About Qutb Shahi dynasty and the Qutb Shahi tombs.

The Qutb Shahi dynasty ruled the Golconda Sultanate from 1518 AD to 1687 AD. The kingdom extended from the parts of modern-day states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Their capital was initially Golconda, which is a part of present-day Hyderabad. Muhammad Ali Quli Qutb Shah, the fifth ruler of the Qutb Shahi dynasty founded Hyderabad city and moved his capital from Golconda to Hyderabad, during his reign from 1580 to 1612. The Charminar was constructed by him in 1591 and this landmark construction has become known globally as a symbol of Hyderabad and is listed among the most recognised structures in India. It has also been officially incorporated as the emblem of Telangana State. Makkah Masjid near Charminar is also constructed by this King.

Qutb Shahis were descendants of Qara Yusuf from Qara Qoyunlu, a Turkoman Muslim tribe. After the collapse of Bahmani Sultanate, the "Qutb Shahi" dynasty was established in 1518 AD by Quli Qutb Mulk who assumed the title of "Sultan". In 1636, Shah Jahan forced the Qutb Shahis to recognize Mughal suzerainty. The dynasty came to an end in 1687 during the reign of its eighth Sultan Abul Hasan Qutb Shah, when Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb seized Golconda fort and occupied the kingdom.

The Qutb Shahis were great patrons of Persianate Shia culture, eventually, it also adopted the regional culture of the Deccan (Telugu culture, language and the newly developed Deccani dialect of Urdu). Although Telugu was not their mother tongue, the Golconda rulers spoke and wrote Telugu, and patronized Telugu so exclusively that they were termed the "Telugu Sultans". The Qutb Shahis were known for their secular rule.

The eight sultans of the Qutb Shahi dynasty and their periods of reign are:

1.   Quli Qutb Shah (Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk) 1512-1543

2.   Jamsheed (Jamsheed Quli Qutb Shah) 1543-1550

3.   Subhan (Subhan Quli Qutb Shah) 1550-1550 (Died at the age of 7)

4.   Ibrahim (Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah Wali) 1550-1580

5.   Muhammad Ali (Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah) 1580-1612

6.   Sultan Muhammad (Sultan Muhammad Qutb Shah) 1612-1626

7.   Abdullah (Abdullah Qutb Shah) 1626-1672

8.   Abul Hasan (Tana Shah) 1672-1686

The Qutb Shahi Tombs are erected in the memory of the departed kings of Golconda, they are magnificent monuments that have withstood the test of time and nature’s vagaries. They are located one kilometre north of Golconda Fort’s Banjara Darwaza. They are imposing marvels of architectural excellence that stand as the reminders of the glory of Golconda kings who are buried at the same spot. Built by the Qutb Shahis, these tombs are considered to be among the oldest historical monuments of Hyderabad.

These tombs are present in a large group on a raised platform. They resemble Persian, Pathan and Hindu architectural styles that make use of grey granite, with stucco ornamentation and is a one-of-its-kind place in the world where the whole dynasty is buried at a single spot. They lie amidst beautifully landscaped gardens with intricately carved stonework.

The Tombs form the most reliable evidence of the Qutb Shahi dynasty and their architectural traditions. These are exquisite structures where every arch, column, dome, minarets, and galleries were created with finesse and are surrounded by landscaped gardens called Ibrahim Bagh. It houses seven tombs dedicated to the former kings of Golconda. The tombs are dome-like structures built on a square base. This is again surrounded by pointed arches. Each tomb is of quadrangular shape and rises around 9 to 15 meters above the terrace. The smaller tombs constitute single stories while the larger tombs are seen as two-storied. The domes actually constituted of blue and green tiles, whereas only a few pieces exist now. The Qutb Shahi Tombs are surrounded by enchanting minarets and there is a magnificent tomb with a height of 42.5 m covered by a large dome. The tombs were furnished with chandeliers and soft canopies on silver poles. These are the splendid mausoleums of the Golconda Sultans. During the Qutb Shahi period, legend says that these tombs were of great significance that even criminals taking refuge there were given a pardon. The tombs were neglected after their reign until Salar Jung III took up their restoration works during the early 19th century. Today it is maintained well by the Department of Tourism with due focus on heritage preservation and restoration. It is a popular destination in the tourist circuit of Hyderabad and visitors coming to Golconda fort do not miss the tombs, which are marketed as a historical destination.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT!

The first two pictures at a seaside,

Are of valiant boys on a lovable horse!

And the third picture is of a road,

With the same boys enjoying a ride!

But are they on cute ponies or donkeys?!

What do the numbers on the Indian Railway locomotives convey?

