Cover Story

The Kumbakonam tragedy
by G. Srinivasan
The 'common man approach'
In breach of norms
by Asha Krishnakumar
From the Grant-in-Aid Code
Interview: S.S. Rajagopalan, educationist
Decline of public education
by Asha Krishnakumar
Accidents and missed lessons
Safety and rules
by T.S. Subramanian

Controversy

SYL Canal crisis
A long-running dispute
Indus treaty, a useful precedent:
by Anupam Gupta

World Affairs
Armitage in subcontinent
Butler report and Blair's guilt
Manila bucks the trend
Iraq and the Senate Committee:
by Vijay Prashad
Russia's banking crisis
Koizumi's setback
Israel indicted

Heritage

The grandeur of Persepolis

Reports
Terror of POTA
HDR and cultural diversity

History
Assam:Past and future

Cinema
Orphans' winning dreams
A censorship row

Environment
UPA and a belied promise:
by Ashish Kothari

Sardar Sarovar Project
Monsoon fears in Harsud

Public Health
High rate of maternal deaths
Danger of obstetric fistula

Scandal
Stamp paper scam in Tamil Nadu
An officer's account in Karnataka

Bhopal Gas Disaster
Supreme Court order on compensation

Economic Perspectives
WTO, once more with vengeance:
by C.P. Chandrasekhar

Budget 2004
Turnover tax turnaround

India & Pakistan
Clearing the air

Tribute
Kuruvila Jacob, a progressive educationist
In the cause of mass education

Column
Jayati Ghosh: An Act in haste
Bhaskar Ghose:A fractured society
R.K. Raghavan: A tough agenda ahead
Praful Bidwai: The Palestine crisis

Books
American imperialism
review by A.G.Noorani
The quest for peace
review by C.T.Kurien
A diplomat and a poet
review by Jaya Bhattacharji

Also
The English Language
Letters