Vandals Of History Afghanistan's Taliban regime remains undeterred from its hard-line agenda of destroying historically valuable Buddhist idols. A look at the present regime and its slide to orthodox fundamentalism at a time when a drought has ravaged its economy and people.

Taking On the Family
Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Laloo Yadav is once again facing a tough fight for survival--this time prompted by a near revolt in the RJD fuelled by rumours of a dynastic takeover. Ranjan Yadav has emerged as a potential rival to Rabri Devi, enjoying the support of both the party rebels and the NDA allies.

Chennai Confusion
The upshot of the great Tamil circus: Jayalalitha needs Moopanar, but not the Congress.

Creepy Acquisition
With Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha determined to bring corporate payslips comprehensively into the taxman's dragnet, the salaried class is having a few palpitations. For them, it means that a long era of tax-free emoluments is coming to an end.

"Indians lack unity"
Two of cricket's finest brains met for a rare conversation:Bishen Singh Bedi takes on the role of interviewer for Aaj Tak, seeking to get into the mind of Australian captain Stephen Waugh.

Revenge Of the Bears The sudden fall in share-prices points to yet another rigging controversy, and raises questions about the efficacy and credibility of SEBI as a regulator.

COVER STORY: AFGHANISTAN

WHO LEADS THE TALIBAN

MULLAH MOHAMMAD OMAR: Amir-ul-Momineen or the Commander of the Faithful, the 42-year-old Omar is the supreme leader of the Taliban. A one-eyed recluse educated in religious schools in southern Afghanistan, he rules unquestioned from his madarsa in Kandahar and rarely travels around the country.

MULLAH MOHAMMAD RABBANI:
Head of the Kabul Shura, the ruling council of ministers. He is regarded as a moderate and is frequently overruled by Mullah Omar.

MULLAH NOORUDDIN TURABI: Justice minister. A hardliner, he is also in charge of the Ministry of Promotion of Virtue and Suppression of Vice. It enforces the movement's strict interpretation of Islamic law, which includes public executions for convicted murderers and amputations for thieves.

MULLAH WAKIL A. MUTTAWAKIL:
Foreign minister. Moderate and the public face of the Taliban. Trained in Omar's madarsa as a boy, he became his driver, food taster, translator and eventually the spokesman.



MAULVI QUDRATULLAH JAMAL: Information and culture minister. Powerful hardliner who formulated the Taliban policy on the demolition of statues after the original edict was issued late last month by Omar.

MetroScape
Triple Act
What I would love to do more than anything else in the world is to write another play," says Gurcharan Das. "But I don't know if I have the courage." He should have dollops of it, going by the audience reaction to his 9 Jakhoo Hill--performed to mark the release of Three English Plays by Das --at Delhi's India Habitat Centre
last week.
more...

Looking Glass

Delhi and Mumbai: Adventure One Sport

Mumbai: Smooth Bar

Delhi: Good Earth Showroom

Polo, like many other events, is bringing about the resurgence of the almost forgotten royals. A chance, writes INDIA TODAY's Principal Correspondent Anshul Avijit, to say Maharaja again with an unctuous post-modernist gusto in Despatches.

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