Train journeys are thrilling, especially for the occasional train traveller. The excitement starts with the preparation for the train journey and continues as one waits for the train on the platform, watches the massive locomotive hauling a long chain of coaches and coming to a halt, then being seated in the train, and watching the fellow passengers representing mini India and having conversations with them, and as the train moves… admiring the ever-changing landscape and rail stations on either side, having snacks and meals and sleeping in the train, and this train-excitement would only end when the destination is reached.

If one is not in a train, just watching a train passing by catches our attention and one stops to admire this marvellous travel and transport mode. Whether it is a passenger train or a goods train it does not matter and especially the locomotives of different models and sizes are certainly an eye-catcher. In all such encounters what one misses is the knowledge of the numbers prominently marked in front of the locomotives. And this article is to explain all about these numbers… the tell-all classification of the locomotives.

The Indian Railways primarily operates a fleet of electric and diesel locomotives. Steam locomotives have become obsolete and are now operated on a few World Heritage sites and also run occasionally as heritage trains. In our country, a locomotive is also known as a loco and more popularly as an engine.

Locomotives are classified by track gauge, motive power, function and power in a four or five-letter code (model number). The first letter denotes the track gauge. The second letter denotes motive power (diesel or electric), and the third letter denotes use (goods, passenger, mixed or shunting).

CLASSIFICATION:

FIRST LETTER (gauge):

W – Broad gauge (wide) – 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm)

Y – Metre gauge (yard) – 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in)

Z – 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) narrow gauge

N – 2 ft (610 mm) narrow (toy) gauge

SECOND LETTER (motive power):

D – Diesel

C – DC electric (DC overhead line)

A – AC electric (AC overhead line)

CA – DC and AC (AC or DC overhead line); CA is considered one letter

B – Battery (rare)

THIRD LETTER (job type):

G – Goods

P – Passenger

M – Mixed (goods and passenger)

S – Shunting (switching)

U – Multiple units (electric or diesel)

R – Railcar

The fourth item, 'series', is a digit identifying the model of the loco. Until recently, this series number was simply assigned chronologically as new models of locos were introduced. However, starting in 2002, for diesel passenger, goods, and mixed locos, i.e., WDP, WDG, and WDM sequences, (and only for them, apparently, not for electrics, and diesel shunters), the series digit identifies the horsepower range of the loco, with '3' for locos with over 3000hp but less than 4000hp, '5' for locos over 5000hp but less than 6000hp, etc. This new scheme is applied to all passenger/goods/mixed-haul diesel locos starting from June 2002, except for the WDM-2 and WDP-1 classes of locos.

In the above pictures, you see a WDM 2A engine and a YDM 4 engine. In the engine marked WDM 2A, W - denotes broad gauge; D - denotes diesel power; M - denotes mixed-use (goods and passenger service), and 2A denotes over 2000 hp (1500 kW). And YDM 4 engine means, Y - Metre gauge, D – Diesel, M – Mixed (goods and passenger) and 4 – Series number.

This system does not apply to steam locomotives, which are no longer used on main lines. They retain their original class names, such as M- or WP-class.

Very common Broad-gauge electric classification codes are:

WAM – Wide AC electric mixed

WAP – Wide AC electric passenger

WAG – Wide AC electric goods

WCM – Wide DC electric mixed

WCP – Wide DC electric passenger

WCG – Wide DC electric goods

WCAM – Wide AC/DC electric mixed

WCAG – Wide AC/DC electric goods

In the fiscal year ending March 2020, IR carried 808.6 crore (8.086 billion) passengers and transported 121.22 crore (1.2122 billion) tonnes of freight.

IR runs 13,169 passenger trains daily, on both long-distance and suburban routes, covering 7,325 stations across India. Mail or Express trains, the most common types of trains, run at an average speed of 50.6 km/h (31.4 mph). Suburban EMUs run at an average speed of 37.5 km/h (23.3 mph). Ordinary passenger trains (incl. mixed) run at an average speed of 33.5 km/h (20.8 mph). The maximum speed of passenger trains varies, with a few Express trains running at a peak speed of 160 km/h (99 mph).

In the freight segment, IR runs 8,479 trains daily. The average speed of freight trains is around 24 km/h (15 mph). The maximum speed of freight trains varies from 60–75 km/h (37–47 mph) depending on their axle load with 'container special' trains running at a peak speed of 100 km/h (62 mph).

As of March 2020, Indian Railways' rolling stock consisted of 2,93,077 freight wagons, 76,608 passenger coaches and 12,729 locomotives. IR owns locomotive and coach-production facilities at several locations in India. It had 1.254 million (12.54 lakh) employees as of March 2020, making it the world's eighth-largest employer. The government has committed to electrifying India's entire rail network by 2023–24, and become a "net-zero (carbon emissions) railway" by 2030.

