Our theme "The Ugly Indian" may seem unduly harsh and even an exercise in self-flagellation. It is. Take our strange preoccupation with rituals, whereby form becomes more important than substance. For instance, for every atrocity, a commission is duly appointed and its report then duly delivered to the archives. Take the surfeit of laws and regulations we have for all occasions. India is grossly overregulated but unfortunately equally underadministered. Laws are broken with impunity, there is no deterrence. We like to believe it is just the system which is at fault, but the system mirrors our own ugliness. As Deputy Editor Swapan Dasgupta, whose doctorate in history came in use when he wrote this week's provocative essay, says, "We wanted to jolt ourselves into thinking about the little ways we have contributed to making this nation a worse place to live."

There was some reason for cheer though at India Today. Last week, Deputy Editor Raj Chengappa was awarded the prestigious Prem Bhatia Award for Excellence in Political Reporting and Analysis. A 23-year-old correspondent when he joined us 17 years ago, Chengappa has developed expertise in fields like defence and the environment. Most recent was his exclusive story on the men behind the nuclear test, "The Bomb Makers". At present, he's busy completing his book, Weapons of Peace, that chronicles India's quest to be a nuclear weapons power. Knowing the precise Chengappa, it will be a detailed and illuminating account.

(Aroon Purie)