The Lost Nation
General Musharraf is on the offensive, wielding unlimited powers and taking on the establishment in a bid to whip a battered nation back into shape. But will he succeed? Plus an exclusive interview with the Pakistan President.

Travels In
Veiled Reality
From an optimistic country to one draped in despondency, it's a journey through a nation transformed.

Candle In Wagah Wind Track II diplomacy, the citizen-led campaign for Indo-Pak peace, has bloated into a virtual industry.

Comeback Drive
After two years in reverse gear and scarred by a dented marketshare, India's largest car maker shifts into top gear. With bold new launches and fresh strategies, it strides back into reckoning to regain part of the lost market.

Steering Under Test Even as Indian rally drivers rev up for overseas competition, motorsport within the country takes a beating. A sport that holds enormous revenue potential for the country is stalled by petty politicking as two rival organisations fight for the right to be called the official governing body.

Spray Of Misery
Crippled bodies and minds is a way of life for many in the villages of north Kerala.

CAPLOOKS

Bangaram Resorts in Lakshwadeep, where India's who's who from Sonia Gandhi down long found peace, is now at the centre of a battle between Union Tourism Minister Ananth Kumar and
Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker P.M. Sayeed. The resort was run on lease by a Kochi-based company. The lease expires in August. Kumar wants it renewed and wrote to the Lakshadweep Union Territory Administration which wants it run by a UT undertaking. Sayeed has pitched in on their side. Neither party has corralled
the island yet.

The Calcutta Municipal Corporation (CMC) board is headed for a split. Mayor Subrata Mukherjee of the Trinamool Congress, which has a one-seat majority, has fallen out of favour with party chief Mamata Banerjee after inviting her rival Ajit Panja to the CMC board's anniversary celebration. Following protests whipped up by Mamata, the function had to be cancelled. She is now demanding Mukherjee withdraw his candidature for chairmanship of the state Assembly's Public Accounts Committee. Win one, lose one.

Thiruvananthapuram
A Stop for Gurudev

Kerala and West Bengal have more in common than communism: there's Gurudev. In Bengal that's Tagore. In Kerala it's saint Narayana Guru. When a Nagercoil-Howrah train was announced, inspiration dawned and it was named Gurudev. Good cheer reigned. Then it was discovered that the train would have no stop in Varkala, Narayana Guru's birthplace. Union Minister of State for Railways O. Rajagopal, who is from Kerala, found himself in a spot. While flagging off the train recently he announced the stop would be added.

Chennai
More Democracy?
Insiders say J. Jayalalitha was planning to revive the state Legislative Council. She could then become a member since this body does not require direct election. The legal tangle about her not being a legislator would have been side-stepped. Then the Karunanidhi episode happened. Setting up the council requires the Centre's permission, which won't be forthcoming now.

MetroScape

Man In The Mirror
You wouldn't have missed the dark, brooding look in the television promos of Amitabh Bachchan's forthcoming psycho-thriller Aks. Credit the film's surreal halo to 40-year-old cinematographer and ad filmmaker Kiran Deohans.
more...

Looking Glass

Delhi Restaurant:
Eatopia

Kolkata Restaurant:
Ar-han Thai

Delhi Theatre:
Once I Was Young ... Now I'm Wonderful

A renewed legal offensive against former Union minister Sukh Ram foils his political plans in Himachal, besides embarrassing the state Government. INDIA TODAY's
Special Correspondent Ramesh Vinayak reports in
Blast From The Past