Bioscope of old Delhi.

Cinema has always been one of the most popular forms of entertainment in the city of Delhi, making them major entertainment venues. In recent years Delhi's many single-screen cinema halls have given way to large multiplexes. However some old theatres still survive in some parts of the city. The Excelsior theatre was established in 1935, earlier known as the Inayat pavilion theatre. It seats 452.



Moti theater in Old Delhi is the sole supplier of film reels in north India.

This machine has been made in the year 1940, imported form Germany. it is the 70 mm film Projector. In today's era of digital imagery , such old means still function as entertainment tools.



Suresh Chand is a film buff. He has been seeing films regularly since the last 40 years.

Token security measures are seen on the entrances to these halls. Frisking , metal detector, and checking of the bags are the measures that are employed .

At least 500 people queue outside these halls every weekend, keeping the cash registers ringing.

In spite of the badly kept interiors , the audience still throng the halls for the weekly entertainer film.

Despite the lure of cheap entertainment, these places have fallen on bad times. The halls are in a dilapidated situation , and are mostly ill maintained.


These cinema halls offer cheap entertainment for the masses. a ticket here costs between Rs 15 to 35. which is way cheaper than the swanky multiplexes.


Manny cinema halls like Moti show B-grade Bollywood and regional films. Moti cinema was established in the year 1938, its currently run by Karat Desai. Moti has had many silver and golden jubilee film runs.


Bioscope of Old Delhi. by Shariq H Naqvi is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.

Qutib Minar

The foundations of world famous tower, known as the Qutib Minar, were laid by the Qutbbiddin Aibak of the Mamulk dynasty towards the end of the twelfth century. The construction was interrupted at the first storey by his death and the remaining three storeys were completed in matching material and the style by his successor Iltutmish commonly known as Altamash in A.D. 1230. In A.D.1368 the Minar was damaged by lightning. Later, Feroz shah Tughluq (A.D. 1351-88) replaced the top storey by the existing two stores faced with the marble Sikandar Lodhi (A.D. 1489- 1517) also executed some repairs to the Minar in A.D. 1503, when it was again by lightning. The tower has a diameter of 14.32m at the base and of about 2.75m at the top with a height of 72.5m and ascended by 379 steps; it is the highest stone tower in India and a perfect example of Minar known to exist anywhere. The variegated plan of its three lower storeys, the projecting balconies with stalactite, pendentive brackets and ornate bands of inscriptions on its facades heighten its decorative effects.

Alia Minar
In 1311 A.D.

This unfinished Minar with his, extent height of 24.5 m, was commenced by Alauddin Khalji (A.D.1296 -1316) it had hardly reached its storey when he died. He had conceived this Minar to be double to the height of the Qutib Minar, in order to be proportionate with the Quwwatul -Islam mosque, as extended by him.Amir Khusru in Tarikh-I-Alia mention about the intentions of Alauddin Khalji to increase the area of the mosque and construct of another Minar.

College and Tomb of Alauddin Khalji.

This quadrangle enclosed by high walls with rooms along the side and the entrance on the west, was originally a college (madrasa), and built by Alauddin Khalji (A.D.1296-1316), to impart traditional instruction. His tomb was perhaps located in the centre of the southern wing of the enclosure. The conception of a combined college and a tomb appears here in India for the first time and is inspired by Saljuqian tradition.





Qutib Minar. by Shariq H Naqvi is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.

Global Warming: The Heat is on and on …………

The world cannot remain a fossil fool anymore, oblivious of the environmental destruction wrought as it guzzles fuels like coal and oil and causes global warming. Global warming is the phenomenon of the increase in the average temperature of the earth’s surface due to the increased concentration of Greenhouse gases (GHGs) like Carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), Sulphur dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen Oxide (N2O), Chlorofluorocarbons due to the burning of fossil fuels.
The inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has been established by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to assess scientific, technical and socio-economic information relevant for the understanding of climate change, its potential impacts and options or adaptations and mitigation.
The IPCC’s report of 2007 has left no room for skepticism on global warming. “The warming of the climate system is unequivocal, as is now evident from increases in global average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice and rising global mean sea level”, the report stated. The following are the main finding of the report:
 Sea levels are projected to rise between 7and 23 inches (18 and 59 centimeters) by the end of the century.
 Eleven of the last 12 years rank among the 12 warmest in the instrumental record, which stretches back to 1850.
 A best-guess temperature rise is between 3.2 and 7.1 degrees Fahrenheit (1.8 and 4 degrees Celsius), though the high end remain possible.
 Global temperature will increases between 2 and 11.5 degrees (1.1 and 6.4 degrees Celsius), by the end of this century over pre-industrial levels.
 If recent melting in Greenland and Antarctica continues, sea level could rise an additional 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 centimeters).
 In some projections, Arctic sea will continue to become more frequent.
 Observational evidence suggests an increase in hurricane strength in the north Atlantic Since1970 that correlates with an increase in sea surface temperatures.
 Temperatures and sea levels will continue to rise for centuries even if Greenhouse gas emissions are stabilized today.
 The Gulf Stream, which brings warm waters to the north Atlantic, may slow but is unlikely to Hollywood Disaster Movies The After Tomorrow.













