9740, Sankalak

Across
1 Mollycoddled, as was little Pamela by editor (8) PAMPERED
5 A small ruse devised to give a guarantee (6) ASSURE
10 Flower that means a great deal to you and me (5) LOTUS
11 Melba, more devious but unforgettable (9) MEMORABLE
12 Lack of proportion shown by Dr. Alan in very cold setting (9)
13 Eskimo (5) INUIT
14 Finding wife in a wood — a twist (5) TWEAK
16 Extinct creature that drove nomads to distraction (8) MASTADON
18 What a guard has to be (8) WATCHOUT
20 Firmly fix, as a newspaper might its correspondent (5) EMBED
24 Abu or Everest, for instance (5) MOUNT
25 Perhaps a tourist looking for spectacles (9) SIGHTSEER
27 For mending a pencil, PA gets a gadget (9) APPLIANCE
28 Modern Pataliputra (5) PATNA
29 Role, as reversed, for a governor (6)
30 One seeking to spill paints around artist (8) ASPIRANT
Down
1 He needs a hand for making forecasts (7) PALMIST
2 Not saying anything about a lawyer prone to change (7)
3 A support for art (5) EASEL
4 In winter miners find fur here (6) ERMINE
6 Table napkin (9) SERVIETTE
7 Free, like Shelley’s Prometheus (7) UNBOUND
8 English football team, one always with weight (7)
9 Protozoa with no fixed form (7)
15 Traditional Hindu warrior (9) KSHATRIYA
17 Way of cooking, usin’ ice, crushed (7) CUISINE
18 Marsupials cut up flying mammals (7)
19 Satchmo’s speciality (7) TRUMPET
21 Meat and a cuppa, a drink for the convalescent (4,3)
22 Inactive daughter chased by crazed matron (7) DORMANT
23 Going back topless or getting out (6)
26 Note about a small part of Indian river (5) TAPTI

9739, Sankalak

Across
1 With a repaired, reset grip, Owen gets something to make driving easier (5,8) POWER STEERING
10 Food contaminant puts an ox in fatal trip (9) AFLATOXIN
11 Quick moving one, parish priest swallows big apple? Quite the opposite (5)
12 People protect a leader of vaids, an expert (5) MAVEN
13 Unpleasantly noticeable virus, to be controlled (9) OBSTRUSIVE
14 Cedar tree of the Himalayas…. (6)
16 …and another tree, black, rich variety (5) BIRCH
19 Severance within the limits of aerospace is serious (5) ACUTE
20 Oxford University in one-day matches? Detestable! (6) ODIOUS
25 Mouth organ (9) HARMONICA
26 Czech author of The Trial (5) KAFKA
27 A half-note both ways (5) MINIM
28 Boundary set by a saint around thick frost (9) PERIMETER
29 He may cause ‘relative’ embarrassment to town dwellers (7,6) COUNTRY COUSIN
Down
2 Old boy, playing violin, is in a state of forgetfulness… (8) OBLIVION
3 ….consumed, in a trance, a tenuous state (5) EATEN
4 Church official gets cross, being taken in by author Anya (6) SEXTON
5 Scientist, good man escorted by one German on either side (8) EINSTEIN
6 Name a big cat caught by socialist and given up (9)
7 It provides cover for a consumer (6)
8 Master, targeted, was seriously wounded (6) MAIMED
9 Over-stimulated and excessive in a prefix (5)
15 TV artist, not necessarily a sailor (9) ANCHORMAN
17 One providing bare entertainment (8) STRIPPER
18 Bits of paper thrown at wedding in church not fit for reconstitution (8) CONFETTI
21 Shining brightly when filled with leading players (6) STARRY
22 Caprices often coupled with fancies (5) WHIMS
23 New troop trained without any delay (6) PRONTO
24 Material that is wonderful, almost luxurious (6) FABRIC
26 Edible weed procured from a Kumarakom businessman (5) KOMBU

