Bribe Gloom
The former PM's conviction snuffs out his plans to play a larger role in Congress affairs. But though the dissidents have lost a rallying point, they will go ahead with their anti-Sonia campaign.

Big Buys
As India and Russia ink the biggest defence agreement since Independence, the Armed Forces hope to close the gaping holes in preparedness

Fifth Column
by Tavleen Singh
Poverty Of Ideas

Kautilya
by Jairam Ramesh
Rao Doesn't Deserve This

Right Angle
by Swapan Dasgupta
It Takes Two To Coalition

Generation Gaffes

Existential Crisis

More...

LOOKING GLASS

Chennai
Exhibition:
Though art may sometimes appear abstract for some and absurd for others, when it comes to realism, appreciation gains a definition. Well, almost. 'Rethinking Realism', the millennium show being held at The Easel Art Gallery in Chennai, features contemporary artists from all over the country. The media: oil on canvas, etching, mixed media, aquatint and serigraph. New artists are exhibiting at this show: Apurva Desai, Deepak Khandelwal and K. Ravi, alongside veterans like Bhagwan Chavan. Says Sharmila Mohandas of The Easel: "The artists have adapted realism to suit their styles." You can grab a piece for anything between Rs 1,000 and Rs 40,000. Call (044) 826-4855.

Bangalore
Electronics Store: Cinebeles is the city's first store for home theatre systems. The showroom on Millers Road stocks Danish-made Jamo speakers in a variety of colours, shapes, sizes and acoustics. It also stores top-end Japanese audio-video equipment. Situated opposite Sona Towers. For more details call (080) 238-4331.

Delhi
Gift Shop: Finally the National Museum is getting its act together. Fed up of selling PoP Buddha busts (booking time: six months) and yellowing postcards, the antiquities gallery has invited the Handloom and Handicraft Export Corporation (HHEC) to open shop. (It manages the hugely popular outlet at the Crafts Museum.) Located in the centre of the circular granite corridor, the new shop stocks the ever-popular HHEC fare-dhokra serving spoons, Jaipur miniatures, papier mache Christmas festoonery, Chamba woodware, Gujarati tribal mirrors and even some odd pieces of imitation furniture. And if you get tired shopping, you can relax at the new café on the floor above. Call (011) 301-9322.

Hotel:
The Metropolitan Hotel Nikko is located in the heart of town-Bangla Sahib Marg, close to Connaught Place. Part of Nikko Hotels International, it's being touted as the country's "first Indo-Japanese hospitality venture". It isn't, but the flavour's good. There's a Japanese restaurant called Sakura, 178 rooms (including eight suites) and a non-smoking floor. A standard room costs Rs 8,300 a night plus taxes. For reservations, call (011) 334-2000.

Calcutta
Sale: Would you wear a T-shirt that says: "My dog walks all over me"? At a sale organised by People for Animals at Oxford Bookstore Gallery, this tee was a hit. Others, designed by Rohit Bal, had messages like "Bee what you wanna bee". Why T-shirts? "It's a good way to spread awareness," says animal lover Maneka Gandhi. Price: Rs 300 each. Proceeds go towards West Bengal's first animal hospital. Call (033) 229-7662.

Top

Food Mood
There was plenty of food at the first anniversary bash of Crossroads mall and the shop-within-the-mall Good Food Gallerie in Mumbai last week.
more...

Looking Glass

Chennai: Exhibition

Bangalore: Electronics Store

Delhi: Gift Store

Delhi: Hotel

Calcutta: Sale

By putting off rolling settlement, SEBI has given punters on Dalal Street a Diwali gift, says INDIA TODAY Associate Editor V. Shankar Aiyar in Au Contraiyar.

The fate of the Kannur project in power-strapped Kerala is in a state of limbo as the Government contends it is too expensive. But is it? INDIA TODAY Principal Correspondent M.G. Radhakrishnan investigates in Despatches.