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The Centre's strategy is to portray the Hurriyat Conference and Pakistan as hurdles in its quest for a political solution.

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Fifth Column
by Tavleen Singh
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Right Angle
by Swapan Dasgupta
Clarifying Clarification

Politically Correct
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And Justice in Time

Flip Side
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The PM's Lament

Wile Praise

Farm Resolve

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LOOKING GLASS

DELHI
Festival
The German Festival in India 2000-2001 promises to add some cultural spice to the so far languid city. Beginning January 8, popular German playwrights, actors and writers will conduct workshops and hold sessions on German culture and history. And as far as plays go, a must watch would be Bertolt Brecht's The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, a riveting political satire about the rise of Nazism on at Kamani Auditorium on January 30. Other events: popular German movies of the 1990s at Siri Fort Auditorium from January 10 to 15. The National School of Drama has organised a workshop with actor Wolfram Mehring from January 8 to 22. Call (011)332-9506.

CHENNAI
Entertainment
Mayajaal, in a sprawling 13-acre compound on the Mahaballipuram road in Kanthur, about a half-hour drive from Chennai, claims to be the first of its kind entertainment complex in India. Besides the regular bowling alley, pool hall and gaming arcade, the centre has acquired state-of-the-art virtual reality games apart from establishing a plush resort, a sports village with an Olympic-sized swimming pool, a cricket ground, mini-golf facilities and squash courts. Slated to open on January 5, they even have the first six-theatre multiplex in the country. Other features: a beauty salon for men and women and an Internet cafe. For more details call (044) 483-3067 or visit website www.mayajaal.com.

PUNE
Nightclub
Scream, the splashy new discotheque at the Le Meridien, is sure to chase away the boredom of having nowhere to go after hours in this city. The commodious wooden dance floor can accommodate over 500 people and is packed with psychedelic lights and multi-coloured smoke machines. Comfortable Victorian style high-backrest chairs facing the bar are ideal for loosening muscles after a rock around the floor. Clearly, Scream is targetting every age group-they offer special deals for kitty party junkies and corporate execs during the day. Open 8 p.m. onwards. Call (020) 612-6666.

-Contributed by Leher Kala, Kavita Muralidharan and Kanchan Apte

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MetroScape
Writer's Residence
Mirza Asadullah Beg Khan, aka Mirza Ghalib lived here. The 250 sq yard in Ballimaran, an architecturally mutating cluster, has the facade of an upstart townhouse with spindly, post-1980s balusters and neo-Moorish brickwork from a prosperous factory in Haryana.
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Looking Glass

Delhi: Festival

Chennai: Entertainment

Pune: Night Club

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