Ram's Laxman
Vajpayee's every pronouncement is fast becoming a new theme song of the BJP, reaffirming his grip over the party and the NDA. Quite a change for the party that once claimed that personality cult was the prerogative of the Congress.

It's On, It's On, It's Enron
Enron's Dabhol Power Corporation continues to generate more controversy than electricity.

Fifth Column
by Tavleen Singh
Clean Up Officialdom

Right Angle
by Swapan Dasgupta
End of the Durand Line

Flip Side
by Dilip Bobb
The Year Ahead ...Sort Of

Border Pangs

Bye Line

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LOOKING GLASS

BANGALORE
Exhibition
Bangalore-based architect-turned-cartoonist N. Ponnappa's cartoons of Germany take a bemused dig at some social stereotypes-the beer-bellied Bavarian, the super practical professional, the soccer mad mill worker. Ponappa did these cartoons while he was on the world jury of a cartoon competition on humankind and energy held in Hanover at the Expo 2000. Some of these German works have also been published in the Penguin Book of Indian Cartoonists and The Third World Book of Cartoonists. Check out the Cartoon Show, on from January 8 to 31, 2001, at the Max Mueller Bhavan. For more details call (080) 227-5435.

MUMBAI
Restaurant
The parantha-dal makhani-mango pickle-lassi experience is hard to come by in Mumbai. Now Roti, a restaurant styled on a roadside dhaba just off Linking Road in Khar, promises all this, minus the noise of thundering trucks and the grime of dusty highways. Red brick walls, wooden benches and mudas also give Roti a cool beside-a-sugarcane-field look. The restaurant has also dished out a recommended original-paranthas stuffed with prawns, mushrooms, jalapeno peppers and carrots. Meal for two: Rs 200 with taxes. For bookings call (022) 605-8844.

MUMBAI
Cafe
Convenience shopping and entertainment under one roof. Mumbai's second Shopper's Stop at Ghatkopar offers the usual brands, home furnishings and accessories. What's new is the hip, coffee-cum-snacks eatery, Café Ritazza, where exhausted shoppers can chill with a Latte (Rs 25) or a Cafe Mocha (Rs30). "We plan 30 cafe's within stores in Mumbai itself," says Sunil Nayak of Ritazza. For more information call (022) 527-5801.

-Contributed by Stephen David, Himanshi Dhawan and Natasha Israni

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A Fancy For Words
"I don't think I could be called a poet," insists Feroze Gandhi with a shy smile.
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Looking Glass

Chennai: Mall

Calcutta: Home Library

Pune: Hotel

Delhi: Restaurant

Delhi: Play

Sagarika Ghose's The Gin Drinkers is easily the best diaspora novel set in India and an account of existential dilemmas of Indian PLUs , writes INDIA TODAY Deputy Editor Swapan Dasgupta in Day Dreams.

Cooking gas prices go up, derailing Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu's populist plans in Andhra Pradesh. INDIA TODAY Associate Editor Amarnath K. Menon reports on the flaming out of Deepam, a hyped scheme of subsidised gas connections in Despatches.