When Sankalak eventually hangs his boots up - and the signs are already here with the reduced runs in recent past - I'm going to miss the elegant simplicity of his puzzles. Today is no exception.
Seems like a bit of a mini theme with plants/vegetables.
ACROSS
1 Get rid of the girl’s motor close to the junkyard (7) DISCARD (DI'S + CAR +junkyarD)
5 Broadcaster right to help in an attack from the skies (3,4) AIR, RAID (AIR + R + AID)
9 What bolsters, spurs us to change? (8,7) BRUSSELS, SPROUTS (BOLSTERS SPURS US)*
10 City that a bovine might cross (6) OXFORD (OX + FORD)
11 A mean thing in reckoning elevation? (3,6) SEA, LEVEL (CD)
13 Southern beer, having enough strength, is in good demand (8) SALEABLE (S + ALE + ABLE)
15 Time to relax for a star — 24 hours (6) SUNDAY (SUN + DAY)
18 One who puts on a costume, black inside, is a plunderer (6) ROBBER (B inside ROBER)
19 Disadvantage for a worker, one with diminished capacity (8) HANDICAP (HAND + I + CAP)
22 Here among our mandarins he is a lover of good fare (8) GOURMAND (T)
24 Passage lined with shops, about 50, in 100 sq.m. of space (6) ARCADE (CA + D inside ARE) Typo for 500?
27 Specialist in hormones and glands is considering tool for treatment (15) ENDOCRINOLOGIST (CONSIDERING TOOL)*
28 A boon for working parents, yes, wheels in the outskirts of Dalhousie (3,4) DAY, CARE (AY + CAR inside DalhousiE)
29 Looking back, there is admiration in two ways for an attendant (7) STEWARD (AWE<= inside ST RD)
DOWN
1 People who owe money get sorted out with a bit of browbeating (7) DEBTORS (SORTED* outside B)
2 Resentment caused by powdered tobacco (5) SNUFF (DD)
3 Substance swallowed by Rob abates suffering (9) ABSORBATE (ROB ABATES)*
4 Daughter, sick, gets a herb (4) DILL (D + ILL)
5 A point about Madagascar, say, found in passages (6) AISLES (A + S outside ISLE)
6 Rustic artist, close to denial, goes round old city (5) RURAL (RA + L outside UR)
7 Such medicine as may be a crude ivy preparation (9) AYURVEDIC (A CRUDE IVY)*
8 Show a record cut short by sport (7) DISPLAY (DISc + PLAY)
12 Am I ousted from the ménage by a pest? (3) FLY (FamiLY)
14 A time for toil for workers? No, a day free from work (6,3) LABOUR, DAY (CD)
16 Such meat is rare (9) UNDERDONE (E)
17 An obstacle in climbing the Sierra boldly (3) BAR (T<=)
18 Plant that spread very rapidly around the west and the east (7) RAGWEED (RAGED outside W E)
20 Appeal to accept note that is folded (7) PLEATED (PLEAD outside TE)
21 A source of salad for some women divers (6) ENDIVE (T)
23 A minute measure of a mineral silicate having a trace of resistance (5) MICRA (MICA outside R)
25 The soul of a tailless creature (5) ANIMA (ANIMAl)
26 The master, old German guard, trails unpleasant smell (4) BOSS (SS after Body Odour)
Seems like a bit of a mini theme with plants/vegetables.
