Cover picture: Sri. M.F. Hussain, the 13^th President of the Republic of Indiaished as part of recover

Cover story:  Women in power in Indian politics:

Indian political scenario after 60 years of Independence has many shining images of prominent women in crucial positions. Among them Sonia Gandhi is at the top. The capital city is absolutely controlled and monitored by her for last three years. Of late, Mayawati, dismissing all speculations and surmounting all obstacles, seized political power in Uttar Pradesh, a State crippled by a labyrinth of problems but larger than many nations in the world. And, now is Pratibha Patil, the First woman president of India. Does it mean, our women have broken their chains and have conquered the political empire?

No. It would be a colossal mistake if someone assumes so. But for few exceptions, the Indian political scene is completely ruled by men folk. …                                         Page 4

Editorial:  Rashtrapati Bhavan occupied by A Promoter of Women’s Welfare: 

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The elevation of Mrs. Pratibha Patil as the First Citizen of the country is an occasion of great honour and pride to every Indian woman.

This is a country where the age-old concepts and traditions prescribe that a woman has to be protected by her father in childhood, husband in her young age and old, her son. Despite the able leadership of many prominent and outstanding ladies in the past as well as present, male domination still rules in all spheres of Indian polity. This was due to the denial of proper education, right to property and decision making power (authority) to women for last many centuries………                                                                       Page 3

On the following pages are:

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Vigilance Committees to look into women’s complaints                                        Page 2

A peasant’s incarnation of Amitab Batchan                                                              Page 6

Ambanis in the shoe of a vegetable vendor                                                              Page 8

The ‘Munnar’ of Rajasthan being evicted                                                               Page 10

The ‘Munnar’ of Maharashtra                                                                                 Page 11

The crumbling legacy of a great institution                                                             Page 13

Communal outfits against creative arts                                                                    Page 15

For the sake of Mother Earth                                                                                 Page 17

Right to Information faces the wrath of goons                                                      Page 20

List of public servants punished by the State Information Commissioner

under the Right to Information Act 2005                                                              Page 22

54 years in jail without trial                                                                                  Page 24