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.

Play For Your Supper

In an evening that was grandiosely called "supper theatre", Radisson hotel invited Primetime Theatre to perform the minimalist, mostly-two-actors drama, The Unexpected Man, written by Yasmina Reza and directed by Sita Raina. As the audience sat ringed around the richly laid out tables, actors Jeetendra Ramprakash and Raina enacted the journey of two strangers, Mr Parsky (a writer) and Martha (who's reading his latest book), making their way from Paris to Frankfurt in the same train compartment.

Train for the part: Raina (right) and Ramprakaksh; the supper audience looks on

The play had of more soliloquies than dialogues (where Ramprakash's accent was clear and precise and Raina's was closer to Mayfair): Parsky dwelling on his scatological well-being and whether to start conversing with his neighbour, and Martha who could hardly conceal her excitement on discovering Parsky.

It didn't matter if the supper was served only after the theatre got over.

-Anshul Avijit

Business Of Singing

In retro bell-botts and a clingy shirt, Pallavi Laxman could easily pass of as a catwalk model. But the 31-year-old Delhi-based wife of industrialist Harsh Laxman would like to be known more for her voice rather than her looks. Her new album, Tum Paas Aao (Times Music), a collection of eight songs composed by Jaspal Moni, is, she says, a gift to "all the lovers in the world". Trained in Hindustani classical music under Gurinder Harnam Singh (disciple of Kishori Amonkar), Pallavi feels classical training is a must for those who want to launch an album. But then why did she choose Indi-pop and not classical? "Because it sells," she immediatly says. Business obviously runs in the family.

-S. Sahaya Ranjit

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.