RARING TO GO: Playwright Verma with his mother Ramesh Kumari

The danish city of Odense, famed as the birthplace of the 19th century author of fairytales, Hans Christian Andersen, will play host to the Tamasha Theatre's production of Deepak Verma's Ghostdancing in early December. Adapted from Therese Raquin, Emil Zola's tale of adultery and murder, Verma set Ghostdancing in a small town in Punjab where he was born in 1969. Seven years later, his family shifted to Britain. While looking forward to the performance in Odense, Verma praises his mother-"she is brilliant at ideas"-and his younger brother, Nagesh, who heard every bit of the play as it was being written. It's time for them to schedule their time for Verma's next foray into entertainment-an adaptation of Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment.

-Amit Roy

Moneywise

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OTHER UK SPECIAL STORIES India Calling Media: Game of Survival Development: A New Lifeline Looking Glass Politics: Rising From the Roots PM's US Visit: Slow & Steady Business: Fall From Grace

Send Flowers, chocolates, and now money at the click of a mouse. In a world that is becoming smaller each passing day, London School of Economics student Suruchi Rishi, 20, has launched Sendwise-a website that facilitates sending money over the net for a flat rate of $5. "The response is tremendous," says Rishi. And why not? Sendwise is a better option than hawala and the dangers associated with it.

-Ishara Bhasi

Coming Home to Work

It's about mixing studies with the pleasure of visiting your ancestral homeland. Kulvinder Sidki, 26, a PhD student at the University of Leicester's Law Department, has won the prestigious Commonwealth scholarship that will enable him to study at the Indian Law Institute, Delhi. It will enable to pursue his research into corporate social responsibility and multinational enterprise accountability-a course of inquiry arising from the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy. As Kulvinder says, "In an era of economic globalisation and increasing foreign investment in developing countries, the need for greater corporate accountability has become paramount. My thesis will propose a fundamental change in legal policy to enhance the responsibility of parent companies based in the developed countries for alleged breaches of human rights violations and environmental degradation in developing countries." Besides access to important literature and interaction with people associated with the Bhopal tragedy, Singh hopes to "combine hard work with travel and visit my ancestral homeland, the Punjab, as well as cities of Mumbai, Bangalore and Kolkata" He hopes that the visit will sharpen his perceptions about life in developing countries.

-Prasun Sidki

Courting law

Denton Wilde Sapte solicitor Gauri Advani, daughter-in-law of Indian Home Minister L.K. Advani, is being sued for libel by Hardeep Singh Puri, the deputy high commissioner for India in London. According to The Lawyer, in early October, the Delhi High Court issued notices to the lieutenant-governor (l-g) of Delhi and the police commissioner (pc) following a petition filed by Advani alleging that the Delhi Police had not registered a case against Puri following her complaint that she was being intimidated to agree to divorce her husband, Jayant Advani. The l-g and pc, in an answer to the petition, said after inquiries there was no case. Puri claims that Advani wrote and published a number of defamatory statements. As a result, he stated his reputation had suffered and that had caused him considerable distress.

-IB

CELEBRATING SUCCESS: The maharaja enjoys the dance; Manchanda (below) greets a guest

A Royal Treat

The golden forts of Jaisalmer share a special bond with Sue Carpenters, an English woman who made it her mission to save them from ruin. Today, Jailsalmer in Jeopardy (jij), the charity she started, has succeeded in restoring the sandstone palaces. To celebrate the success, the Maharaja of Jaisalmer joined many others at Vama, The Indian Room. Renowned chef Andy Varma's gol guppas and king fish curry were the epicurean's delight. The occasion also marked the launch of Bindu Manchanda's Jaisalmer: City of Golden Sands and Strange Spirits. Guests received a copy of this beautifully-illustrated book on the fortress city. That was not all. As is wont, the celebrations culminated in a performance by a belly dancer and a magician who awed guests by producing their wedding rings from uncracked walnut shells. Among those who attended were Jessica Sainsbury (Staples Trust chairperson) and her husband Peter, Prince Frankopan.

-IB