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Re: [Wikimedia-in-blr] [Wikimediaindia-l] Chapter Misleading Community!
by Raj Tagore 18 Feb '13

18 Feb '13

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: <rajtagorev(a)gmail.com> Date: Sat, Feb 16, 2013 at 10:29 PM Subject: Re: [Wikimediaindia-l] Chapter Misleading Community! To: wikimediaindia-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org, anirudhsbh(a)gmail.com Dear Anirudh and List members, 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(a)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(a)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(a)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(a)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(a)mahiti.org> > >> > Date: Thu, Feb 14, 2013 at 12:29 PM > >> > Subject: Re: [Wikimediaindia-l] why to donate > >> > To: Abhishek Suryawanshi <i.abhishek.suryawanshi(a)gmail.com> > >> > Cc: Wikimedia India Community list > >> > <wikimediaindia-l(a)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(a)cis-india.org> > >> > To: Wikimedia India EC <wikimedia-in-exec(a)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(a)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 > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > _______________________________________________ > >> > Wikimediaindia-l mailing list > >> > Wikimediaindia-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org > >> > To unsubscribe from the list / change mailing preferences visit > >> > https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l > >> > > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> Wikimediaindia-l mailing list > >> Wikimediaindia-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org > >> To unsubscribe from the list / change mailing preferences visit > >> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Wikimediaindia-l mailing list > > Wikimediaindia-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org > > To unsubscribe from the list / change mailing preferences visit > > https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l > > > > _______________________________________________ > Wikimediaindia-l mailing list > Wikimediaindia-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org > To unsubscribe from the list / change mailing preferences visit > https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l >

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Fwd: [Wikimediaindia-l] Chapter Misleading Community!
by Raj Tagore 18 Feb '13

18 Feb '13

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Invitation to Wikimedia Bangalore Meetup 54
by RadhaKrishna Arvapally 17 Feb '13

17 Feb '13

Dear Wikimedians, Please join Bangalore Meetup#54 on 25th Feb @ IIMB Agenda: - Wikimedia Projects by Mr.Sudhanwa Jogalekar, President, Wikimedia India - Access to Knowledge by Mr.Vishnu Vardhan, Director A2K, CIS - Extreme Engineering in WikiSpeed Car project by Mr.Joe Justice, Founder WikiSpeed & Mr.Vibhu Srinivasan, MD, Solutions IQ - Audience address by Chief Guest, Mr.KS Viswanath, Vice President, Industry Initiatives, NASSCOM - Networking Register @ http://wpmbl54.doattend.com/ Please note, *registration **printout is mandatory *to enter IIMB premises (for security reasons) Geo-Notice for watch list page is live http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Watchlist Event Flier: [image: Inline image 1] Please register and forward to your friends and spread the word. Best Regards, RadhaKrishna Chair, Bangalore SIG

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Re: [Wikimedia-in-blr] [Wikimediaindia-l] [A2K]: The Access to Knowledge - Bulletin - January '13
by ansuman 11 Feb '13

