I am forced to send this e-mail because I feel that the Wikimedia Movement in India has hit a new low by moderating its own active member (Abhishek Suryawanshi) on the Wikimedia India mailing list.
This is not to say that I agree with Abhishek's tone, but I feel that there is nothing wrong in what he was asking.
Few of my concerns:
1) Why does Anirudh respond on behalf of EC and why has the EC not responded to Abhishek/community? Do we assume that the entire EC is acting as sock-puppet of Anirudha? Sorry to ask this but I feel there is too much shadow puppetry happening in the Wikimedia India Chapter. This act of moderation is only an indication of this. I wish the EC comes out clean and Anirudha minds his own business, where ever he is.
2) Initially I felt, probably Anirudh 'felt' like an elder and was concerned. I went in search of what he has done for the Indian Wikimedia movement and realized that there is very less that I could find. There is nothing that you seemed to have contributed to 'Indic' wikipedias. I think someone asked the same question in the past to which there is no answer from you. Please help and redirect to your contribution to Wikipedia India movement.
I feel it is much more important that Anirudh be moderated. It would be gracious if he self moderates his actions.
Taking the liberty to cross post this to many as I feel this highhanded suppression of 'freedom of expression' be seen seriously by the community. With a hope that Anirudha will avoid taking such repressive steps in future and allows this post reach the WM-India mailing list.
Thanks,
Rajat
On Fri, Feb 15, 2013 at 1:17 AM, Anirudh Bhati <anirudhsbh@gmail.com> wrote:
Abhishek,
The chapter's response has been to ask you to stop making
unsubstantiated allegations. Sunil has clarified that that the WMF
sponsored A2K programme is funding travel and accommodation of some
members of the Wikimedia India Executive Committee for the purpose of
a training session in Bangalore organized for the benefit of the new
employee(s) of CIS/A2K. This is the sole purpose of funding travel
and accommodation from CIS/A2K perspective and nothing else. What the
members of the WMIN board decide to do in their spare time while they
are available in the same city is up to them. If they use this time
to organize a face to face board meeting, all the more better, since
this way they save some precious chapter funds. Your accusation that
the chapter is misleading the community is a falsification.
Since you have chosen to ignore my previous warning and continued to
post on the same topic on this mailing list, I have put your account
on moderation. If you wish to discuss this matter further, please
feel free to send an email to the chapter directly.
Thanks,
Anirudh
On Fri, Feb 15, 2013 at 2:16 AM, Abhishek Suryawanshi
<i.abhishek.suryawanshi@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> Dear Anirudh,
>
> Please direct me to the response/clarification from Wikimedia India
> Executive Committee.
>
> Only Sunil has made the whole thing clear and now its "only" You who is
> saying -
> It is clear to us all that some members of the Executive committee will be
> travelling to Bangalore in order to train the new employees of CIS on
> matters pertaining to their new assignments. The Executive Committee
> has decided to utilize this time when all the members of the board are
> in the same city together to have a face to face meeting. There is
> nothing that has been said that goes to prove that CIS regularly funds
> chapter activities.
>
>
>
>
> Regards,
> Abhishek Suryawanshi,
> On Behalf of Wikipedia Club Pune
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Fri, Feb 15, 2013 at 12:20 AM, Anirudh Bhati <anirudhsbh@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>>
>> Abhishek,
>>
>> I noticed that you have been repetitively raising the same issues over
>> and over again. The members of the Executive Committee of Wikimedia
>> India and Sunil@CIS have already responded to your questions. It is
>> clear to us all that some members of the Executive committee will be
>> travelling to Bangalore in order to train the new employees of CIS on
>> matters pertaining to their new assignments. The Executive Committee
>> has decided to utilize this time when all the members of the board are
>> in the same city together to have a face to face meeting. There is
>> nothing that has been said that goes to prove that CIS regularly funds
>> chapter activities.
>>
>> I have to ask you to please refrain from sending further emails on
>> this topic. If you ignore this warning, I will have to put your
>> account on moderation.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Anirudh
>>
>>
>>
>> On Fri, Feb 15, 2013 at 1:16 AM, Abhishek Suryawanshi
>> <i.abhishek.suryawanshi@gmail.com> wrote:
>> > Dear Executive Committee,
>> > Wikimedia India Chapter.
>> >
>> >
>> > Could you be please be kind enough to clarify, Why EC was/is interested
>> > in
>> > misguiding mailing list and Indian community?