ACROSS
1 Get rid of the girl’s motor close to the junkyard (7) DISCARD (DI'S + CAR +
5 Broadcaster right to help in an attack from the skies (3,4) AIR, RAID (AIR + R + AID)
9 What bolsters, spurs us to change? (8,7) BRUSSELS, SPROUTS (BOLSTERS SPURS US)*
11 A mean thing in reckoning elevation? (3,6) SEA, LEVEL (CD)
13 Southern beer, having enough strength, is in good demand (8) SALEABLE (S + ALE + ABLE)
15 Time to relax for a star — 24 hours (6) SUNDAY (SUN + DAY)
18 One who puts on a costume, black inside, is a plunderer (6) ROBBER (B inside ROBER)
19 Disadvantage for a worker, one with diminished capacity (8) HANDICAP (HAND + I + CAP)
22 Here among our mandarins he is a lover of good fare (8) GOURMAND (T)
24 Passage lined with shops, about 50, in 100 sq.m. of space (6) ARCADE (CA + D inside ARE) Typo for 500?
27 Specialist in hormones and glands is considering tool for treatment (15) ENDOCRINOLOGIST (CONSIDERING TOOL)*
28 A boon for working parents, yes, wheels in the outskirts of Dalhousie (3,4) DAY, CARE (AY + CAR inside D
29 Looking back, there is admiration in two ways for an attendant (7) STEWARD (AWE<= inside ST RD)
DOWN
1 People who owe money get sorted out with a bit of browbeating (7) DEBTORS (SORTED* outside B)
2 Resentment caused by powdered tobacco (5) SNUFF (DD)
3 Substance swallowed by Rob abates suffering (9) ABSORBATE (ROB ABATES)*
4 Daughter, sick, gets a herb (4) DILL (D + ILL)
5 A point about Madagascar, say, found in passages (6) AISLES (A + S outside ISLE)
6 Rustic artist, close to denial, goes round old city (5) RURAL (RA + L outside UR)
7 Such medicine as may be a crude ivy preparation (9) AYURVEDIC (A CRUDE IVY)*
8 Show a record cut short by sport (7) DISPLAY (DIS
12 Am I ousted from the ménage by a pest? (3) FLY (F
14 A time for toil for workers? No, a day free from work (6,3) LABOUR, DAY (CD)
16 Such meat is rare (9) UNDERDONE (E)
17 An obstacle in climbing the Sierra boldly (3) BAR (T<=)
18 Plant that spread very rapidly around the west and the east (7) RAGWEED (RAGED outside W E)
20 Appeal to accept note that is folded (7) PLEATED (PLEAD outside TE)
21 A source of salad for some women divers (6) ENDIVE (T)
25 The soul of a tailless creature (5) ANIMA (ANIMA
26 The master, old German guard, trails unpleasant smell (4) BOSS (SS after Body Odour)
Happy days here again ! All amateur solvers can heave a sigh of relief !!
ReplyDeleteOut of curiosity, do you see the name of the setter and set yourself a goal of the % of solutions which make you feel you have succeeded?
DeleteSome names do invoke a sense of impending doom in me :-)
DeleteNope ! Somehow I find I'm always able to get 80 to 90%, sometimes even 100% in case of Sankalak and Gridman puzzles. BTW I have just completed half the puzzle and am sure to reach my target shortly.
DeleteThanks MB.
DeleteI was just wondering if some solvers look at the name of the setter and are more intimidated in their mind than by the actual clues.
It has happened to me in the past. Now also with certain setters I have some mixed feelings. But there are some with whom I know that diligent work will get me there however difficult the appearance maybe. But Sankalak is my all time favourite.
DeleteWith your puzzles my success rate hovers around 50 to 70%, which is quite satisfactory to me. Hope to improve over a period of time !
DeleteThe above comment is in response to Bhavan's @ 8:58
Delete+1 for the opening comments
ReplyDeleteSetting crosswords is not an easy task and that too if one has to do so many of them. I can appreciate the reason for Sankalak wanting to hang up his boots, I wonder if we can convince him to keep them on and at least contribute 1 if not 2 in a cycle if he is planning to hang them up.
ReplyDeleteThat would be most welcome.
DeleteAs PGW would say. that would be some rare and exotic fruit for all of us.
Delete+1 for Col's 8.43
Delete+2
Delete26 The master, old German guard, trails unpleasant smell (4) BOSS (SS after Body Odour)
ReplyDeleteReminded me that Hugo Boss, was the supplier of the natty uniform of the SS, which certainly would have Body Odour on some occassions...
Why is body odour classified as unpleasant? I am sure many females attract males with their body odour.
DeleteIf possible, watch this film:
Deletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfume:_The_Story_of_a_Murderer_%28film%29
Kishore, what a movie it is. I was stunned when I saw that. It was one of the rare movies that made a seamless transition from a book to screen.
DeleteI saw that movie(DVD) twice !!
DeleteTo know what devastating effects pheromones can have on husbands and wives, read
DeleteRoald Dahl's story
The Switcheroo
I find that the actual title is The Great Switcheroo.
DeleteI found it here now
http://books.google.co.in/books?id=jlSVQywHRs4C&pg=PT2&lpg=PT2&dq=roald+dahl+switcheroo&source=bl&ots=igGsoeaR3T&sig=bDmTxomYcQmy4Puu5TLyLOtirPc&hl=en&sa=X&ei=u0H3UcPDM4L8rAffqID4Dg&ved=0CHMQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=roald%20dahl%20switcheroo&f=false
but I don't know if the link gets the entire text or some portion of it.
There was a similar short story, with a double double-cross, with the hilarious result of getting ack to square one. I frget the name of the story or author.
Delete9A What is Brussel Sprouts?
ReplyDeleteThey're shown in the picture, further details available at Google machan
DeleteI mean, what is the definition in the clue. You have givenit as 'what'. How is what Brussel sprouts
DeleteThat's my doubt too.
DeleteLOL, that was a funny exchange.
DeleteI for one am deadly serious on this
DeleteCould it be &lit or Semi&LIT?
ReplyDeleteI mean 9 A.
DeleteToo weak a defn for lit/semi lit
DeleteSuresh and Colonlel almost got into a "Who's on First?" situation.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the answer to 'what' the Brussell sprouts.
