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Cover Story

Romesh Sharma: A true personification of Delhi's ugly underbelly

Romesh Sharma was one of the most prolific property grabbers who ended up amassing assets worth Rs 500 crore. Apart from his proximity to influential politicians, he was also the front man for Dawood Ibrahim from whom he derived much of his clout. He truly personifies Delhi's ugly underbelly.

SHARMA'S REAL ESTATE DOSSIER

In the true traditions of a robber baron, he simply walked into houses and refused to leave NEW DELHI

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Nation

S.S. Ahluwalia's letter to Sonia on poll panels could prove more than just an embarrassment

Ahluwalia's letter to Sonia on poll panels could prove more than just an embarrassment.

Indian roads: With a few exceptions, lifelines of the economy are no more than dirt tracks

With a few exceptions, the lifelines of the economy are no more than dirt tracks masquerading as roads. Can the Government find the money to improve them?

Roadblocks

Who's got the money?

Your Week

Roshan Abbas' Graffiti opens aptly on Children's Day

A desi version of Grease, Graffiti opens aptly on Children's Day.

Music releases: 'Breathless' and 'Bee Gees - One Night Only'

Breathless is a brilliant combination - Javed Akhtar's classical Urdu couplets set to music by Shankar Mahadevan.

Legendary filmmaker Akira Kurosawa's works arrive to Delhi

The best of legendary Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa's works such as Rashomon - which first propelled him to international fame - Doomed, Sanjuro and Madadayo comes to the capital.

Art exhibitions in Chennai and Delhi

Deepti Naval, the critically-acclaimed heroine of such films as Chashme Baddoor and Katha, has moved on to greener pastures in more ways than one.

PREVIOUS EDITIONS

Guest Column

'Sometimes nothing, at times the whole wide world'

Sometimes nothing, at times the whole wide world.

'NSDL is effecting a quiet revolution in the capital market'

NSDL is effecting a quiet revolution in the capital market.

'Vajpayee can't be all things to all people'

Vajpayee can't be all things to all people.

'Official reports being turned into instant bestsellers'

There's a new trend emerging in the publishing business. Official reports being turned into instant bestsellers. The Starr Report and Clinton's testimony started the boom and publishers are licking their chops in anticipation of similar success in the Indian marketplace.

'A.B. Vajpayee's grand economic agenda is a non-starter'

Vajpayee's grand economic agenda is a non-starter.

'Ministers and bureaucrats keep Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the dark'

Ministers and bureaucrats keep the PM in the dark.

Economy

Luxury hotel chains across India offer fabulous discounts to business travellers to prop up their sagging bottom lines

In an effort to prop up their sagging bottom lines luxury hotel chains across the country are offering fabulous discounts to the business traveller.

'The bear phase may soon be over. This is the right time to invest in stocks'

The bear phase may soon be over. This is the right time to invest in stocks.

Editor's Note

Public sector units could do with a 'sell by' date

Public sector units could do with a 'sell by' date.

'If regular courts showed urgency special ones would be unnecessary'

If regular courts showed urgency special ones would be unnecessary.

Eyecatchers

Wings of Fire: The autobiography of A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

In his upcoming autobiography, Wings of Fire, read about Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam's early lesson in swadeshi from the father of the V2 missile, Wernher von Braun.

Engineer turned flautist-flute maker eyes Limca Book of Records with India's largest flute

Not satisfied with an entry in the Limca Book of Records for the country's largest flute (5 ft long and 3.5 inches in diameter), Dinesh Shandilya is going a step further. He's planning one 6 ft long.

Model Sheetal Mallar 'strips' Gautam Kapur

The lady picks Gautam Kapur from a line-up of convicts. She wants to see more.

'Dream Lover' Karan Kapoor blessed with a baby girl

Bad news girls. The man's a daddy. Karan Kapoor, that hunk with the biceps we loved, has just had a baby girl.

States

AIADMK leader Thambidurai, wife in a spot for violations on hospital land

The Thambidurais are in a spot for violations on hospital land.

Spouses and relatives of top politicians and bureaucrats stay put in the cities, less connected government teachers to serve in the outback

With spouses and relatives of top politicians and bureaucrats staying put in the cities, it is the lot of less connected government teachers to serve in the outback.

Janata Dal row: Karnataka chief minister gets a breather but crisis far from over

The deal struck between the warring factions of the ruling Janata Dal may have given the chief minister a breather but the crisis is far from over.

