diwali bring in you the most brightest and choicest happiness and love you had ever Wished for.
         May this Diwali bring you the utmost in peace and prosperity.
         May lights triumph over darkness.
         May peace transcend the earth.
         May the spirit of light illuminate the world.
         May the light that we celebrate at Diwali show us the way and lead us together on the path of peace and social harmony
        A warm Diwali wish for every happiness. May the warmth and splendor, that are a part of this auspicious occasion, fill your life with happiness and bright cheer, and bring to you joy and prosperity, for the whole year. 
      May the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi, deity of love, wealth and fortune, bestow you with opulence and prosperity. May you have sparkling Diwali. 

The National Emblem of India

                             An Emblem is an object or a representation that functions as a symbol.  A distinctive badge, design, or device. An allegorical picture usually inscribed with a verse or motto presenting a moral lesson. An object chosen to represent an idea, a quality, a country etc.
                       Our country India also has an Emblem which is an adaptation from the Sarnath Lion, capital of Emperor Ashoka the Great, as preserved in the Sarnath Museum situated near Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. 
                       Emperor Ashoka the Great erected the capital atop an Ashoka Pillar to mark the spot where Gautama Buddha first taught the Dharma and where the Buddhist Sangha was founded. In the original there are four Asiatic lions, standing back to back, mounted on a circular abacus with a frieze carrying sculptures in high relief of an elephant, a galloping horse, a bull and a lion separated by intervening Dharmachakra or Ashoka Chakra wheels over a bell-shaped lotus. It was carved out of a single block of polished sandstone.
                       The Indian National Emblem, modeled on the Lion Capital, features 3 lions. The fourth lion is hidden from sight since it is positioned at the rear end, so is the bell-shaped lotus flower situated beneath. The frieze beneath the lions is shown with a wheel in the center, a bull on the right, a galloping horse on the left, and outlines of Dharma Chakras on the extreme right and left. The wheel at the centre of the abacus symbolizes the "Dharma Chakra.
                       The three lions, represent power, courage and confidence, and rest on a circular abacus girded by four smaller animals that are separated by intervening wheels. These four animals are the guardians of the four directions: 

• The lion of the north, 
• The elephant of the east, 
• The horse of the south and 
• The bull of the west. 

                       The abacus rests on a lotus in full bloom, instancing the fountainhead of life and creative inspiration. 

                       Inscribed below the emblem in Devnagri script is the motto 'Satyameva Jayate' meaning "Truth Alone Triumphs". It is a quote from the Mundaka Upanishad, the concluding part of the sacred Hindu Vedas.

                       The Lion Pillar was adopted as the National Emblem of India on 26 January 1950, the day India became a republic.

                       The National emblem is used only for official purposes and commands the highest respect and loyalty. It is the official seal of the President of India and Central and State Governments. It forms a part of the official letterhead of the Government of India. 

                       It also appears prominently on all Indian currency as well as on the diplomatic and national Passport of the Republic of India. 

                       The wheel on it, known as "Dharma Chakra" or popularly "Ashoka Chakra", has even been placed onto the center of the modern National Flag of India. 

                       the national emblem of India stands as a symbol of modern India's reassertion of its ancient commitment to world peace and goodwill. To the 1 billion Indians, it serves as an inspiration and is a matter of pride. To the world, it stands as glowing symbol of independent India's identity and sovereignty.


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The National Flag of India.

W A T E R

Image: dan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

                                                                     
“In an age when man has forgotten his origins and is blind even to his most essential needs for survival, water along with other resources has become the victim of his indifference”- Rachel Carson.

                                 Water is the most precious resource on this earth. It is also the most valuable and also the most wasted resource. Have you ever wondered how much water is being wasted in our home ?  Daily we waste gallons of water in our homes like for bathing, cooking, washing etc. 
                                But we do not realize that our water supply is limited, which means that we do not have an endless supply. 97 percent of all the earth's water is salt water, found in oceans and seas, which is not suitable for drinking. Only 3 percent of all the earth's water is fresh water and only one percent of it is available for drinking. Remaining 2 percent is in frozen form. 
                                Now with millions of people relying on such a small percentage, it only makes sense, that we must  preserve and conserve water. 
                                We could get water from sea. Scientists have tried to change sea water to drinking water, but it has been very very hard. So the only option left with us is ground water.  
                                 It is hard to find clean water now-a-days. Therefore we should save water. Water is life. Our own existence depends on water. We cannot survive without water. We should use our water wisely and care for it properly. Since our life depends on it,  it is our responsibility to learn more and more about water conservation. 
                                We should learn how to keep our water pure and safe, for our future generations to come. Some people do not realize the importance of water. We must not pollute the water. Water is the foundation of food and life. Saving water helps preserve our environment. We need to conserve water so that our trees and plants have life. 
                                 These things are not very hard.  All it takes is a little bit of extra effort. Therefore SAVE WATER......it's all we have have got.... 

The beautiful Sunset.