9738, Sankalak

Across
1 A gap providing an opportunity (7) OPENING
5 Not a role a star wants to play (3-4) BIT PART
9 Panchayati raj (5,10) LOCAL GOVERNMENT
10 Len’s knock-out design, something to add strength to the keel of a ship (6)
11 Precipitation resulting from pollution (4,4) ACID RAIN
13 Denial, say, in a race (8) NEGATION
15 Mass movement of people shown in 1960 movie (6) EXODUS
18 Child admirer in international setting (6) INFANT
19 Sudden, heavy rain could be a cause of ruin (8) DOWNFALL
22 A programme to seclude Henry somehow (8) SCHEDULE
24 Criminal law nets expert returning with plant (6)
27 Ceaseless movement in a hypothetical situation (9,6)
28 Puts on clothes (7) DRESSES
29 Pineapple that could be a blast (7)
Down
1 Material that lubricates top of knife at home (7) OILSKIN
2 Do better than 40 Roman ones, say (5) EXCEL
3 Such wealth cannot be the result of hones labour (3-6) ILL-GOTTEN
4 Hired thug who would talk too much (4)
5 Used to whiten clothes, it is large, found in the Marina, for example (6) BLEACH
6 Kind of milk good for the weight conscious (5) TONED
7 Russian empress, one banished from African city (9) ALEXANDRA
8 Lockjaw (7) TETANUS
12, 17 Doubly nice French combining in a sweet (6) BONBON
14 It does not deserve an oral examination (4,5) GIFT HORSE
16 One in fear of foreigners put a hex on eastern BPO organisation (9) XENOPHOBE
17 See 12
18 At home I’d accept drink that is tasteless (7) INSIPID
20 Gaps formed in a (shortened) nuclear explosion (7)
21 They may come before a fall (6)
23 Fights to settle matters of honour once (5) DUELS
25 Feature article on a country (5)
26 Start fast, then fall behind, get tired (4)

9737, Sankalak

Across
1 Coming to life again with a desire, new in a period of freedom from work (9) RESURGENT
5 Hesitate, in a brief way, to enter Western Railway (5) WAVER
8 A believer in rule by a god, the deserter suppresses officer (8)
9 Liveliness of the eastern fairy cut short (6) ASPIRT
11 Brother of Moses (5) AARON
12 By virtue of one’s official position (2,7) EX OFFICIO
13 Insect found in a part of the body, weight one gram (6) EARWIG
14 Sly Asian exposed by detailed examination (8) ANALYSIS
16 Forbearance needed for a card game (8) PATIENCE
18 Obsessive fear — of Greek origin (6) PHOBIA
22 Dog had from a shop, alas, a mistake (5,4) LHASA APSO
23 Take care of a patient (5) NURSE
24 Greek Muse, a queen in Upper India initially (6) URANIA
25 Without limit, trendy, excellent, carrying appeal (8) INFINITE
26 Boy chaperones a student to reception room (5) SALON
27 Bigamous unionist, tripping, becomes equivocal (9) AMBIGUOUS
Down
1 Fierce, unending competition — among rodents? (3,4) RAT RACE
2 One who fleeces sheep (7) SHEARER
3 A fresh look at consortia reined unreasonably (15) RECONSIDERATION
4 Very happy that story is backed by editor (6) ELATED
5 Over-optimistic expectation of curing Henry, with flu, sinking (7,8) WISHFUL THINKING
6 Thickened veins create a scare: IV arranged (7) VARICES
7 Measured out portions as available to armymen (7) RATIONS
10 The currency to beat (5)
15 Opportunity for a law enforcer in one direction (5) SCOPE
16 Things lying one on top of another, with uninterrupted power supply, lead to vehicle collisions (4-3) PILE UPS
17 Hard work gives right return — an advantage (7) TRAVAIL
19 Mexican dish makes for a rising difficulty: terrible riot ensues (7) BURRITO
20 Eastern English glass, treated, is everlasting (7) AGELESS
21 Associate with a fairy, one of wealth (6) HOBNOB

9729, Gridman

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Surprise... its Gridman today!

Another surprise is the hidden message - thanks to Shuchi, WISH YOU A HAPPY NEW YEAR was embedded in the solutions. Amazing Gridman!

Across
6 Worker’s words of resignation to maistry at last in times gone by (9) ANTIQUITY
7 She may cry “Uncle!” as stage head leaves Scene I in disarray (5) NIECE
10 Hindu leader also recalled taunt (4) HOOT
11 No warden he – replaced without delay (4,3,3) HERE AND NOW
12 A medical officer almost awake and randy (7) AMOROUS
13 Front part of carriage, yet moving, threatening to collapse (7)
14 At school, small section in marked improvement (7) UPSWING
17 Inspiration for musician with repute falling off after end of note (7)
21 Started job sorting out things in a museum (6,4) OBJETS D'ART
22 In favour of first-class meeting places (4) AYES
23 Call bumpkin exchanging 1000 for 500 (5) YODEL
24 In no port I discharged black wine (5,4) PINOT NOIR
Down
1 Parasite worn-out in custody of pious maiden (7) PINWORM
2 Rope for artist? (7) PAINTER
3 What the aged once had but cannot boast of any longer (12) YOUTHFULNESS
4 Its call has to be answered periodically (6) NATURE
5 Antelope has young goat turning up twice (3-3) DIK DIK
8 Small farm frequently goes after credit (5) CROFT
9 Acts of getting accustomed to perverse Haitians’ bout (12) HABITUATIONS
15 Painter Picasso or Poet Neruda (5) PABLO
16 Gardening tool, small, the German retrieved (6) WEEDER
18 Master has Oriental fellows to destroy international leader (7)
19 Scope of original six lodged in cathedral stall (7) PURVIEW
20 Female friends in France extremely loth to starve (6) FAMISH

