Cover Story

BJP's failing tactics
by Venkitesh Ramakrishnan
Election-eve patriotism
by Lyla Bavadam
Interview:Promod Mahajan
A tomb as target
by Anupama Katakam
The dilemma of governance
by Venkatesan
The population bogey
by T.K. Rajalakshmi
Interview:Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi
Narendra Modi's 'concerns'
by Dionne Bunsha
Myths and reality
by Asha Krishnakumar
Interview:Brinda Karat

Assembly Elections
Bankrupt campaign in Maharashtra

Population Issues
The real concerns
A diligent process

Government
UPA's performance deficit

India and Pakistan
Kashmir as the roadblock

Energy
Spiralling oil prices
Betting on oil

World Affairs
A wave of violence in Iraq
Venezuela's plans
A visitor from Senegal
Jakarta's shock
A cry for democracy in Maldives
Dreams and desires
by Vijay Prashad

Art

Ajanta, the fountainhead:
by Benoy K. Behl

Medicine
Prof. Gordon R. Bernard on sepsis

Science
Unravelling the universe

Focus: Sikkim
Scaling new heights
Interview: Chief Minister
Pawan Chamling

Bhopal Gas Tragedy
Elusive extradition

Focus: Mission Reach
In pursuit of excellence
Interview: Prof. V.S. Ramamurthy Secretary, DST
Challenges ahead
Interview: Dr.R. Chidambaram, Chairman,TIFAC

Perspective
BJP's problems and prospects:
by Balraj Puri

Industry
Revival package for IISCO

Obituary
Eddie Adams

Issues in Focus
Towards cities of poverty

Column
Praful Bidwai: A case against cars
Bhaskar Ghose: Reforming governance
R.K. Raghavan: Understanding crime
Jayati Ghosh: The foreign hand

Books
Is psychoanalysis science?
review by Daphne Merkin
(New York Times Service)
Good life of a good man
review by Stephen Fry
(© Guardian Newspapers Limited 2004)
Nehru's legacy to India
review by A.G. Noorani

Also
The English Language
Letters

Update
A transition in China
Delayed start