>> >
>> >
>> > When asked about CIS funding - Executive Committee member wrote :
>> >
>> >> The Chapter has alwaya made things public and will xontinue to do so.
>> >> If
>> >> the CIS funds us, it will be madw public.
>> >
>> >
>> > Then why weren't they made public by you? CIS clearly stated - they are
>> > funding Chapter, and in past (also) they have supported in-kind.
>> >
>> > Why is the hesitation for acknowledging this? On the contrary - there is
>> > strong rejection of even having any kind of connection with CIS from
>> > Chapter
>> > representatives. (On the other hand CIS is graciously open/alright to
>> > acknowledge links with the Chapter)
>> >
>> >
>> > On A Query about CIS funding Chapter Flight Tickets : Response from
>> > Secretary was-
>> >
>> >> .....making unsubstantiated claims on a public mailing list,
>> >
>> >
>> > Which part was unsubstantiated? Its the reality that this time Chapter
>> > Board Member's Flight tickets ARE covered by CIS even if it includes
>> > training the A2K team.
>> > (CIS has already made it clear on this mailing list)
>> >
>> >
>> > Why there is hesitation/resistance to have transparency?
>> >
>> > Also, the Chapter President gave statement on same thread -
>> >
>> >> Please be open and transparent to the
>> >> community. The more you become transparent, it is better for all.
>> >
>> >
>> > Are Chapter EC Members exception to this?
>> >
>> > On same lines, Another EC Members says -
>> >
>> >> The Chapter is financially accountable to it's MEMBERS,
>> >
>> >
>> > As correctly stated by , Chapter is having money from WMF, Which comes
>> > from
>> > individual donations. So ideally
>> > Chapter should be accountable to the overall community and not just its
>> > members, as rightly pointed out by someone
>> >
>> > Again, What is the need to find excuses for transparency?
>> >
>> > When there was statement that ''AGM travel expense is covered'' instead
>> > of
>> > correcting statement and saying, its wrong - and CIS is paying for Board
>> > Trip (which is coinciding with CIS training!)
>> > Even Chapter President preferred to give out half truth and kept
>> > everyone in
>> > dark. And there was Secretary and another EC Member to take whole
>> > mailing
>> > list on a ride!
>> >
>> >
>> > Why it is important?
>> >
>> > This could be start of new era - Where CIS supports Chapter financially
>> > whenever needed.
>> > (or in-kind as they did in past and hopefully will continue to do so).
>> >
>> > So more and more volunteer efforts can be devoted for
>> > outreach/activities.
>> >
>> >> Please remember that chapter is representation of the community and
>> >> works for the community
>> >
>> >
>> > Current scenario gives wrong interpretation and implies that community
>> > should not raise questions on transparency because after-all we are your
>> > representation! Either consult community before lying or speak
>> > (complete)
>> > truth.
>> >
>> >> Here is response from Sunil,CIS -
>> >>
>> >> This month, we are reimbursing the Chapter EC travel and related
>> >> expenses because the Chapter EC has kindly consented to support a
>> >> training programme that CIS is organising for it's A2K team in
>> >> Bangalore. It is only happy coincidence that they were also organising
>> >> a meeting in Bangalore during those dates. I was not aware of this
>> >> when I reached out to the EC and asked for their support us.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > From Sunil's mail it is clear that Sunil extended the offer in
>> > good-faith,
>> > unaware of Chapter-Board meeting falling at the same time. However
>> > Chapter
>> > also seems to have taken this opportunity and is now shy to accept. I
>> > don't
>> > understand why?
>> >
>> > And why CIS was also kept in dark?
>> >
>> >
>> >> CIS will cover air travel and accommodation for all EC members. CIS
>> >> will
>> >> also provide per diem for meals that are not provided during the
>> >> training. Unfortunately, we don't have a separate budget for fees.
>> >
>> >
>> > Along with 'air Travel', CIS is providing accommodation too.
>> > And Last sentence about fee budget is interesting.
>> >
>> >
>> > If Chapter is expecting public support for fundraising and other
>> > activities,
>> > then it should be more transparent and 'should avoid organized and
>> > dedicated
>> > efforts to misguide community/keep in dark.'
>> >
>> >
>> > And Hope so CIS takes care of all the
>> > remaining Chapter financial needs as well, Just keep community in loop.
>> > And
>> > Thanks to Sunil/ CIS for being transparent and open.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Keep Clarifying, Keep Inspiring!