                               There is beauty in everything. All the natural things we see around us, has beauty hidden in it. The sunset, as we experience it in reality, has the most pure, untainted, untouched, intangible form of beauty. Recently, when I was travelling on a train, I looked out of the window, to see a beautiful sunset over the horizon. I suddenly was over come by a sense of calmness and inner peace. I began to look endlessly into the most beautiful sunset that I have seen. 
                               Suddenly, it came to my mind that I have a camera in my mobile. At once I grabbed my mobile, and took some photographs. 

How to tell if a mirror is two way or not

                               A two-way (2 way) mirror is glass which, on one side, provides a reflection, but on the other side, functions as a window. It is used to observe people so that they are not aware that they are being watched, or who is watching them. Two-way mirrors (also known as one-way, transparent, and observation mirrors) are common in police stations or psychological institutions, but there are other, less obvious settings where people worry about being watched, such as dressing rooms and workplaces. If you are concerned about a particular mirror, here's how to tell if there's someone looking on the other side.

Steps

1. Observe how the mirror is installed. A normal mirror is hung against the wall, but an observation mirror is set into the wall. If the wall is behind the mirror, it's probably a normal mirror.
2. Turn off the lights and hold a flashlight or even a small personal flashlight to the mirror. If it is a two-way mirror, the room on the other side will be illuminated.
   
3. Press your eyes against the mirror and cup them with your hands, creating a dark "tunnel" to block out the light. When you do so, the light in the observation room will be brighter than the light on your side of the mirror, and you should be able to see something beyond the glass.
   
4. Tap on the surface of the mirror with your knuckle. A normal mirror will produce a dull sound because it is placed in front of a wall. A two-way mirror, however, will produce an open, hollow, and reverberating sound, because there is an open space on the other side.
   

Tips

                                The "fingernail" test most commonly associated with identifying two-way mirrors is not as reliable as any of the methods above. It can be performed by putting your fingernail against the mirror. If there is NO gap between your nail and the reflection, you are touching a first-surface mirror. These are quite expensive and would not be installed under ordinary circumstances.

                              Not all observation mirrors are first surface mirrors, and not all first surface mirrors are observation mirrors. 

                              Also known as half-silvered mirrors, two-way mirrors or observation mirrors work equally well when illuminated from either side. What matters is which side has the greater illumination not which side is silvered. There is also no reason an observation mirror can't be surface mounted on a wall just like a real mirror. It need not be mounted in the wall like a window.

Source:- WikiHow

The National Flag of India.

                                 Every free nation of the world has its own flag. It is a symbol of a free country. The National Flag of India was designed by Pingali Venkayyaand and adopted in its present form during the meeting of Constituent Assembly held on the 22 July 1947, a few days before India's independence from the British on 15 August, 1947. It served as the national flag of the Dominion of India between 15 August 1947 and 26 January 1950 and that of the Republic of India thereafter. In India, the term "tricolour" refers to the Indian national flag.
                         In the national flag of India the top band is of Saffron colour, indicating the strength and courage of the country. The white middle band indicates peace and truth with Dharma Chakra. The last band is green in colour shows the fertility, growth and auspiciousness of the land.The three bands of colors are in equal proportions. While in the center of the white band is a wheel in navy blue.
                               This wheel is an adaptation from the sculpted wheel, called Chakra, the wheel of law, appearing on the abacus of Sarnath Capital of Asoka, the ancient Indian emperor. It has 24 spokes and the diameter approximates the width of the white band. The chakra intends to show that there is life in movement and death in stagnation.   

                              With all these things the width and length of the Tricolor is supposed to be in the proportion of 2:3 .                                                                      
                        The flag was designed as a symbol of freedom. Its use and display are, however, regulated by a code.
                              On 26th January 2002, the Indian flag code was modified and after several years of independence, the citizens of India were finally allowed to hoist the Indian flag over their homes, offices and factories on any day and not just National days as was the case earlier. Now Indians can proudly display the national flag any where and any time, as long as the provisions of the Flag Code are strictly followed to avoid any disrespect to the tricolour. 
                              For the sake of convenience, Flag Code of India, 2002, has been divided into three parts. 
                              Part I of the Code contains general description of the National Flag. 
                              Part II of the Code is devoted to the display of the National Flag by members of public, private organizations, educational institutions, etc. 
                             Part III of the Code relates to display of the National Flag by Central and State governments and their organisations and agencies.  
                             There are certain dos and don'ts laid down for common people regarding Indian flag.

• When the National Flag is raised the saffron color band should be at the top.
• No flag or emblem should be placed either above the National Flag or to its right.
• All other flags to be placed to the left of the National Flag if they are hung in a line.
• When the National Flag is carried in a procession or parade, it shall be on the marching right or in front of the center of the line, if there is a line of other flags.
• Normally the National Flag should be flown over important government buildings like the Rashtrapati Bhawan, the Parliament House, the Supreme Court of India, the High Courts, the Secretariats, the Commissioners' office etc.
• The National Flag or any imitation of it must not be used for purpose of trade, business, or profession.
• The National Flag should always be taken down in the evening at sunset.

