One of the longest books in the world, the 'Mahabharata' tells the story of a country, a culture, and a family tearing itself apart. In ancient India, it was said that nothing exists which is not within its pages.

Imoved to Mumbai in November 2006. The girl I had been seeing in Delhi came to the city to work for a marketing firm. She brought me along with her books and bags and bric-à-brac from Rohini, in west Delhi. I had quit my job with Time magazine at the start of the year to finish a novel. Instead I had wasted my time doing little freelance jobs for my former employer. Unless I left Delhi – too many journalists, too many stories – I would never get this novel done. Going to Kolkata was the original plan; a friend said he might rent out his place near Minto Park. But then the girl came to Mumbai.

Profits at the Clarks shoe-shop chain have broken through the £100 million barrier for the first time in its 186-year history after the group was boosted by overseas sales, it was reported today.

Chris Gayle smashed 37 runs from one over to lead Royal Challengers Bangalore to a nine-wicket win over Kochi Tuskers Kerala in the Indian Premier League yesterday.

Hindu holy man Sathya Sai Baba, considered a living god by millions of followers worldwide, died on Sunday morning in a hospital near his southern Indian ashram, a doctor said. He was 86.

Revered Hindu holy man Sathya Sai Baba has been hospitalised and put on breathing support.

Cobra beer has announced its first ever annual profit and said it will nearly double marketing spend this year to grow sales.

Inditex, the world's largest clothing retailer, is to accelerate its opening programme in China this year after the group grew annual profits by nearly a third in 2010.

Police today clashed with hundreds of fans seeking tickets for India's World Cup showdown against South Africa, the incident again highlighting the country's inability to handle the huge demand for seats.

The Irish referee Alan Lewis has had the week of his life. Formerly his country's most-capped cricketer, Lewis was a touch judge at last weekend's England v France match at Twickenham before paying his own passage to India to see Ireland's World Cup win over the English.