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > -Abhishek Suryawanshi,
>> > On Behalf of Wikipedia Club Pune
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > ---------- Forwarded message ----------
>> > From: Sunil Abraham <sunil@mahiti.org>
>> > Date: Thu, Feb 14, 2013 at 12:29 PM
>> > Subject: Re: [Wikimediaindia-l] why to donate
>> > To: Abhishek Suryawanshi <i.abhishek.suryawanshi@gmail.com>
>> > Cc: Wikimedia India Community list
>> > <wikimediaindia-l@lists.wikimedia.org>
>> >
>> >
>> > Dear Abhishek,
>> >
>> > CIS is not supporting travel expenses for Chapter EC meetings. Nor has
>> > CIS provided funding to the Chapter so far from the Wikipedia grant.
>> > CIS has provided in-kind support to the Chapter in previous financial
>> > years for ex. society registration costs and the costs of their
>> > financial adviser during their first financial year. We strongly
>> > suppor
>> >
>> > This month, we are reimbursing the Chapter EC travel and related
>> > expenses because the Chapter EC has kindly consented to support a
>> > training programme that CIS is organising for it's A2K team in
>> > Bangalore. It is only happy coincidence that they were also organising
>> > a meeting in Bangalore during those dates. I was not aware of this
>> > when I reached out to the EC and asked for their support us.
>> >
>> > Dear Friends,
>> >
>> > In the first week of March, we hope to release a 6-monthly report of
>> > the utilization of the grant so far. Usually we only provide an annual
>> > consolidated report for all grants at the ledger group level. But for
>> > this particular grant we will increase the degree of transparency to
>> > address concerns of the community. If you have any suggestions on how
>> > we should structure this report or if you have any further questions
>> > about how CIS is spending the grant allocated do not hesitate to ask
>> > me.
>> >
>> > Best wishes,
>> >
>> > Sunil
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > -------- Original Message --------
>> > Subject: Training of CIS-A2K team on 23 or 24 of February
>> > Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2013 10:48:42 +0530
>> > From: Sunil Abraham <sunil@cis-india.org>
>> > To: Wikimedia India EC <wikimedia-in-exec@lists.wikimedia.org>
>> >
>> > Attn:
>> > Sudhanwa Jogalekar
>> > Karthik Nadar
>> > Anirudh Singh Bhati
>> > Nikita Belavate
>> > Pranav Curumsey
>> > Srikanth Ramakrishnan
>> > Viswa Prabha
>> >
>> > Dear Members of the Wikimedia India EC,
>> >
>> > Hope 2013 has gotten of to an excellent start for all of you.
>> >
>> > CIS is organising a training for the A2K team on the 22nd, 23rd and 24th
>> > of February in Bangalore. The new Programme Director - Vishnu Vardhan
>> > will also be attending this event. We would like the EC to spend one day
>> > training the team on a variety of issues. We would prefer if you opt for
>> > either 23rd or the 24th as we have some other trainers that have
>> > confirmed for the 22nd.
>> >
>> > CIS will cover air travel and accommodation for all EC members. CIS will
>> > also provide per diem for meals that are not provided during the
>> > training. Unfortunately, we don't have a separate budget for fees.
>> >
>> > This idea has been discussed with Anasuya Sengupta and Jessie Wild at
>> > the Wikimedia Foundation and they have supported it.
>> >
>> > Best wishes,
>> >
>> > Sunil
>> >
>> >
>> > On Wed, Feb 13, 2013 at 1:08 AM, Abhishek Suryawanshi
>> > <i.abhishek.suryawanshi@gmail.com> wrote:
>> >>
>> >> Dear Sunil,
>> >>
>> >> Could you please share information about CIS supporting Chapter Travel
>> >> expenses?
>> >>
>> >> And Its nice and positive move, Great to see CIS continues to support
>> >> movement in India.
>> >> Volunteers can devote their time in doing activities and CIS can
>> >> support
>> >> as
>> >> per request.
>> >>
>> >> As Chapter is shy/silent about acknowledging funding from CIS - Hope so
>> >> your
>> >> reply will clarify that CIS is there to support Chapter activities
>> >> irrespective of criticism.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Keep Supporting, Keep Inspiring! :)
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Regards,
>> >>
>> >> Abhishek Suryawanshi,
>> >> On Behalf of Wikipedia Club Pune
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
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>> >
>>
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