Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act

Targeting offshore: America in the lead and Europe taking the cue

We need to safeguard our reputation against criminals, not least white collar criminals

-- ANIL GUJADHUR

Tracking of persons having got into vast amounts of unlawfully gained wealth has long been a social concern. In 1963 in Britain, the train called Royal Mail was despoiled of £2.6 million (equivalent to £41 million today). The act was so daring and spectacular that it became known as ‘The Great Train Robbery’. I wonder if a movie was not made on the story later on, the effect of which would have been to glorify a criminal act. The thieves involved in this case escaped and the stolen money was thereafter untraceable. A concern arose that even if a thief were seized and sentenced to several years in jail, he would still be able to serve his term in prison and quietly enjoy the fruits of his mischief thereafter.

The Tree of Knowledge

Gazing upon the mythic woman

-- Devdutt Pattanaik

Lakshmi sits at the feet of Vishnu. “Patriarchy!” someone shouts.

Kali stands on Shiva’s chest. “Female power!” someone cheers.

Shiva as Ardhanareshwar, half a woman. “Gender equality,” someone asserts.

These images are at least a thousand years old. They are as popular today as they were then. So what do they say about Indian society? Patriarchal? Matriarchal? Gender-sensitive? All of the above? None of the above?