Topmost powerful Locomotives of Indian Railways:

WAG-9 (Wide, AC, Goods):

Total WAG-9 Locomotives Active as of 01-06-2021: 2305

Indian Locomotive Class WAG-9 is currently the second most powerful and popular freight locomotive used by Indian Railways. WAG-9H class is mostly used as a freight locomotive and is the second heaviest locomotive.

Two WAG-9 class units can haul a load of 4,500 tonnes on grades of 1 in 60 (1.67%), that is 58 Box wagons. The locomotive can run even in 100% humidity, or in deserts, where there is a high saturation of conductive particles. The maximum speed of this locomotive is 120 km/h (75 mph) and power output of WAG-9 is 6,122 hp (4,565 KW) and of WAG-9HH is 9,000 hp (6,122 kW).

Indian Locomotive Class WAP-7 (Wide, AC, Passenger):

The Indian locomotive class WAP-7 is a class of 25 kV AC electric locomotives that was developed in 1999 by Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW) for Indian Railways. The model name stands for broad gauge (W), AC Current (A), Passenger traffic (P) engine, 7th generation. They entered service in 2000. A total of 1366 WAP-7 have been built so far, and more units are being built at CLW, Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW) and Diesel-Loco Modernisation Works (DLMW).

Total Locomotives Active as of 01-06-2021: 1366

The WAP-7 is one of the most successful locomotives of Indian Railways serving passenger trains for over 20 years. WAP-7 is capable of hauling 24 coach trains at speeds 110–140 km/h (68–87 mph). However, the locomotive Maximum speed is 180 km/h (110 mph) and the Power output is 6,122 hp (4,565 kW).

Indian locomotive class WAG-12 (Wide, AC, Goods):

The Indian locomotive class WAG-12B is a class of 25 kV AC electric locomotives that was developed in 2017 by Alstom for the Indian Railways. The model name stands for broad gauge (W), Alternating Current (AC), Goods traffic (G) locomotive, 12th generation. They entered trial service in 2019. A total of 800 WAG-12B are to be built at Electric Locomotive Factory, Madhepura, in Bihar by 2028.

Total Locomotives Active as of June 2021:110

With a power output of 12,000 HP, they are twice as powerful as their immediate predecessor, WAG-9, and it is one of the most powerful freight locomotives in the world. It will be used to haul freight trains weighing more than 6,000 tonnes at speeds of 100 km/h (62 mph) to 120 km/h (75 mph), essentially doubling the average speed of freight trains in the sector.

Can you write a story on this photo?!

 

This picture speaks a lot

Not just of the monkey and the boy

And of the lovely sky

And of the beautiful valley

And of the imposing mountains

But also of many hidden emotions.

It is about mutual admiration

Between the boy and the monkey

And all about their curiosity

And of the thoughts in their mind

And about their abrupt separation

A sad one; never to meet again.

The boy stepped out here suddenly

Perhaps as the scene was appealing

And the weather comforting

And as he feasted on the scene

And peeped into the valley

A Monkey stared at him from the valley.

Within minutes the monkey came to him

Unaware of creating a happy memory for him

Why the boy chose to stop at this place

And why the monkey; fearless sat by his side

Is astonishing… a real mystery

For you to unravel and write a lovely story!

Encourage Chess.

Chess enhances the development of many abilities in children and elders, like problem-solving skills, social and relationship-building skills and thinking skills. Here are some chess quotations from which one can gain wisdom and love to play chess, a game so popular in every household in the past, but unfortunately being neglected and forgotten these days:  

 “Life is like a game of chess. To win you have to make a move. Knowing which move to make comes with IN-SIGHT and knowledge, and by learning the lessons that are accumulated along the way. We become each and every piece within the game called life!” ― Allan Rufus.

“Chess makes men wiser and clear-sighted.” – Vladimir Putin

“Chess is the gymnasium of the mind.” – Blaise Pascal

“As proved by evidence, chess is more lasting in its being and presence than all books and achievements; the only game that belongs to all people and all ages; of which none knows the divinity that bestowed it on the world, to slay boredom, to sharpen the senses, to exhilarate the spirit.” – Stefan Zweig

 “In life, as in chess, one’s own pawns block one’s way.  A man’s wealth, ease, leisure, children, books, which should help him to win, more often checkmate him.” – Charles Buxton

“Unlike other games in which money is the end and aim, chess recommends itself to the wise by the fact that its mimic battles are fought for no prize but honour. It is eminently and emphatically the philosopher’s game.” – Paul Morphy

“The beauty of chess is it can be whatever you want it to be. It transcends language, age, race, religion, politics, gender, and socioeconomic background. Whatever your circumstances, anyone can enjoy a good fight to the death over the chessboard.” – Simon Williams

