Kitabkhana came in late on the Believer's new manifesto. Sorry. Here's the original, nine-thousand-word long appeal for better reviews; here's The New York Observer's account of a meeting with the author of the manifesto ("all her laughs were nervous"); and here's the response from The Antic Muse. Speaking personally, the Babu's firmly of the opinion that the Indian critical scene is, if anything, far too kind and tends to lower the bar when confronted with the outpourings of desi writers. (The Babu is indebted to The Bookslut, who's been following the debate with keen interest, for the links.)