The Afghan Trap
Himmat Singh Gill

ONCE, not very long ago, Rustam and Sohrab had battled it out on the banks of the mighty Okus river (also called the Amu Darya). It is said that the clang of their powerful swords was heard across Central Asia. Today, much in the same region where Afghanistan borders Uzbekistan, Tazikistan and other Muslim-predominant independent nation-states, one of the largest build-ups in the annals of military history has taken place. It could well surpass the earlier 1979 invasion by the erstwhile Soviet Union and possibly trigger off a wave of violent convulsions around the world.

Famous deaths that weren’t what you thought
by Suraj Saraf
HISTORY maintains that Alexander the Great died because of a severe fever in 323 B.C. while he was returning from India. But modern researchers differ. Although Alexander defeated Porus by stealthily crossing the Jehlum, yet his armies faced such stiff resistance in Indian territory and they became so tired because of the long march from their homeland Macedonia (Greece) that they refused to accompany Alexander on his onward march.

An expedition to the land of ice
by Trilochan Singh Trewn
THE Antarctic Ocean comprises of southern portions of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans and their tributary seas surrounding Antarctica. It is also called the Southern Ocean. The flow of currents in the Antarctica is complex.

Have separate loos, avoid marital blues
by Mohinder Singh
WHEN Charles Watts of Rolling Stones was asked the secret of his happy marriage, he replied, "Separate bathrooms". Indeed a husband can do better by using a separate room for keeping his clothes and dressing up. If nothing else, he can press the spare guest room into service — perforce to be shared with the guest when there’s one.

Those were the days, my friend...
by Raaja Bhasin
SOME of us married the girls we had danced with — and their children are now ready to sally forth with ‘come-hither’ looks suitably enhanced by coloured hair decorated with barbed wire. It was a while before lot no. 2 fell before the hammer and waltzed off to the tune of a well-orchestrated family symphony.

REMEMBERING LEGENDS
He made films with passion, not money
by M.L. Dhawan
GURU Dutt Padukone was born in Bangalore on July 9, 1925. He studied dance in Almora University and honed his dancing talent under the legendary Uday Shankar. His first film assignment as choreographer was Lakhrani, released in 1945.

Aaj yaad tum behisaab aaye
by R.L. Pathak
MEMORIES of melody queen Begum Akhtar come alive on October 7, the day of her birth anniversary. ‘Bibi’, as she was called affectionately had deeply endeared herself to a large number of people. Begum Akhtar became a legend in her lifetime. From her early days, she ‘fell in love with music and dance’ and practised difficult khayals, thumri and dadra.

TRAVEL:  Of fairytale images and fuss-free royalty
by Shona Adhikari