                               

The Do's:

• A member of public, a private organization or an educational institution may hoist/display the National Flag on all days and occasions, ceremonial or otherwise consistent with the dignity and honour of the National Flag.
• Section 2 of the new code accepts the right of all private citizens to fly the flag on their premises.

The Don'ts

• The flag cannot be used for communal gains, drapery, or clothes. As far as possible, it should be flown from sunrise to sunset, irrespective of the weather.
• The flag cannot be intentionally allowed to touch the ground or the floor or trail in water. It cannot be draped over the hood, top, and sides or back of vehicles, trains, boats or aircraft.
• No other flag or bunting can be placed higher than the flag. Also, no object, including flowers or garlands or emblems can be placed on or above the flag. The tricolour cannot be used as a festoon, rosette or bunting.

  
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Corruption as seen through my eyes..........

                              Corruption is an everyday fact of life in India. Paying bribes is a common practice adopted by people of India. In fact they have become used to it. Almost everyday people have to pay bribe in order to get their job done in public offices successfully. Slowly it has become an essential part of our life. At one time, bribe was paid for getting wrong things done but now bribe is paid for getting right things done at right time. Corruption in India has wings not wheels. 
                              My earliest memory of paying a bribe was when my driving licence was made. I had to bribe an agent. I got it made without giving any driving tests etc. When I was in college, I used to go to cinemas with my friends and many times we had to buy tickets in black. When I was recruited in Railways for a job I had to bribe a police officer for getting my police verification done, inspite of having a clean record.  Then I had to bribe the doctor in Railways for getting through routine medical checkup. Once I had to bribe a traffic police officer to get away while driving without licence.
                             I have paid bribes in government offices, while registering my house, in hospitals, in trains etc. I have also bribed many people for getting my work done illegally.
                             So you see this thing corruption has become a daily fact of our life. It has gone deep in our daily life.  
                             But now the time has come when we should stop all this corruption and bribery. It is true that one person cannot remove corruption from the society, but one person can still do lot of small things and if each of this ONE PERSON does these SMALL THINGS, the SUM-TOTAL will be very LARGE.

Did You Know.............?

01- The citrus soda 7-UP was created in 1929; “7″ was selected because the original containers were 7 ounces. “UP” indicated the direction of the bubbles.
02- Mosquito repellents don’t repel. They hide you. The spray blocks the mosquito’s sensors so they don’t know you’re there.
03- No piece of paper can be folded more than 7 times.
04- You burn more calories sleeping than you do watching television.
05- Venus is the only planet that rotates clockwise.
06- Apples, not caffeine, are more efficient at waking you up in the morning.
07- The plastic things on the end of shoelaces are called aglets.
08- Most dust particles in your house are made from dead skin.
09- The first owner of the Marlboro company died of lung cancer.
10- Adolf Hitler’s mother seriously considered having an abortion but was talked out of it by her doctor.
11- No word in the English language rhymes with month.
12- On average, people fear spiders more than they do death.
13- Our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our nose and ears never stop growing.
14- Right-handed people live, on average, nine years longer than left-handed people do.
15- Stewardesses is the longest word typed with using only the left hand.
16- The electric chair was invented by a dentist.
17- TYPEWRITER is the longest word that can be made using the letters only on one row of the keyboard.
18- The strongest muscle in the body is the tongue.
19- The most common name in the world is Mohammed.
20-You can’t kill yourself by holding your breath.
21- Elephants are the only animals that can’t jump.
22- “I am.”_ is the shortest complete sentence in the English language.
23- February 1865 is the only month in recorded history not to have a full moon.
24- Bruce Lee was so fast that they actually had to SLOW a film down so you could see his moves. That’s the opposite of the norm.
25- Money isn't made out of paper, it’s made out of cotton.

Save Trees.......Save Mankind......

                  
                                "Long ago there was a forest . The trees could speak and were friends of the people . Once people needed wood to build houses, to keep warm, and to cook food . They promised the forest , to plant two trees for every tree cut down. The forest agreed. So, they cut down the trees .
                               After sometime they forgot their promise . They stopped planting trees . Yet, they did not stop cutting them . The trees became sad . They stopped talking . One night when the people were sleeping , the forest quietly walked away . 
                               The people woke up to find the the forest gone . The animals that lived in the forest became homeless . They did not get any food to eat . They began to die . The air no longer smelled fresh and clean . There was no rain . People did not have water . Soon no plants grew on land . People could not grow food ."   
                                Friends this will be the case in future, if we keep cutting the trees. Trees are important, valuable and necessary for the existence of any living creature on earth. They are essential to life. Trees are the root of our existence. Saving trees is not a rule,  it is a responsibility. Save trees if you want to be alive. They are priceless. Trees are important for nature, because they are the beauty of the nature.
                                 Every day number of trees disappear from the face of the earth.  It's time now, that we stop this mean destruction, before we forget the colour green.