9694

Across
1 The outcome of such erosion is plain (9)
6 Scouts’ parade (5) FLOAT
9 Equally determined to secure an item of value (5) ASSET
10 A tear in a printed sheet indicates extraction (9)
11 A solitary crustacean (6,4) HERMIT CRAB
12 Distraught seer giving tongue (4)
14 Injured GI and rest of patients given required treatments (7)
15 Made indirect reference to everybody about dude (7) ALLUDED
17 Materials used as inner surface to garments (7)
19 Less expensive (7) CHEAPER
20 Has snow settled? (4) OWNS
22 With no top man, male stress may result (10)
25 A manufacturer of spirit, yet in dire trouble (9)
26 Issues of Japanese immigrants found in U.S. quarter (5) ISSEI
27 To place players on stage for greater visibility is to err foolishly (5) RETRO
28 Stripped down? Anything but! (7-2) DRESSED UP
Down
1 Chap directed to be informer of a beautiful girl (5)
2 The allegation made in a store’s found to be false (9) ASSERTION
3 Contracting for the production of a string net (10) ASTRINGENT
4 There’s great pressure on the little pest before the lawsuit (7) IMPACTS?
5 Blissful state where Ivan ran wild (7) NIRVANA
6 A taste for seaweed (4)
7 Delighted to be broadcasting (2,3) ON AIR
8 He may tend to ape soldier to give a false appearance (9)
13 Plans to make nasty pictures (10) BLUEMOVIES
14 Elevated rank that’s difficult to   achieve (4,5) HIGH ORDER
16 Weighed down with iron indeed? (9) DEPRESSED
18 On the way, Ted got everybody in and blocked the road (7)
19 Tie around core group having   common interest (7) COTERIE
21 Detects a direction among those   voting against (5)
23 Skip around maiden barely giving her attention (5) SKIMP
24 One does not expect to hear the   truth from him (4) TYRO

9693

ACROSS
1 Powerless rogue has nothing to cover (8) IMPOTENT
5 Get the better of teacher (6) MASTER
10 Merely frozen water for the magistrate (7) JUSTICE
11 Stretcher (7)
12 Soak to the skin dear, topless woman (6) DRENCH
13 To get ahead, receive in excess (8) OVERTAKE
15 Do they throw away their lines? (4) CAST
16 Bearing being sent away? (10)
18 Children alone are cared for in these homes (10) ORPHANAGES
20 Solo dance in city (4) OSLO
23 Dry dean perks up with song (8) SERENADE
24 Mason’s weapon? (6) MORTAR
26 Press output doesn’t begin incitement to riot (7) EDITION
27 Examine leading ultra’s act in ancient soldiers’ shelter (7) TESTUDO
28 Fifty-five leave villages in a rampage for stored fodder (6) SILAGE
29 Ma’am and gals concoct mixtures (8) AMALGAMS
DOWN
1 June 1 discussion turned out to be marked by imprudence (15) INJUDICIOUSNESS
2 Own groups around the leader of Sikhs (7) POSSESS
3 Fool at church showing evidence of nervousness (6) TWITCH
4 Name that’s yielding up another name (4) NOEL
6 Expedition in the manner of the French metropolis going round river (8)
7 Measure a solution: bird’s shedding tear (7)
8 From where people come out refreshed (10,5)
9 Postpone, for the holiday has finished (5,4) LEAVE OVER
14 Girl accepts Dan’s withered flower (9) CELANDINE
17 Phantom occupation that’s unforgettable? (8) HAUNTING
19 Biased but not to full extent (7) PARTIAL
21 A necessity when up is mandarin orange (7) SATSUMA
22 Labour around polls (they say): if inflamed it needs to be removed (6) TONSIL
25 Exciting time for a piece of news (4) ITEM