India too Feel’s the Heat
There was a jolt for India when the report, given the possible economic losses due to its long coastline, dependent on monsoon and large number of the dependent on agriculture, considered India to be one of the most vulnerable to climate change.

Impact on India

Glaciers:
Himalayan glaciers will shrink from 500,00sq km to 100, 00 sq km.
Water:
Per captia availability of water will shrink from 1, 800 cubic m to 1,000 cubic m, making India water –scarce country.
Food Security:
Agricultural productivity is likely to shrink by 30 per cent. Substantial fall like in production of rain-fed wheat.
Rainfall:
Winter rains will decrease, especially in December, January and February, implying lesser storage and greater water stress.
Plant and Animal Species:
20-30 per cent of animal species assessed so far at increased risk of extinction if global temperature exceed 1.5 to 2.5 degrees centigrade.
Health:
Diarrhoeal diseases and cholera associated with floods and drought are expected to rise in south Asia.

By: SHARIQ HAIDER NAQVI.



Global Warming:The Heat is on and on....... by Shariq H Naqvi is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.

Pushkar fair 2009.

Pushkar Fair 2009. by Shariq H Naqvi is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.

SPECIAL FORCE TO PROTECT DWINDLING TIGER POPULATION.

To galvanize the tiger conservation effort in the country a special Tiger Protection forces (STPF) under the aegis of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is all set to provide the much -needed boost to provide the dwindling tiger population . The proposal formulated by the Home Ministry and the Ministry of Environment and Forest, envisages a special force trained by Central Paramilitary forces and recruited by local police familiar with difficult jungle terrain.
Following a Rs 50 crore grant from the then Finance Minister P. Chidambaram in this year’s budget for tiger protection, the NTCA, working with expert advice from the Home Ministry, has created specialized structure for the STPF with each company comprising 112 personnel, including a Deputy Superintend of Police, three sub-inspectors, 6 head constables and 30 constables, divided into three platoons. In a significant departure from the usual practice where the regular forest guard is above 50 years or nearing retirement, the NTCA has specified that each member of the force must be below 40 years of age.
The first companies of the Special Tiger Protection Forces (STPF) are to be posted at Corbett (Uttarakhand), Ramthambore (Rajasthan), and Dudhwa (Uttar Pradesh) with a total of 13 companies posted in 13 of the more sensitive tiger reserves in India, a first time step for Project Tiger.


Syllabus for STPF
The raising, training and deployment of the STPE is to be done expeditiously. The syllabus for the STPF will be on the basis of the syllabus prescribed by the Ministry of Home affairs for the Indian Reserve Battalion and training inputs will be provided by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and the ministry of Environment and Forests. The force is to be conversant with forensic science, anti-poaching intelligence gathering and combat training. The recruitment will be by a panel of the NTCA, MOEF and the WLL.

The measure is certainly a step in the right direction in the context of frequent reports of tigers being killed by poachers for illicit trade in tiger skins and other animal parts. Despite best effort of the government, both at the centre and the states, the scenario of decline in tiger population could not be controlled, a scenario which threatened our ecology. The creation of STPF is expected to put a break on the predatory activities of the hunters and poaches and other anti-environment element. However, much more needs to be done by way of enlisting complete cooperation of the local populace to make the campaign of tiger conservation a success.


SPECIAL FORCE TOPROTECT DWINDLING TIGER POPULATION. by Shariq H Naqvi is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.

Shariq Haider Naqvi.

India Tops world Hunger Chart: WFP Report.

[With 230 million undernourished, it account for 27% of the Global Total]





India tops World Hunger Chart: WFP Report. by Shariq H Naqvi is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.

