Cover Story

The naxalite challenge
CPI(M)'s view
Interview: Shivraj Patil
The road from Naxalbari
A.P: Government hits back
Orissa: In a state of fear
Jharkhand: Tightening grip
A `guerilla zone' in Maharashtra
Chhattisgarh: Resisting the rebels
Punjab: Fighting for relevance
Karnataka: From the forest base
West Bengal: `Thunder' is just a memory
Interview: Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee
Kerala: Embers of a revolution
Tamil Nadu: Rendered inactive
Delusion of peace: by Ajai Sahni

Elections
Bihar on the edge
Kerala's choice
Andhra Pradesh: Congress consolidation

The States
Agitation for `Greater Coochbehar'
Cyclone havoc in Andhra Pradesh
Assam: Time for talks
A change of strategy

Water Resources
Bottling Thamiraparani
Co-packers' claim

Environment
Cleaning up the Yamuna
The legal battle

World Affairs
Targeting Gaza
The Korean nuclear question
Protecting taboos in Pakistan:
by Rafia Zakaria
The case of Mukhtaran Mai

Tsunami & Rehabilitation
Picking up the threads
by Pankaj Sekhsaria
The spirit of the Onges

Review Article
Muslims of the West
by A.G. Noorani

Labour Issues
Anganwadis:All work and no pay

Science and Religion
A debate revived
For a fruitful concord

Economic Perspectives
How large is China's private sector?
by C.P. Chandrasekhar

Focus: Banking in Karnataka
Building on a strong base
Interview: N. Kantha Kumar
Interview: Y. Vijayanand
Interview: Ananthakrishna
Interview: V.K. Chopra

Stock Markets
Soaring Sensex
A play with penny stocks

Special Feature: Mysore Dasara

A historic festival
Tourism delights
Interview: Tanvir Sait
An astounding edifice
Harmonising the old with the new
Entertaining the entire family
Showcasing Karnataka
Magnificent Mysore silk
Packaging sandal fragrance

Column
Bhaskar Ghose: Always only a corner of India
Praful Bidwai: BJP into the political twilight?
Jayati Ghosh: Surprising U.S. economy
R.K. Raghavan:Towards a new Police Act

Books
Indian communism during the Raj
review by Nalini Taneja
Anti-majoritarian, pro-globalisation
review by C.T. Kurien

Also
The English Language
Letters