Love And Death In Kathmandu
Who killed King Birendra and his family? Evidence points to a crown prince gone berserk over a love affair. Not only does the new ruler, King Gyanendra, have to win over the people, he also has to address the unpopularity of his own son. Report from a country in crisis.

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Premium Drive
Despite the current slump in demand, a host of new premium cars are ready to hit the Indian roads in the coming months.

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COVER STORY: KING BIRENDERA'S MURDER

Devyani Rana
Tragic Heroine

FAMILY FORTUNES: Devyani (above, left) with Vijayaraje Scindia and her sister; her mother Usharaje Rana; and father Pashupati Shumsher Rana (below right)

The unwitting centre of Nepal's royal mess is Devyani Rana, 32, the daughter of prominent Nepali politician Pashupati Shamsher Rana and Usharaje, elder sister of Congress MP Madhavrao Scindia and BJP minister Vasundhararaje. Just who is this woman? Latter day Helen or just a star-crossed lover? Those who knew her in less turbulent times point to the second. Schoolmates from Welhams Girls' School, Dehradun, recall the cheerful "Woodie" (member of the Woodpecker House) who "laughed very easily" while those from Rishi Valley School near Bangalore reminisce about the "spunky, fun person" who travelled by train like everyone else. In 1993, she graduated with honours in political science from Delhi's Lady Shri Ram (LSR) College. There too she avoided the limelight. When the LSR hostel Speaker's Forum wanted Madhavrao as a guest speaker, she willingly arranged it but begged that his being her uncle be kept a secret.

But the spotlight was fated to search out Devyani. She became deeply involved with Nepal's crown prince. And found an enemy in Queen Aishwarya. Devyani's family had a history of discord with Aishwarya's (see main story) but Dipendra's mother had other objections too. Devyani was older than Dipendra and that her sister had not borne a son was held against her. Also, one of her ancestors had committed fratricide. From the prince's cell-phone record of June 1 it appears he called Devyani just before killing his family. One version says that Devyani called Birendra's ADC to warn him. The truth may never be known. On June 2, the woman who had suddenly lost everything flew to Delhi. She is later believed to have taken refuge either with Madhavrao, holidaying in London, or in Moscow, where her sister Urvashi's in-laws-the Khemkas of NEPC-have interests.

-Shuchi Sinha and Anna M.M. Vetticad

MetroScape

Theatre Of The Abused
Mahesh Dattani's 30 Days in September, a 90-minute play commissioned by Rahi, a Delhi-based support group for adult victims of sexual abuse and incest, opened to packed houses this weekend at Prithvi Theatre in Mumbai.
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