The Truth About Ourselves
The human genome sequence has been completed and shows some surprising findings. Despite having one-third less genes than estimated, human beings are still very complex. With access to disease genes, medicine and diagnostics will be revolutionised. However, this will also raise ethical questions on cloning and genetic privacy.

Hope In Hell
Four weeks after the earthquake, Gujarat is still coming to terms with the devastation. True grit is emerging from the rubble but it will be some time before lives are rebuilt. INDIA TODAY's teams went out across these death zones, capturing stories which record this renewal.

Simmer Time

Profitable Loss
36 With over 90,000 employees opting for the VRS scheme, PSU banks are set to get over their problem of overstaffing. But is it going to make banks more competitive in this age of automation? Besides, it is also going to cost more than Rs 7,500 crore and will deprive the banks of skilled workers.

Paper Money

Spreading Terror
The attacks on Delhi's Red Fort,
the Srinagar airport and the city's police control room show the Lashkar-e-Toiba is increasingly catching the Indian security forces unawares-and emerging as the most daring terrorist group from Pakistan.

Face Off
It's David Vs Goliath as India play an Australian demolition squad at home. What makes the Aussies tick and how can India take them on?

Cricketwatch:
Ashley Mallett

MUSIC: MUSINGS

Binding Traditions

This is truly a monumental effort. Over 10 years of love's labour resulting in a set of 20 CDs and a book on the appreciation of Indian classical music packaged in a voluminous but attractive box. While the original deluxe CD set was released in 1999 a more accessible cassette version is now in the market.

CLASSICAL BONANZA: A rare combination of the aesthetic and the devine

A passionate enterprise of Vijay of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry, and marketed by Times Music, Alaap covers in a panoramic sweep the philosophical, spiritual and formal aspects of art music traditions in both north and south India. In the spirit of Sri Aurobindo himself, Alaap not only delves into the metaphysics and grammar of our musical tradition but also unambiguously proclaims its political manifesto. Vijay's personal note lays the agenda: "We hope this will make a small contribution to our understanding of Indian culture, its relevance to the present and the direction it must take in the future."

With serious experts like Raghava Menon, Buddhadev Dasgupta and Padmasini leading the creative team of the project, most textual and musical inputs are faultless. A few proofing errors have nonetheless crept in: Ajrara gharana is given as Ajrala and Khandar Bani has become Gandhar Bani. The music examples are pertinently chosen from a host of sources including the HMV and All India Radio. Definitely a work of reference for your library.

-S. Kalidas

Medley Melody

Songs of My Soul Asha Bhonsle Vol I & II, CD; Rs 350 Universal

An era of cover versions began with T-Series launching Anuradha Paudwal and Sonu Nigam as the poor man's Lata Mangeshkar and Mohammad Rafi. But the trend was not limited to these upcoming singers. Lata herself paid her tribute to the immortals through her album Shradhanjali-singing old-time favourites originally sung by K.L. Saigal, Pankaj Mullick and Hemant Kumar. Now, it is the turn of melody-queen Asha Bhonsle, whom every aspiring singer would like to emulate. Surprisingly, the doyenne chose to do a version of Chaiyan, chaiyan, sung by new kids on the block Sukhwinder Singh and Swapna Awasthi in this new two-CD pack containing 22 songs-re-recorded with the most modern sound and recreated by Bali Brahmbhatt. New techniques do enhance the aural quality but sometimes tend to distort the composition. A case in the point could be Yeh nayan dare dare (Kohra) originally composed and sung by Hemant Kumar where Asha tries to interpret the song by introducing alaap. Overall, it might not be as soul-stirring but it's a good medley of classic and modern numbers. Asha's magical voice never seems to tire ... it only seems to get younger. A good buy for Asha's fans

-S. Sahaya Ranjit

ARRIVALS

24 Karat Gold (Tips; Rs 65) Twelve hits of A.R. Rahman from Roja, Taal,Rangeela, including two instrumental tracks.

Revival of Gavti (BMG Crescendo; Rs 75) Raag Nat bhairav, Gavti and dhun based on raga Bhinna Shadhja on mohan veena.

Durr (Magnasound; Rs 65) Refreshingly different sound, eastern melodies through western rhythms.

Mehala (Sony Music; Rs 75) Music of the palaces of Rajasthan rendered by Saraswati Devi Dhandhada.

MetroScape
Delhi On My Mind...
I'm very flattered to have this act of 'piracy' take place," laughs William Dalrymple, as extracts from his engrossing travelogue City of Djinns: A Year in Delhi were interpreted by photographer Agnes Montanari and art historian Nathalie Trouveroy in an exhibition.
more...

Looking Glass

Delhi: Restaurant

Delhi: Exhibition

Mumbai: Exhibition

"I was very much against the idea of India," says William Dalrymple, author, The City of Djinns: A Year in Delhi. In conversation with INDIA TODAY's Sonia Faleiro, he talks about his old girlfriend, Delhi and his "enormously exciting" next book, The White Moghuls in Interviews.