India’s position on the health front has been found to be shocking as per a report brought out by the United Nations world Food Programme (WFP).It finds its 230 million rural poor as undernourished, the highest for any country in the world. Malnutrition accounts for nearly 50% of child deaths in India as every third adult (aged 15-49 years) is reported to be below normal in health standards.
The position of food security in rural India is so much disappointing that more than 1-5 million children are at the risk of becoming malnourished because of rising food prices.
The report said that while general inflation declined from a 13 year high exceeding 12% in July 2008 to less than 5% by the end of January 2009, the inflation for food articles doubled from 5% to over 115 during the same period.
Food grain harvest during 2008-09 is estimated to be a record 228 million tonnes. However, requirement for national population would exceed 250 million tonnes by 20015.


India Tops world Hunger Chart: WFP Report.

India rank 94th in the Global Hunger Index of 119 countries, the report said. It says that more than 27% of the world’s undernourished population lives in India while 43% of children (under 5 years) in the country are underweight.
The figure is among the highest in the world and is much higher than the global average of 25% and also higher than sub-Saharan Africa’s figure of 28%.
Food For Thought
 More than 230 million people in India are undernourished –highest for any country in the world.
 More 27% of the world’s undernourished population lives in India. 43% of children (under 5 years) in the country are underweight compared to the global proportion of 25% and 28% in Sub-Saharan African.
 Every second child in the country is stunted.
 30% of babies in India are born under-weight.
 Malnutrition accounts for nearly 50% of child deaths.
 Every third adult (aged 15-49 years) in the country is reported to be thin (BMI less than 18.5)70% of children (under-5) suffer from anemia.
 More than 1.5 million children in India are at risk of becoming malnourished because of rising global food prices.
 Food grain harvest during 2008-09 is estimated to be 228 million metric tonnes.
 The requirement for the national population would exceed 250 millon mt by 2015.
More than 70% children (under 5) suffer from anemia and 80% of them don’t get Vitamin supplements. Percentage of women with chronic energy deficiency is stagnant at 40% over six years with the proportion in fact increasing in Assam, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana during the same period.
The report points out that the ambitious Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) was failing.


Instead of reducing food security it has led to greater insecurity for large section of the poor and the near-poor. Another problem of the TPDS was the issue of quantity of grain that a household would be entitled to. The TPDS initially restricted the allotments to BPL (Below Poverty Line) household to 10 kg per month. For a family of five this amount to 2% kg per capita. Using the ICMR recommended norm of 330 gram per day, the requirement per person per month would be 11kg and that for a family of five would be 55kg.

Shariq Haider Naqvi.
(Source Competition Success).

"EVERYONE" campaign to save children.

India is among the top five economies, according to the World Development Indicators (WDI) 2008, but the murky facet of silver coin is marked in the WDI report itself, as it says South Asia has the maximum cases of child malnutrition and the rate of India’s child malnutrition is twice of African average.

Nearly twenty one per cent of world’s child mortality cases are in India, and malnutrition causes about 50 per cent of these deaths and world’s one-third underweight children live in India, says a UNICEF report.

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"Everyone" campaign to save children. by Shariq H Naqvi is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.

Moni a seven year old underweight girl resides under the bridge of Okhla railway station. She doesn’t go to school; her mother argues if she will go to school than who will look after of three young siblings of her?

Moni’s two month old sister Radhika weight less than four kilograms, she is severe case of malnutrition. The problem of malnutrition is a curse that we must remove. Our efforts to provide every child with access to education and to improve health care services for all citizens will continue Prime Minister Man Mohan Singh addresses the nation in his Independence Day speech.

Rajjo mother of two months old Naina, grievance how she was refused two register her name in local dispensary as she had no domicile proof. People in this slum neither heard the PM’s speech nor do they know what health care services are improved.

In his speech the prime minister said, we have strengthened Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and expanded the mid-day meal programme upto upper primary level in all districts of the country.

Don’t know the condition of SSA in remote villages of our country but at least in these unorganized slums people have no idea at all about SSA. There are hundreds of children like Moni in this slum who don’t go to school. They all, from sunrise to sunset roam around the railway tracks. In second option they collect vegetable from the near by vegetable market.


I have urged all Chief Ministers to improve and strengthen the PDS to ensure availability of essential commodities to the common man at reasonable prices Prime minister in his message to nation.


Previous year, Subodh Kanth Sahay, minister of state for food processing, told Rajya Sabha that 58,000 crore value of agricultural goods get wasted yearly. Sahay said the food wastage was primarily due to lack of post harvesting infrastructure such as cold storage facilities, transportation and apt storage facilities

People like Rajjo and Moni’s parents have no idea of PDS. Their prime concern is to be alive in any condition. Plight of these malnourished breathing innocent is worsening, as their parents neither able to feed them well nor they have access to government’s scheme like mid-day meal. They don’t hope to government for their betterment, but any positive move from government can bring a smile on their face.