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[caption id="attachment_795" align="alignright" width="300" caption=" Noida Public Library, Sec-18"]
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[caption id="attachment_793" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Noida Public Library, Sec-18"]
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I didn’t. An accidental click of the mouse led me to a site which proclaimed April 23, 2009 to be World Book and Copyright Day. Intrigued, I googled to find out more…
The idea originated in Catalonia where on 23 April, Saint George’s Day, a rose was traditionally given as a gift for each book sold. It’s also symbolic as the death anniversary of many famous authors is celebrated on this very day like Spain’s Miguel de Cervantes and England’s poet and playwright William Shakespeare etc.
According to Wikipedia, World Book and Copyright Day (also known as International Day of the Book or World Book Days ) is a yearly event on 23 April , organized by UNESCO to promote reading, publishing and copyright. The Day was first celebrated in 1995.
To see how many fellow Indians like me were clueless about WBCD, I logged on to Facebook and keyed in the appropriate words hoping to find some groups or communities on it. Search result – Inconclusive.
I found two updated groups, one called ‘World Book Day, Indonesia’ which had 3,531 members and the other ‘World Book Day, Australia’ which had 370 members but none on India. There were others like ‘World Book Day - The Books to Talk About’, ‘Support World Book Day’ and ‘WORLD BOOK DAY - is it just an opportunity to fleece parents?’ which did not have active members.
A search on Orkut revealed zero communities which led me to change my status message to ‘Happy World Book & Copyright Day!!’ to see what kind of response I’d get to that.
None so far. But no ones to blame for that. In a country where there are so many important dates to remember from festivals to birthdays and anniversaries of saints, gurus, leaders etc; have books become irrelevant?
The books we think we ought to read are poky, dull, and dry; The books that we would like to read we are ashamed to buy; The books that people talk about we never can recall; And the books that people give us, oh, they’re the worst of all.- Carolyn Wells
Many of us have often been brought up as kids who should read to expand our horizon. But still it is not a very famous practice in many houses. We explored the book stores at some places and to my utter surprise, there was not even a single person who was aware of the World Book and Copyright Day tomorrow.
Excluding U.K and Ireland, World Book day is celebrated throughout the world on 23 April yearly. It is organized by UNESCO to promote reading, publishing and copyright. It is celebrated on this date because of Spain’s Catalonian festival and also as it is the death anniversary of Miguel de Cervantes, the birth and death of William Shakespeare, the death of Inca Garcilaso de la Vega and Josep Pla, the birth of Maurice Druon, Vladimir Nabokov, Manuel Mejía Vallejo and Halldór Laxness.
When we first entered in Shopprix Mall in Noida, the manager of the store had no idea of the World Book Day. The same thing happened when we explored various bookshops in Great India Place.
Nandini Goel, author of an article in Noida magazine ‘Samvad’ believes that there is no connection between knowing the day and reading books. In these days where everyone is busy it is hard to remember days but it doesn’t mean that there are no book lovers or they have less respect for them. She even added that since she herself wasn’t aware of it but now that she knows it, she would buy two new books to mark the day.
Books can be made famous among different age group of people provided they have affordable price tags and making them more aware so that they do not consider it as waste of money. Books always enhance your existing knowledge base. Book reading is a good habit to follow. Reading books not only makes you knowledgeable but also plays an important role in your overall personality development.
By:- Shikha Garg & Saurabh Das
Miles away from corruption and malicious intentions, there runs an endeavor by Noida Lok Manch in the interiors of Sector 15, which genuinely believes in literate India.
Now, nobody can deny this! Not necessarily out of love for books, but for a luxurious feel, we don’t mind taking round of Odyssey(s) & Teksons. Empty pockets had never been a deterrent. Isn’t it? Reason, who doesn’t like doing window shopping. While few have fat pockets, many can’t afford, especially book readers, who love reading but can barely afford a costly book.
They can not only look for local Bookwallahs and big book stores in vicinity, but a public library too. Like we all Noidaites have one, run by Noida Lok Manch, in Sector 15. If it hasn’t been on your priority list, add it now!
A true Noidaite shouldn’t miss its own Noida public library. It is a house to almost 35,000 books, Wow! Quite a number though. It has virtually all the books, you can think of, from fiction to non-fiction, study material, academic books, competitive books, Hindi short stories to English classics. Still, it bears some differences in contrast to the must-visit book stores-
Difference no. 1: Instead of sparing 500 to Rs 1000/- note, you can grab your favorite in a paltry sum. Guys, you can read as many as you can in just Rs/-250 (Annual charges) and of course, Rs. 300 is the security fees for one book.
Difference no.2: You cannot brag of a sophisticated book cover and of a Teksons poly bag. But you can roll up your sleeves and go back to your school days and read issued books.
Difference no. 3- Now, you may have naughty siblings at home who can’t see you doing any other thing than playing with them. In such case, nothing can beat the serene environment of Library’s exclusive reading room. At a nominal charge of Rs/-300, you can avail the air-conditioned services of Reading room for half a year. Does your favorite book store have a reading room? At least I am waiting to find one.
Difference no.4-Since the library is visited by almost 150-185 people every day. You might get a chance to meet people from different walks of life, assembled at the same bar-age, sex, caste, class, colour, creed no bar.
Difference no. 5- Learning a computer course may cost you in thousand. But, here you will learn it in almost Rs.300/- (for 3 months). They also run a course in DTP for just Rs/- 250 and this is for those, who can rest their money in pockets.