“Chess is the struggle against the error.” – Johannes Zukertort

“Every chess master was once a beginner.” – Irving Chernev

“In life, as in chess, forethought wins.” – Charles Buxton

“When you see a good move, look for a better one.” – Emanuel Lasker

“Avoid the crowd. Do your own thinking independently. Be the chess player, not the chess piece.” – Ralph Charell

 “Chess holds its master in its own bonds, shackling the mind and brain so that the inner freedom of the very strongest must suffer.” – Albert Einstein

“Chess is a war over the board. The object is to crush the opponent’s mind.” – Bobby Fischer

 “I am convinced, the way one plays chess always reflects the player’s personality. If something defines his character, then it will also define his way of playing.” – Vladimir Kramnik

“The game of chess is not merely an idle amusement. Several very valuable qualities of the mind, useful in the course of human life, are to be acquired or strengthened by it… Life is a kind of Chess, in which we have often points to gain, and competitors or adversaries to contend with.” – Benjamin Franklin

 “Chess doesn’t drive people mad, it keeps mad people sane.” – Bill Hartston

 “Chess is life in miniature. Chess is a struggle, chess battles.” – Garry Kasparov

“I have come to the personal conclusion that while all artists are not chess players, all chess players are artists.” – Marcel Duchamp

 “For in the idea of chess and the development of the chess mind we have a picture of the intellectual struggle of mankind.” – Richard Réti

 “I don’t believe in psychology. I believe in good moves.” – Bobby Fischer

“Play the opening like a book, the middlegame like a magician, and the endgame like a machine.” – Rudolph Spielmann

“I used to attack because it was the only thing I knew. Now I attack because I know it works best.” – Garry Kasparov

“It is my style to take my opponent and myself onto unknown grounds. A game of chess is not an examination of the knowledge; it is a battle of nerves.” – David Bronstein

“Chess is rarely a game of ideal moves. Almost always, a player faces a series of difficult consequences whichever move he makes.” – David Shenk

 “After a bad opening, there is hope for the middle game. After a bad middle game, there is hope for the endgame. But once you are in the endgame, the moment of truth has arrived.” – Edmar Mednis

“Half the variations which are calculated in a tournament game turn out to be completely superfluous. Unfortunately, no one knows in advance which half.” – Jan Timman

“Even a poor plan is better than no plan at all.” – Mikhail Chigorin

“Tactics is knowing what to do when there is something to do; strategy is knowing what to do when there is nothing to do.” – Savielly Tartakower

 “You may learn much more from a game you lose than from a game you win. You will have to lose hundreds of games before becoming a good player.” – José Raúl Capablanca

 “Pawns are the soul of the game.” – François-André Danican Philidor

“The passed pawn is a criminal, who should be kept under lock and key. Mild measures, such as police surveillance, are not sufficient.” – Aron Nimzowitsch

“Modern chess is too much concerned with things like pawn structure. Forget it, checkmate ends the game.” – Nigel Short

“Pawn endings are to chess what putting is to golf.” – Cecil Purdy

 “Nobody ever won a chess game by resigning.” – Savielly Tartakower

“The blunders are all there on the board, waiting to be made.” – Savielly Tartakower

“It’s always better to sacrifice your opponent’s men.” – Savielly Tartakower

“One doesn’t have to play well, it’s enough to play better than your opponent.” – Siegbert Tarrasch

“Up to this point, White has been following well-known analysis. But now he makes a fatal error: he begins to use his own head.” – Siegbert Tarrasch

“Of chess, it has been said that life is not long enough for it, but that is the fault of life, not chess.” – William Napier

“Chess is beautiful enough to waste your life for.” – Hans Ree

“A chess game in progress is… a cosmos unto itself, fully insulated from an infant’s cry, an erotic invitation, or war.” – David Shenk

“It will be cheering to know that many people are skilful chess players, though in many instances their brains, in a general way, compare unfavourably with the cognitive faculties of a rabbit.” – James Mortimer

 “The only thing chess players have in common is chess.” – Lodewijk Prins

“Those who say they understand chess, understand nothing.” – Robert Hübner

“One bad move nullifies forty good ones.” – Bernhard Horwitz

“If your opponent offers you a draw, try to work out why he thinks he’s worse off.” – Nigel Short

Our Wedding Ceremony As Captured By Our Eldest Son!

Our Wedding on a Ferry! On River Godavari! We were the chosen ones for this wedding, to amuse all the fellow travellers on the ferry and of course us. The photographs are by my eldest son. What is not included in the photographs is the sumptuous lunch following our wedding.

You must watch this ‘Wedding-Photo-Video’ having a very meaningful background song, and for the countless wholehearted smiles and laughter, you can see on the ferry. 

VIDEO:

PHOTOS: