It's a search that has been the stuff of legend. In the West, it was the Elixir of Life. In our Puranas, it was amrit, the nectar of eternal youth. For humankind, nothing has been so desirous, or so elusive, as that magic bullet that can turn back the biological clock. Today, science has achieved what the Gods failed to do: produce a dazzling array of tools to defy the ageing process.

Till recently, such procedures involved cosmetic surgery. With today's technology, doctors are offering a non-invasive procedure that is painless and quick. There are lasers and chemicals that remove wrinkles, restore hair and regenerate skin. Light-sensitive dyes help combat fading sight. Synthetic hormones are boosting energy levels and new pills are enhancing libidos. While synthetic drugs and the use of Botox, a poison, to remove wrinkles, are subjects of controversy, the fact is defying age has never been easier.

Globalisation and liberalisation have aided availability. Procedures that become a rage abroad are available here almost immediately. In India, the transformation is more remarkable considering that old age was seen as a time to relax in the supportive embrace of the joint family system. No longer. Indians are working harder and living longer, nuclear families are the norm and the drive for success and its benefits means age-defying tools are being increasingly sought after. TV has played its part. The images of mature actors with perfect bodies is a powerful incentive.

Eternal youth is a myth, but many Indians in today's competitive and challenging environment have the money and desire to use science to rejuvenate their mind and bodies. Our cover story this week, put together by Assistant Editor Supriya Bezbaruah, looks at the scientific tools and procedures available in India, what they do, what they cost and how they are helping us stay young. With examples of people who have taken the help of age-defying remedies, it offers a comprehensive look at the miracle of modern medicine. The middle-aged and even the elderly can take a dip in the Fountain of Youth right in their neighbourhood.