Sumoff...like i said i am not very qualified to make comments on this piece for the simple reason that I am not as well read (and intelligent) as you are. So, thank you for taking time to explain your point. Your responses to my doubts always satisfy me. I read a lot of indian columnists (growing up, I had access to only those newspapers). This guy called Swaminathan Aiyer is my favorite (dont know if u have read him). He gives a lot of data ( he's an economist) but always comes up with acute observations to EXPLAIN the data. So, I guess i was kinda referring to that. I read Fareed Zakaria and our own CK Lal on a regular basis. However, I can't say they are my favorites because I havent read a whole lot of other columnists. You will of course forgive me for disgressing (spelling ??) from the topic of this thread. :)