AMMA the hugging saint Mata Amritanandamayi escaped an assassination bid on Sunday. It was the second such incident and has shocked her followers the world over. As reports of strengthening her security come in, A.J. Philip recalls his recent visit to Amritapuri Ashram. IT was about 15 years ago that the accountant at the SBI branch at Kayamkulam in Kerala sent word that he wanted to meet me. He had heard that I was a journalist in Delhi and he wanted to tell me about Mata Amritanandamayi.

Sex, drugs and violence
A book about a teenage suicide bomber has become a surprise bestseller. This brings out how books for the young tackle the darker aspects of present-day life. Boyd Tonkin reports.

Style
Men want more
Aakriti Sinha writes a fashion primer for guys who want to stay cool and look cooler.