Difference no.6- I am falling short of memory. But do you know any store sponsoring education of underprivileged children or in fact providing books to them? Here, they do. Poor children can learn computer in Rs 10 per week or Rs 20 a month. They also have subsidized rate for reading room and books. A good deed indeed!
It also has provision for donations. So the next time you want to do away with a book, don’t give it to a Kabadiwalla, instead, go and donate it there, it would help others.
Now, this is not a difference. Public library is a perfect recluse for old and young coming here to browse magazines and newspapers, as many as 14 for free of cost.
In evenings and mornings, place is crammed with many like us. The library opens at 7am and closes at 9 pm. Sundays are off but reading room still remains unlocked for the community.
I visited and got enthused to see so many people reading and discussing, especially, deprived few. Shikha, my friend also loves going there. Have you ever been to the Noida Public Library? I know you must have.
Was your experience in anyway special, when you had visited the public library for the first time?
With the onset of summer plant lovers who maintain roof top or terrace gardens are a concerned lot.
How to protect their small collection of delicate decorative ever greens is a source of great worry, says Mrs Verma, a resident of sector 29.
She especially points to a tender five feet tall plant of Peeli Kaner, in English called Mexican Oleander, which she has got growing in a big cement pot. Generally found growing as a 10 to 12 feet tall shrub along roads or in parks, not many people have Kaner in their collection plants. So what gives? She smiles and tells the secret.
The flower of peeli kaner is one of the favorite of Lord Shiva, and she takes one flower daily to offer to Him. Faith is more important than the number of flowers, but on Mondays the Lord gets two flowers, she adds.
The kaner plant itself shows no sign of distress, due to heat or any other environmental factor. Though a little less leafy, it continues to bloom and put forth about half a dozen, bell shaped conical soft yellow flower, every day, spreading its mild fragrance around.
Newzstreet compliments Mrs Verma for her immaculately maintained, though small terrace garden, and prays to the Sun God to be kind to her and her plants.
With the onset of summer plant lovers who maintain roof top or terrace gardens are a concerned lot.
How to protect their small collection of delicate decorative ever greens is a source of great worry, says Mrs Verma, a resident of sector 29.
She especially points to a tender five feet tall plant of Peeli Kaner, in English called Mexican Oleander, which she has got growing in a big cement pot. Generally found growing as a 10 to 12 feet tall shrub along roads or in parks, not many people have Kaner in their collection plants. So what gives? She smiles and tells the secret.
The flower of peeli kaner is one of the favorite of Lord Shiva, and she takes one flower daily to offer to Him. Faith is more important than the number of flowers, but on Mondays the Lord gets two flowers, she adds.
The kaner plant itself shows no sign of distress, due to heat or any other environmental factor. Though a little less leafy, it continues to bloom and put forth about half a dozen, bell shaped conical soft yellow flower, every day, spreading its mild fragrance around.
Newzstreet compliments Mrs Verma for her immaculately maintained, though small terrace garden, and prays to the Sun God to be kind to her and her plants.
Vineet.w@newzstreet.com
The people of Greater Noida will now be relieved, as their major problem of commuting is on the brink of solution as of Delhi metro. The Greater Noida Authority has decided to extend the metro line from Sector 32, Noida to Pari Chowk, Greater Noida.
According to the Senior Greater Noida official, the proposal was discussed in detail amongst the officials of Delhi metro, Noida and Greater Noida authorities. The detailed project report of the metro line extension, drawn by the engineers and senior officials was studied and a blueprint is now under construction.
The proposed metro line to Greater Noida would have another five stations in Noida before connecting to Greater Noida at Pari Chowk. “The five more stations in Noida are planned at Sector-50, Sector-78, Sector-101, Sector-82, and Sector-92” said a senior Greater Noida official.
The five new stations till Pari Chowk will cover 29 kilometers along the proposed extension. The corridor will be stretched to 35 kilometer when it enters Greater Noida. The panel of experts will finalize the location of the stations.
The officials of Noida and Greater Noida Authorities have put the estimated cost for the proposed Metro facility of Rs 4,000 crore.
Presently, DMRC’s phase-two plan in Noida comprises a seven-kilometer stretch from the Delhi border to Sector-32 city centre in Noida. There are six stations on the line that expected to be opened by later this year.
According to DMRC spokesperson Anuj Dayal , “The Greater Noida Authority has asked us to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) as there are plans to come up with an airport express link from Noida’s Sector-32 to the proposed international airport in Greater Noida (at Jevar). We have to prepare the terms of reference to prepare the DPR.
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According to police “12 cases of robbery and snatching have been reported in Noida over the last four days.”
One resident of Najafgarh was robbed of his cash and valuables on Saturday night by robbers who were co-passengers in his car.
Two cars were lifted on Friday night after forcing the drivers to halt their vehicles in separate parts of the city.
In snatching incidents gold chains were robbed of three women in Noida.
In another incident on Thursday armed men robbed Rs 70,000 and valuables from a man at a sector 10 factory at gun point.
On Saturday burglars struck at chartered accountant S Khanna’s house in sector 61 and decamped with jewellery and cash worth Rs six lakh beside, other valuable goods including electronic items. Khanna family was at a hospital in Delhi attending to his father when the incident took place.
Superintendent of Police A K Tripathi said, “Cases have been registered at respective police stations and manhunt launched to arrest the culprits.”
SUKET