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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.
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STATES
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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.
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THE ARTS
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Artless
Artistry
The festival tried to exhibit the widest selection
rather than the best, making it a disappointing show.
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NEIGHBOURS
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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.
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METROSCAPE
Launch Fad
Harassed rooters
of Indo-Anglican furniture who've only read about Bombay inlay work from
a fusty copy of a mid-19th century Journal of the Asiatic Society or about
Bengal wood carving from a silver fish-relished monograph can now take
it easy. At Timeless bookshop in Delhi, Amin Jaffer, a 32-year-old doctorate
from the Victoria and Albert Museum, released a book on period furniture
called Furniture from British India and Ceylon (Timeless Books in conjunction
with the V&A). The London-based scholar, who has also superspecialised
on topics such as Curzon's ivory chairs at Kedleston and 16th century
caskets from Ceylon, says he became interested in the subject when he
saw a "particularly fine ivory veneered chair put on display at the
V&A in 1991".
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| First with furniture: Sabharwal
(top) with Jaffer |
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Jaffer, however, made a lightning visit to the
launch and left barely minutes after he walked in ... and after having
signed just four copies. (Publisher and bookshop owner Ravi Sabharwal
"never expected him to be so young" and therefore seemed to
have forgiven him.) Meanwhile the gathering at the bookshop stayed on
for a couple of hours later talking about furniture (Bareily school of
cabinet making) and enjoying a cropped version of the American hot-dog
with authentic mustard.
-Anshul Avijit
Horse Sense
 Although
the international show jumping championship, organised by the Equestrian
Federation of India, clashed with a more glamorous polo tournament in
Delhi last Sunday, a few discerning spectators managed to catch some class
jumps by teams from the UK, Philippines, Iran, Hong Kong Uzbekistan, Thailand
and India. The sturdy Uzbeks came out on top in most categories ... with
Uldashev Ibragim (left) winning the Championship Riders Competition. Some
veterans said that the borrowed horses (from the host country) and the
decisive luck of the draw makes all the difference in such a competition.
This wasn't the Olympics anyway.
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METRO TODAY |
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 Web
Exclusives |
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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.
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INTERVIEWS
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"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.
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