It's About Politics
The limits on Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha's budget this year are political. He has the prescription to put the economy on a high growth track, but hampered by vested interests, vote-bank politics and stubborn opposition parties, he is unlikely to deliver.

The Rot in Farming
Falling prices, stagnating production and diminishing returns are brewing an unparalleled crisis in farmlands across India. Ironically, the alarming situation has arisen despite an unprecedented 12 consecutive normal monsoons.

Creeping Paralysis
Doubts over Keshubhai Patel's fitness to rule are growing after his government failed to provide basic relief like tents to those affected by the earthquake. Despite having speedily restored electricity and water, which earned praise from some international agencies, criticism over Patel's poor marshalling of resources continues.

Artless Artistry
The festival tried to exhibit the widest selection rather than the best, making it a disappointing show.

Stillness of Change
The legendary bamboo curtain is lifting to reveal that Myanmar isn't quite the "fascist Disneyland" it is made out to be. The winds of change have brought back English as the medium of instruction and Aung San Suu Kyi is talking to the military. After prolonged isolation, Yangon wants to face the world, but on its own terms.

Making It Happen
John Buchanan gives an exclusive insight into what it takes to coach the world's most successful team. He also enumerates what
he feels will be the Indian strengths that the Aussies
will have to watch out for.

Strategic Partners
As emphasis shifts from relief to rehabilitation, Care Today is selecting regions to focus on and NGOs to help it channelise aid. The involvement of victims is integral to the plan so that their dignity remains intact.

METROSCAPE: LOOKING GLASS

MUMBAI
Restaurant

Charitable Mood

The Other Space

Image Breaker

Play For Your Supper

Business Of Singing

Launch Fad

Horse Sense

In Letter And Spirit

Blender's Pride

Mix 'N' Match

If love and romantic meals-for-two don't end with Valentine's Day for you, newly renovated Signature restaurant beckons with a festival that lasts through most of this month. The lure-special starters, mocktails and cocktails, Indian and Chinese cuisine by an army of resident and visiting chefs, including cocktail connoisseur Shatabhi Basu. Try the Jhinge Ke Seekh (prawn mince marinated with ginger garlic and exotic herbs) and Baby Corn Hot Chilli (baby corn stir-fried with rice wine and spices) in starters and Blush of Ice in mocktails. At night, opt for an al fresco meal. On till the February 27 but some of the dishes will become part of the regular menu. At Jewel Shopping Centre, Seven Bungalows, Andheri. Call (022) 636-5750.

DELHI
Lifestyle Store

Renaissance Homes has launched a luxurious 10,000 sq ft lifestyle store. Spread over two floors, the showroom displays imported furniture, designer furnishings, murano crystals, clocks and mirror frames from internationally renowned names. Choose from Baker Furniture, McGuire, Sligh, Mirror Fair, amongst others. Simply walk in and pick or place orders. At B-5/1 Okhla, Phase II. Call (011) 631-7181.

DELHI
Film Festival

Celebrate the Oscar month at Priya and PVR Anupam-4 cinemas. From March 1-31 catch Erin Brockovich, Gladiator, Castaway, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon and Almost Famous-five films that have bagged 33 Oscar nominations in all. Pick your choice of Oscar winners for Best Picture, Actor and Actress and if your list matches with the actual, you could win tickets to Bali, Singapore or Bangkok. Call (011) 686-5999.

Animal Verse

	Life, spirit, beyond: Ahuja at her show; Hefez's Life fleeting by

She's a polyglot (that's Urdu, Persian, French, Russian and four others). She has an interest in period poetry and a flair for calligraphy and painting. Sexagenarian artist Ameena Ahmed Ahuja, who studied at the slade School of Art, London and now lives between her aesthetic worlds in London, New York, Tokyo and Delhi, is a lady of varied interests. At her Mumbai exhibition of calligraphic paintings, Wisdom of Birds and Animals at Cymroza gallery, Ahuja amalgamated verses from Urdu, Persian and Russian poetry (Amir Khusrau, Ghalib, Hafez, Mikov and

Pushkin), into pen 'n' ink shapes of birds and mammals. But the surfeit of existentialist verses (like Hafez's Life is fleeting by) was far from coincidental: Ameena lost her brother, Farid recently and says that her works are an "emotional and spiritual reflection" of her life. Not that they weren't any happy, indulgent poems-the most interesting was the The Epicurean by none other than Mughal emperor Babur.

-Natasha Israni

MetroScape
Charitable Mood
In the backdrop of murky allegations about underworld connections, philanthropy by the Bollywood badshahs comes a little more easily.
more...

Looking Glass

Delhi: Lifestyle Store

Delhi: Film Festival

Mumbai: Restaurant

The Indian Navy's International Fleet Review was a fine effort at naval diplomacy which the Government would do well to build on, writes INDIA TODAY's Principal Correspondent Sandeep Unnithan
in Despatches.

"The only obvious competition is in bhangra," say the Pakistani duo of the music group, Strings, in an exclusive interview with INDIA TODAY's Sonia Faleiro.
Interviews.