NEWS
Govt scales down VIP security
Union Home secretary Kamal Pandey said the entire scheme of providing security to individuals would no more be called VIP security, but would be referred to as personal security.

NEWS
Pakistan tests short-range Hatf-1 missile
A government statement said the missile can hit targets 100 kilometers (60 miles) away and can carry a variety of warheads.

NEWS
UP govt asks Deepa to pack up
Deepa Mehta in a joint statement with her lead actresses - Shabana Azmi and Nandita Das - said: ''We have lost a small battle...the war is ours. This film will be made tomorrow, if not today.''

NEWS
Three aged Pune doctors arrested in patient's rape
Police said one of the doctors was also involved in running a brothel in downtown Sadashiv Peth. The incident has sent shockwaves through conservative Pune.

NEWS
India visit will 'fail' if Clinton goes to Pak
'The goodwill generated will be undone if he proceeds to Islamabad which has been aiding and abetting cross-border terrorism against India,' external affairs ministry sources told rediff.com.

THE REPUBLIC, 50 YEARS ON
Celebrating 50 Years of the Indian Republic

Share your dreams and vision for India
Fifty years on, rediff.com's Republic Message Board invites you to express your opinion as India takes to the road ahead.

NEWS
'France wanted to show they were doing something about the oil spill'
'I have been made a scapegoat in this country,' says Karun Sundar Mathur, the Indian captain of a ship that broke into two near the French coast in December, causing Europe's largest oil spill.

INTERVIEW
'The BJD is no one's paternal property'
'I shall campaign for the party candidates. [But] of course I shall not be responsible for any consequences,' says expelled BJD politician Bijoy Mohapatra.

BUSINESS
Market-share mania
Challengers blow the horn on leader Maruti's tail.

MONEY
'Do I need to apply for a PAN when I return?'
Answers to this and more NRI tax issues.

MUSIC
'It was an honour to play with him'
Pt Jasraj pays tribute to Ustad Alla Rakha.

MUSIC
'Bhai was a great drummer who had beautiful nimble hands'
Pt Ravi Shankar recalls his jugalbandi with the late tabla maestro.

MESSAGE BOARD
Remembering Alla Rakha
The ustad's wonderful love affair with the tabla ended abruptly on Feb 3. What remains are haunting echoes -- of a man gifted beyond the ordinary. Here is a message board. For you to condole. Mourn. And celebrate his music.

SPORTS
Bindra alleges anti-North bias
The Punjab Cricket Association president said North Zone is paying the price for voting against A C Muttiah, the current president of the BCCI, during the elections.

MOVIES
'I am very lucky to be a Deol'
Bobby, on matters close to his heart.

COLUMNS
Elementary rules of democracy
'Despite Joerg Haider's remarks and all the propaganda against the Sangh Parivar -- the right wing, both -- the people of the respective countries have put their faith in the conservative coalition governments. They CHOOSE to ignore the garbage tags of "Nazi" and "fascist" as applied to those who admire hard-line politics,' says Varsha Bhosle.

With the demolition, the masjid issue is dead
'It is not only the mandir, which has distanced Vajpayee from many in the BJP. There are some other issues on which he does not see eye to eye with them. The prime minister's office is at odds with the home ministry,' says Kuldip Nayar.

Wisdom from the Sycamore tree
Corporate India listens with awe to Gururaj Deshpande but will it ever implement what he prescribes, asks Sucheta Dalal.

How young is 'young'?
'We are a young team. We are learning. We need time to mature. The fans have to be patient, a young team won't produce results immediately. Words we have been hearing, ad nauseum, from the team management. But how much of it is true? How young is this team, really?' the Armchair Expert wonders.