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.

SOCIETY & TRENDS: VACATION

It's All About Opportunity
And Promise

If you thought sex was top of the mind, you'd be wrong. The only time we actually fell asleep was when after an evening of karaoke singing and dancing we were expected to watch a film titled Love and Sex. Nor were people spending their time engaging Neena Gupta's attention or rallying around Nasscom chief Dewang Mehta, the second most well-known person in the group.

Champagne baths, candles and petals, but no romps between silk sheets...

They were out to have fun while expanding their circle of friends, reaching out to more people, finding-and why not-a mate, if possible. Like one of them said, it's about trying to bond and we are hardly the kind to wait for our parents to arrange it for us. So, if one day we were giggling on the dance floor, it was perfectly natural the other day to sit by the beach, discussing intimate stuff while dusting sand off our legs. It's easy sometimes to talk to strangers.

Armed with this basic understanding, it didn't feel sleazy to be participating in a contest that required concocting pick-up lines. "Main akeli hoon, thakeli nahin hoon (I may be alone but I'm not jaded),'' Neena's contribution had everybody in splits. But the lines that won the prizes were, "Can I be the vodka that you're sipping" and "I like the dress you are wearing ... it will look better on my bedside''. At the end of the day, the dress didn't matter; the willingness to let your hair down and put your feet up did.

For two days and two endless nights of wining and dining, the emphasis was on personality-on one's ability to let go and mingle. In the pool, over a game of volleyball or in a boat in search of dolphins. Over a game of beach cricket or by the side of astrologers who-not coincidentally-predicted marriage for most in 2001. At karaoke, salsa dancing or tattoo sessions, where prizes were won by those bold enough to have their cleavages tattooed. Or over massage sessions on the beach where foot reflexology scored high.

And in the evenings if spirits soared and the bedroom didn't beckon, it was because it was more about "getting to know'' rather than double trouble. More about opportunity and promise. About exchanging visiting cards and e-mail addresses. About the next singles vacation that's already been lined up for March, where once again the group will be a manageable 40 though the Taj has a database of about 800 singles.

Some of those who came to Goa are already planning to do it again next month. It's a novel concept and one that obviously makes good marketing sense for the Taj, for they have attracted many singles most of whom are already recommending it to their friends.

So what happens when singles do mingle? We will have to check Hotmail. For some, it could even be the Yahoo.

PS: Spend your money if you want good, clean fun or if you're looking for companionship. This is not about a romp between silk sheets.

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.