ReplyDeleteStill confused. There is no definition in the clue
+1 for the opening remarks as well. I had a 12 year break in solving THC from 1999 to 2011 when I was in the US. The first puzzle I looked at after coming back was a Sankalak puzzle and I so liked it that I have been solving THC again everyday since then.
ReplyDeleteDon't remember if THC was carrying pseudonyms of setters in the 90s.
No, at that time the puzzles did not have pseudonyms.
DeleteGridman joined the team in 2001 when Sankalak had been with THC perhaps for ten years and more.
At that time the number of setters contributing a month's quota might have been under six.
The practice of puzzles carrying bylines began when the era of New Journalism began (if you get what I mean)..
Not Joking, are you ?
DeleteI guess the era of New Journalism has been well catalogued in this blog :)
DeleteInteresting that bylines/pseudonyms are recent trends (at least in THC). Taking Bhavan's comment at 8:58, am wondering if the solver will find things easier (and less biased) if no bylines are present.
Wow!!!! It means Sankalak's been in the panel since at least 1991??? That's really quite an achievement. Awesome!!!
DeleteDoes anybody know if NJ's still setting cryptic crosswords for any publication?
I am sure she is, after all she has to maintain her record. I think her CW appears in the DNA.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteIt used to appear in AfterHours supplement of DNA.
DeleteI have been missing it there. After I saw your Comment, I patiently clicked and saw all the main pages as well as those of AH in the online edn of DNA.
AH has a crossword but it carries no byline. Our setter won't want a puz of the setter's without the setter's name.
The setter may have switched to some other afternoon/evening paper in Bombay. It's a pity that we don't have a member - a regular commenter - from that city.
Few newspapers have a steady policy on CWD. I have seen papers constantly fiddling with the feature.
Mint has stopped carrying CWD. On Sundays ToI repeats the same CWD in the main section as well as the city supplement - neither of them can you read with naked eye.
Really missing NJ, are you?
DeleteThanks Col. and CV... Not so familiar with DNA. Anyhoo, wish her luck
DeleteBlessed relief to have Sankalak back! Hope he does not hang up his boots too soon.
ReplyDeleteBrussels sprouts had me there for a bit.
Rita, it continues to have me.
DeleteSimply beautiful ! Enjoyed solving it, though I could not get boss & his steward (looked logical after seeing the solution)
ReplyDeleteI wish he continues his present 4 a cycle for some more time. Dreading to think about missing him.
Bhavan,I still find Neyartha quite difficult after doing so many of his puzzles, though I have no complaints (esp. his *ed clues). The fault is on me.
ReplyDeleteSOS
With all the good commendations of Sankalak's puzzles, I'm disappointed to see a BLACK square staring at me on Orkut !! What a shame?
Can someone send me a copy by email to : sapraj2711@gmail.,com---- Bhavan had obliged me in the past . Much obliged ye-all .
Correction: sapraj2711@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteA comma had crept in after gmaildot. !
Raju,
DeleteGo to the miscellaneous page of The Hindu, link to which is available on the LHS panel of this page. You can copy the grid and clues from there, all of us access it from there. However today since the edges of the grid are not printed properly in the print edition, the app on orkut shows a black space as it is not able to recognize the grid without its edges.
Thanks Deepak. However, since I have no access to a printout, I have to miss today's Sankalak. Can we find our way to have these done directly on the THCC-- like the one of Sunday Specials? My daily intake for an 'Upper" has been denied to me and I suffer from withdrawal symptoms ! I also like that application as it allows a very systematic solving , clue by clue, unlike the normal Java script. Directly on line and I can save it also. Can our techies put their heads together?
DeleteI find these puzzles quite hard. Is there any better place to start with crosswords if not here?
ReplyDeleteMeenakshi,
DeleteI suggest you go to www.crosswordunclued.com and go through the various articles there which will help you in understanding how to tackle Cryptic Crosswords. The link to the latest post at that site is also available on the panel on the left
Meenakshi,
DeleteIf you get the cuttings, start collecting them each day, have patience and take the answers the next day and go clue by clue backwards and by and by, you'll get hooked and get the hang of the cryptic methods. Of course, what Deepak has suggested is also a nice approach. but I learnt it this way and you will also learn quickly. Do not get frustrated when you find that "you could have done it"after you have seen the solution. Patience and perseverance is the key. Side by side, read all the articles on the Crossword unclued to learn more.
Thank you so much for the replies. I'll definitely try both the ways and see which suits me the best.
DeleteMeenakshi, I find the cryptic crossword in The Economic Times easier than the one in The Hindu. Maybe you could try that first! Give yourself time - at first it all seems Double Dutch, then, when you get the hang of it, it is such a delight to work out the answers!!
ReplyDeleteHappy solving.
Is that so? I do have books of puzzles but they too are quite hard. I guess I'll figure out a way to get good. Thank you, Rita.
Delete