With Jayalalitha cornered, DMK to push for speedy trial to finish her off politically

With Jayalalitha cornered, the DMK will push for a speedy trial in order to finish her off politically.

Uttar Pradesh: BJP tries to revive temple issue by erecting memorial to 'Ayodhya martyrs'

The state BJP Government tries to revive the temple issue by erecting a memorial to "Ayodhya martyrs".

Sport

Paramjeet Singh shatters Milkha Singh's record, Flying Sikh refuses to acknowledge the feat

Paramjeet Singh shatters Milkha Singh's 38-year-old 400 m record but the Flying Sikh churlishly refuses to acknowledge the feat.

Signposts

Air Marshal A.Y. Tipnis appointed the next chief of air staff

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Voices

Forget biological clocks. There's no right age for creating art or babies: Rekha

"We want peace, but you cannot clap with one hand. Even for love you need two people." - Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Prime Minister, on India's desire for friendly relations with Pakistan.

Society & The Arts

Tyeb Mehta's works which depict the Mahishasura theme are his most evolved yet

The artist's works which depict the Mahishasura theme are his most evolved yet.

London-based tabla player Talvin Singh bridges the gap between Asian and the mainstream

The London-based tabla player bridges the gap between the Asian and the mainstream, evolving, a new language of rhythm.

Science and Technology

Surfers get entangled in VSNL's web as its choked access network leaves them frustrated

Net surfers get entangled in the VSNL's web as its choked access network leaves them frustrated.

Indiascope

Cashing in on onions

Cashing in on onions.

Renuka Chaudhary gets free media mileage

L.K. Advani's climate misfortune is Renuka Chaudhary's chance fortune.

Vajpayee skips Indira Gandhi's death anniversary function

A.B Vajpayee skips Indira Gandhi's death anniversary function organize by the trust

Himachal CM Prem Kumar Dhumal keen to acquire helicopter at state expense

The BJP Government headed by teacher-turned-Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal is a study in contrast to what the party preached when it was in the opposition.

CPI(M) leader H.S. Surjeet declines Vice-President Krishan Kant invite

Before he became the vice-president of India - with a little help from friend and then prime minister I.K. Gujral - Krishan Kant was quite close to CPI(M) leader H.S. Surjeet who called the shots in the United Front's Steering Committee.

REAL TO UNREAL

Films

Shashi and Sanjana Kapoor breathe new life into Prithvi Theatre

They are the perfect team: Shashi the benevolent godfather and Sanjana the energetic administrator. Between them the two have breathed new life into Prithvi Theatre.

Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt now plays mentor to new talent

The maverick filmmaker who made both pure cinema and pulp now plays mentor to new talent.

Media

Channel V and MTV witness major moves and shifts

Both Channel V and MTV are witnessing some major moves and shifts.

BBC World: Painted Babies, a provocative portrait of children's beauty pageants in America

BBC World: Painted Babies, a provocative portrait of children's beauty pageants in America.

After playing Krishna and politics, Nitish Bharadwaj set to direct a serial

He became a national icon as Krishna of Mahabharat. Then he took a shot at politics and became a member of Parliament. Now Nitish Bharadwaj is directing a serial called Apraadhi which will be aired on Star Plus.

TV shows get cracking with innovative sets and nifty looks

TV shows get cracking with innovative sets and nifty looks.

Letters

'When man himself becomes a predator, it turns into a mindless sport'

"There is nothing macho about hunting. What if men were at the receiving end of these hi-tech gizmos used to destroy our precious wildlife?"

What is the Educational System in India Coming to?

Offtrack

Golf is all play and all work for young and old alike in this tiny Uttar Pradesh village

Golf is all play and all work for the young and old alike in this tiny village.

Diplomacy

No solution to India-Pak disputes even after 50 years of negotiations

Even after 50 years of negotiations the two neighbours aren't close to resolving their disputes as major issues like Kashmir and terrorist activity mar any progress.

RELIGION

Plan to build Khalsa Heritage Memorial Complex gets marred by internal conflict

Israeli architect vs Indian. Badal vs Tohra. The festivities are as ambitious as they are acrimonious.

From the editor-in-chief

'It will be interesting to see what happens to Romesh Sharma'

If the evidence is anything to go by, the criminal, the politician and the bureaucrat in India have always been good friends. Each has a use for the other, a nexus that has been traditionally lucrative.

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