The power of the signature HT Image It’s the middle class’s secret weapon. The signature campaign or public petition or chain letter—call it what you will—has gained ground, empowering a class often derided for its apathy. The latest to do the rounds is a petition written by author Vikram Seth and endorsed by Siddharth Dube of UNAIDS, former UN under-secretary general Nitin Desai and Swami Agnivesh asking that same-sex relations among consenting adults be decriminalized (see accompanying story). Currently being circulated among opinion-makers from media, entertainment, law, etc, the response, says Gautam Bhan of Voices Against 377, a gay advocacy…

If 2005 was the coming out year for Lakshmi Mittal, 2006 has been the year of the dog fight. HT Image Last year he was on a roll, shelling out $100 million for a 12-bedroom mansion in London’s posh South Kensington district. Just the year before, the man ranked number 3 by Forbes in a list of world billionaires, had splashed out $60 million to host the five-day wedding of his daughter at Versailles. The sun king of the 21st century had arrived. Or so it seemed. This year, the 55-year-old steel king has dominated headlines across the world for…

  As many as six paintings at Christie’s auction of contemporary Indian art in New York on Thursday were withdrawn over questions of their authenticity. These included two watercolors by M F Husain, three works by F N Souza, and a tempera by Ganesh Pyne. The paintings were withdrawn on the day of the auction itself. HT Image As many as six paintings at Christie’s auction of contemporary Indian art in New York on Thursday were withdrawn over questions of their authenticity.  These included two watercolors by M F Husain, three works by F N Souza, and a tempera by…

As many as six paintings at Christie’s auction of Indian art in NY have been withdrawn over doubts of authenticity, reports Namita Bhandare. HT Image As many as six paintings at Christie’s auction of contemporary Indian art in New York on Thursday were withdrawn over questions of their authenticity. These included two watercolors by MF Husain, three works by FN Souza, and a tempera by Ganesh Pyne. The paintings were withdrawn on the day of the auction itself.  “We had our doubts about these paintings. We didn’t have absolute proof about their authenticity,” Sonia Ballaney of Vadhera Art Gallery told…

Zahira Sheikh is paying the price for perjury. Her flip-flop-flip has cost her a year’s jail sentence plus a Rs 50,000 fine. There’s no reason why Shyan Munshi, a hostile witness in the Jessica Lall case and no victim, should be treated any differently. HT Image Ok, so Zahira Sheikh is a liar. A big liar whose flip-flop-flip has cost her a year’s jail sentence plus a Rs 50,000 fine — failure to pay will result in another year in jail. The prime witness in the Best Bakery case has surrendered in a Mumbai court. Zahira will serve time and…

A retrospective of the artist’s works, on display at a premier Delhi art gallery, tells a variety of tales. HT Image He is one of the country’s best-known artists. Now, the premier art institution, the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Delhi, is honoring Satish Gujral with a retrospective of his works. The Satish Gujral retrospective, in Delhi, includes 200 of the artist’s works — including sculptures, charcoals, and oils. On display are some of his earliest works from 1948 to his latest sports series. “I’m celebrating the joy of life,” says the 80-year-old, Jhelum-born artist who began his career…

He is one of the country’s best-known artists. Now, the premier art institution, the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Delhi, is honoring Satish Gujral with a retrospective of his works. HT Image He is one of the country’s best-known artists. Now, the premier art institution, the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Delhi, is honoring Satish Gujral with a retrospective of his works. The Satish Gujral retrospective, in Delhi, includes 200 of the artist’s works — including sculptures, charcoals, and oils. On display are some of his earliest works from 1948 to his latest sports series. “I’m celebrating the…

Refusing to accept Maxim Editor’s apology, actress Khushboo has filed a petition with Chennai Police. HT Image There is a new twist to the Maxim-Khushboo tale. Ever since the lad mag Maxim published an admittedly morphed picture of the southern film star — using her face on the body of a woman dressed in underwear — Khushboo has threatened legal action. But while the publishers have been waiting for legal notice, what they seem to have got instead is an eve-teasing charge. Refusing to accept Maxim editor Sunil Mehra’s apology, Khushboo filed a petition with Chennai police commissioner R. Nataraj…

THERE IS a new twist to the Maxim-Khushboo tale. Ever since the lad mag Maxim published an admittedly morphed picture of the southern film star — using her face on the body of a woman dressed in underwear — Khushboo has threatened legal action. HT Image THERE IS a new twist to the Maxim-Khushboo tale. Ever since the lad mag Maxim published an admittedly morphed picture of the southern film star — using her face on the body of a woman dressed in underwear — Khushboo has threatened legal action. But while the publishers have been waiting for legal notice,…

Refusing to accept Maxim Editor’s apology, actress Khushboo has filed a petition with Chennai Police. There is a new twist to the Maxim-Khushboo tale. Ever since the lad mag Maxim published an admittedly morphed picture of the southern film star — using her face on the body of a woman dressed in underwear — Khushboo has threatened legal action. But while the publishers have been waiting for legal notice, what they seem to have got instead is an eve-teasing charge. HT Image Refusing to accept Maxim editor Sunil Mehra’s apology, Khushboo filed a petition with Chennai police commissioner R. Nataraj…

Chanda Shroff is the moving force behind a project that sustains thousands of families, reports Namita Bhandare. HT Image She’s an unlikely social crusader. Conservatively dressed, married into a wealthy Mumbai-based family of industrialists, Chanda Shroff is the moving force behind a project that sustains thousands of families in drought-prone Kutch. Chandaben, or Kaki as she is universally known around Shrujan, the organisation she founded in 1969, is also the only Indian Laureate of the Rolex Award for Enterprise (RAE) announced every two years ‘to encourage a spirit of enterprise in visionary individuals around the globe’. Rolex launched the awards…

Swiss International Air Lines is not out to spoil you silly. But it scores on ? quality, reliability, and hospitality? ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop HT Image It’s funny how airlines acquire their own image. Take Virgin Atlantic. No matter how much on the straight and narrow you are, flying Virgin will conjure up all sorts of images — not all of them the sort you’d discuss with your mother. Or then there’s Singapore Airlines. Great food, great service but down to brass tacks it’s always about those wonderful women. Closer home, take Air India. Despite Praful Patel’s best intentions — it now serves…