Advantage Outsiders
With the balance tilted against it, the Taliban regime will soon find itself vanquished.

Lull Before The Storm
Amid calls for a quick and decisive end to the conflict, Afghanistan has been abuzz with talk of an imminent Northern Alliance ground war against the Taliban.

History's Pointers
The Soviet Union's 10 years campaign in Afghanistan — a conflict that led to a humiliating withdrawal and, some say, its eventual breakup
— can be a learning experience for
the US.

METROSCAPE

In times of depression such as this," says Jagdish Agarwal, "buying an artistic photograph could be viewed as a good investment." Just in case you're convinced, Agarwal and four other Mumbai photographers-Madhusudhan Manek, Hari Mahidhar, Israr Qureshi and Praful Patel-have organised "Clicks", an exhibition of their works at the city's Hacienda Photo Art Gallery. The five have even formed The Fine Art Photographers Group to push the point that photography too is an art form. Their show makes an impressive argument.

It's on till November 5 so it's still not too late to get a glimpse of Agarwal's female silhouettes against solid backgrounds, Qureshi's delicate floral close-ups, or Patel's sepia-tinted images of 1950s Mumbai. Mahidhar uses an innovative technique for his "Discovery" series: jam mixed with colours and spread on a glass plate, then shot with a microscopic lens. But prospective buyers seem puzzled by the resultant shapeless blobs. Artistic? Really?

-Natasha Israni

From the relics of the Indus Valley to the trendy designer outlets of today if there is one craft that has shown continuity of presence and utility it is that of the potter. And if there is any one Indian potter who combines in him the humility of the native kumhaar and the cerebral depth of a Zen master it is the well known veteran Devi Prasad. Delhi has been celebrating the life, work and contribution of this ceramic artist, painter, photographer and Gandhian over the past two weeks.

Prasad trained at Shantiniketan under the trimurti of Nandalal Bose, Ramkinkar Baij and Benode Behari Mukherji. Then, inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, he became deeply involved with pacifism and children's education and worked at Sevagram for many years. Later he spent time in Britain, and at Shantiniketan as visiting faculty. A quiet, unostentatious master, Prasad has been a mentor to scores of young potters around the country, some of whose works were displayed in an exhibition that preceded their teacher's retrospective at the Lalit Kala Galleries. For those who missed that show, a visit to Art Heritage at Triveni Kala Sangam is recommended. The exhibition is open till November 7.

- S. Kalidas

MetroScape

Looking Glass

Mumbai Restaurant:
India Jones

Mumbai Puppetry Festival: Toccata

Bangalore Restaurant: Chung Wah

Kolkata Exhibition : Life Is Beautiful