Some among the five-panel judges who ruled out Rushdie from the contest in their two-and-half-hour meeting Tuesday night felt The ground... contained too many ``tedious'' passages and ``ghastly puns.''

Seth's An Equal Music they felt, was "inaccessible" in parts, requiring too great a knowledge of music by the reader.

Heavily tipped to be shortlisted for the Booker, the exclusion of the two India-born heavyweight writers is sure to leave a taste of bitterness. However, the six authors who have been shortlisted include Anita Desai from India.

Mussoorie-born Desai was selected for her work Fasting, Feasting, a novel with a plot set in India and later America and revolves around a family ruled by ``mamapapa'', indicating strong family bonds.

Thick spectacles, a pimply complexion and big hands find Desai's heroine, Uma, hard pressed for a suitable husband. She comes close twice. Her brother leaves for America, where the bulimic daughter of his hosts reminds him of Uma.

Desai's characters are beautifully described. Her writing is polished and mature, with a wit she cleverly underplays.