India Is Now A Space Power
Hurling the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle into orbit from Sriharikota marks the maturing of India's space faring capabilities. Besides saving on the costs of launching its own satellites, the country has entered the billion-dollar space launch market.

Moment Of Reckoning
The polls are likely to be milestones for the political parties. In Tamil Nadu, Karunanidhi is poised to hand over the mantle of the DMK to his son Stalin. And in West Bengal, Mamata may find it takes more than aggression to win a mandate.

Breaking Trust
UTI's dealing in Ketan Parekh's favourite shares has been under a cloud and SEBI's report on the stock-rigging scandal reaffirms suspicions. Bogged down with chunks of worthless shares, UTI's credibility has taken a nose dive.

Cold-Blooded Gamble
Sudden, violent skirmishes along the India-Bangladesh border leaves many dead and raises worrisome questions about peace and security in the North-east as a "friendly" neighbour's problems spill over.

Blue Sari Mystery
A dead polo player, a beautiful woman, an unclaimed garment. The Rajasthan High Court orders the police to look into the case.

NEIGHBOURS: BANGLADESH

Perfect Timing

Parliamentary elections in Bangladesh are due this September and an embattled Hasina has herself said she may call for elections earlier, in May or June. Typically, Opposition-sponsored strikes, led by Hasina's arch-enemy and BNP leader Khaleda Zia have frequently paralysed Dhaka and other towns. And last fortnight, a bomb ripped through a crowd in Dhaka celebrating the Bengali New Year's day-a gory new chapter in the country's political battles.

The second theory is more ingenious and is suggestive of cold-blooded calculation on Hasina's part: that she set it off herself, to deflect the India-baiting rhetoric that typically precedes and follows Bangladeshi elections. "To tell you the truth, it is all about elections and madam's pro-India stand," says a former Bangladeshi diplomat recently posted in India, about the incident. "Don't
worry, it (the border skirmish) won't escalate."

That doesn't mean it won't recur. In Dhaka, the media played up the whole episode as a great Bangladeshi victory, claiming that it has only reclaimed what was rightfully Bangladesh's, an easy to regurgitate line that BDR chief Rahman adopted at a press conference on April 18, a day Hasina was away from Dhaka. On
a visit to Delhi between March 28 and April 1 this year for a director general-level border conference of the BSF and BDR, Rahman specifically brought up the issue of border demarcation, exchange of enclaves and "adverse possessions" with his BSF counterpart, Gurbachan Jagat. This is in keeping with a 1974 treaty signed by Indira Gandhi and Hasina's father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. While Bangladesh's Parliament has ratified the treaty, India's has not. And till it does, India cannot officially begin demarcation.

Meanwhile, the enclaves fester. "Both sides agreed to exercise maximum restraint to avoid firing and tension on the border in the spirit of friendship and cooperation between the two countries," concludes the joint record of discussions between the BDR and BSF. If this letter isn't followed in spirit and resolved diplomatically, the volatile region, and a porous boundary that illegal migrants and smugglers call home, can only create more trouble.

MetroScape

Operation Opera
If he can pull it off, it might well be the highpoint in India's cultural and tourism calendar for 2002. After restoring heritage properties and turning them into highly successful resorts, Francis Wacziarg is now turning to producing a full scale opera in Delhi.
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Looking Glass

Calcutta Restaurant: The Hub

Delhi Film Club:
Habitat Film Club

Delhi Bar: Golf Bar

Mashobra Resort: Wildflower Hall