11 Feb '13

Hello everyone, I was off on this list for over 15 months. I just resubscribed yesterday, and this is really disappointing reading this. I don't know anything about the selection process, but what I understand and feel the system lack or missed, am sharing. Hope everybody understands! *1.* I hope there was a proper announcement publicly when the process was started on meta, this list, and wiki.wikimedia.org<http://bl-1.com/click/load/ADVablU6BzJWNwNk> *2.* This already happened once, so what method had the panel taken to make sure this'd not happen again? Was there a discussion either privately or publicly on this? *3.* Everybody knows it's a collaborative movement (Does anybody have doubts on this?) and we have many volunteers here. Still why there is lack of communication within the community? Whoever is on top of this taking decisions incapable of realizing that how much transparency the system need! So how can we believe that everything will go as we planned when the initiation seems wrong ? So my sincere request to whoever it may concern, consider doing it properly else there is no point doing it at all. Because this kind of incidents make volunteers leave. Then what's the point starting off like this? So I think may be Foundation should pitch in and do something about this. I hope for the best. And on other note, I think (and I reckon many'd agree) there should be some eligibility criteria to have on-wiki experience. Let me say it again, this kind of discussion is not healthy for the community. So be prepared to abstain in future. Thank you! *PS : I shared what I felt like sharing. So please note that while writing I didn't imply anybody. This is totally generic. Also I haven't discussed this with anyone. Only my individual thought. Regards, Ansuman <http://bl-1.com/click/load/U2ZeagZpBjNWNwRk>* * On 11 February 2013 10:57, Arun Ramarathnam <arunram25(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > Theo ad WIkimedians, > > As a member of the interview committee and as a chapter nominee on the > panel a response is due from me. > > I have been part of the interview process post shortlist of applications > by CIS. Sunil and the CIS team have extended all due process and courtesies > since then till the final selection. Within the panel I have been vocal on > a few matters and all the feedback has been give due consideration and > acted upon by the CIS team. > > I have no hesitation in saying that the post short list interview process > has been very open to the panel and decisions taken by consensus of the > panel. We spent time to drive consensus than merely go by votes. > > As far as the two short listed candidates are concerned, I have no > hesitation in saying they will bring immense value to the movement. They > were the pick of the shortlisted candidates. I say this as a volunteer, a > wikipedian passionate about the movement and as someone who spent a lot of > my personal time in getting the chapter off the ground as a co-founder. > > The community should know that the panel did its due diligence sincerely > and to the best of our abilities. We should all as Wikimedians welcome > VIshnu and Dr. Tejaswini to the movement. They bring rich experience from > their careers and that would be very helpful to the movement. I see no > reason why they being academicians and researchers ought to make their > candidatures any less compelling. > > A warm welcome to Vishnu and Dr. Tejaswini. It is great to have you join > the movement in India. > > regards > Arun > > On Sun, Feb 10, 2013 at 8:45 PM, Theo10011 <de10011(a)gmail.com> wrote: > >> Hi Nishant >> >> That is an excellent, lengthy, professional, PR-friendly response. I >> congratulate and thank you on it. I appreciate the effort you took to >> explain and I wish that you might have disclosed the conflicts and the >> history before the hiring. >> >> Allow me to offer this critique that some of the facts were a bit >> needlessly obfuscated. Most of the assumptions were right, but you >> clarified them now, which I think is still helpful. Jadine is indeed an >> intern, who was the primary contact between the list and CIS, though she >> might have been overseen, it was still true. The conflict was indeed >> present. But I'll go ahead and direct questions to you directly that >> appeared in my mind after a quick read- >> >> 1) I can't seem to understand the rationale behind hiring academicians >> here at all. Your organization chose researchers and academicians but the >> job requirement was and is, for a management person to oversee and direct a >> team. I don't think either of the candidates present that kind of >> expertise. Their field of reference is narrow to begin with, limited to the >> discipline of their speciality, add to that how little exposure they have >> to Wikipedia or similar online culture - this doesn't sound like remotely a >> good fit. - this fact was actually the first point that made me think other >> interests were put ahead of the Job requirements. This seems like a step or >> two further back than ahead, and brings me back to assume that older >> contacts/relationships might have been put ahead of qualifications, and it >> seems very apparent when you see the mismatch. >> >> 2) The hiring process wasn't nearly as neutral as you are suggesting. >> From what I know CIS didn't have 1 in 5 vote, it first picked who got >> selected for the first round to even have a vote, and I am told that >> qualified candidates were eliminated outright by Jadine in the first week >> before they were put up for any vote. >> >> 3) I am still curious about some of the relationships here. As far as I >> know achal still serves on your board? because I have a distinct memory of >> there being some association here. He also still serves on the Advisory >> board of WMF and had a lot to do with selecting Bishakha. He was also a >> fellow for WMF, some time after the start of the India programs. >> >> >> Regards >> Theo >> >> PS my condolences on the passing of your colleague. >> >> On Sun, Feb 10, 2013 at 7:53 AM, Nishant Shah <itsnishant(a)gmail.com>wrote: >> >>> Dear All, >>> >>> My name is Nishant Shah and I work at the Centre for Internet and >>> Society. I am the Director-Research and have been one of the co-founders of >>> CIS and currently on a research fellowship a the Centre for Digital >>> Cultures, Germany. My involvement with the Wikipedia community (online and >>> offline) has been more in terms of understanding it as a significant and >>> systemic move in our knowledge production practices and as a way to learn >>> new forms of self-organisation, collaboration and governance. This means >>> that I haven’t been an active editor on Wikipedia but that I have tried to >>> interact with Wikipedia both as a concept as well as a platform and worked >>> with other communities of researchers in the area through the ‘Critical >>> Point of View’ project which also resulted into an English language >>> Wikipedia Reader. I have variously, in my academic as well as my public >>> writing, I have looked at the principles of Wikipedia as signalling new >>> practices of learning and pedagogy, and am in the process of editing a >>> special issue for the MIT Press’ *Journal of Media and Learning* on >>> ‘The Classroom in the time of Wikipedia’. Also, in my teaching, I have used >>> Wikipedia as a pedagogic tool, encouraging students to edit both English >>> and local language Wikipedias as a part of their assessment. >>> >>> I am joining this conversation to try and give some information that >>> different members have sought, and which might help in throwing some light >>> on how we welcome our collaboration with the Wikimedia foundation through >>> the A2K programme, and also perhaps, to explain some of the rationale >>> behind the current state of transition and building of the project. I just >>> want to begin with 2 disclaimers: >>> >>> 1. It has been our attempt at CIS to build a new kind of research >>> organisation where we do not have only voice and one ‘party-line’ that >>> everybody subscribes to. So my responses will neither be exhaustive nor >>> singular, and my colleagues will join with more details and ideas, >>> perspectives and explanations soon. We are right now, slightly emotionally >>> fragile, because we have just lost a dear friend, colleague and champion of >>> causes that we firmly believe in – Rahul Cherian – and a lot of the people >>> are at his funeral, trying to cope with the loss this means to them >>> personally and politically. However, more people will join the >>> conversations in the coming week, and hopefully there will be more clarity >>> on things. >>> >>> 2. I am what might be called the official CSCS – CIS link because >>> I have done my doctoral work at CSCS, and have had research collaborations >>> with colleagues there on several small projects. Which means that Vishnu >>> and I have been fellow-students and Dr. Tejaswini Niranjana has been a key >>> advisor and collaborator for my own intellectual trajectories. >>> >>> Having made that small introduction, let me try and address some of the >>> questions that I think I might be able to contribute to, and others will >>> chip in soon. >>> >>> *Srikanth wrote: Would you or someone from CIS help me understand the rationale for selecting two individuals affiliated with CSCS which is also affiliated with CIS?* >>> >>> * Theo wrote: “I don't know you and I don't know Dr. Niranjana, try and understand "Wiki-movement in India" doesn't have any relation with you, in fact, it barely knows you. I barely know CIS, the organization that hired you. If there is an older link that might have conflict of interest in this hiring, I believe it should have been disclosed.” *and* “You are probably missing an year and a half of context. The problem with your predecessor and the previous direction has been criticized, not just by some people on the list, but several Wikipedians abroad, even in an official report, for not having enough experienced Wikimedians on hand. Add to that your hiring, and your advisor, it is odd how 2 people who barely know about Wikipedia will be leading a team that has been criticized for not having enough experience and exposure in the first place.“* >>> >>> >>> >>> Dear Srikanth and Theo, thank you for the questions and I appreciate >>> that they help us make things as transparent as possible to build common >>> grounds for working together. CIS has had a few reciprocal and mutual >>> research collaborations with CSCS so far. Under the CIS-Researchers At Work >>> Programme, we commissioned four people at CSCS, students and faculty, to >>> help us work on disciplinary histories of the Internets in India. Ashish >>> Rajadhyaksha, Zainab Bawa, Nitya Vasudevan (with Nitin Manayath), and Dr. >>> Aparna Balachandran and Dr. Rochelle Pinto (with Abhijit Chaterjee), have >>> joined us as CISRAW fellows, for contracts between 300,000 – 500,000 INR, >>> depending upon the nature of deliverables and scope of work. >>> >>> Apart from this, CIS has entered into a contract on 2 significant >>> projects with CSCS – The first is to do a monograph examining the history >>> of privacy in India and its implications on identity in the face of new >>> e-governance initiatives like the Aadhar Project. The research is >>> spear-headed by Malavika Jayaram who is a fellow at the CIS, and brings in >>> 500,000 INR for the research costs. The second is a collaboration with >>> the ‘Higher Education Innovation and Research Applications’ cell that is >>> led by Dr. Niranjana on a project supported by the Ford Foundation called >>> ‘Pathways to Higher Education’. CIS was asked to be a technology partner in >>> designing pilot workshops that seek to make interventions in undergraduate >>> education in the country, to re-think ways in which questions of inequity – >>> caste, language, class, access, etc. – can be centrally placed in our >>> pedagogic practices and policies. This four year contract was for a sum of >>> 520,000 INR towards the execution of the workshops in 9 undergraduate >>> colleges in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala. I am highlighting these >>> affiliations to gesture towards three things: First, the financial >>> relationships between CIS and CSCS have been extremely tiny, especially if >>> you look at the duration of partnership and the other revenue streams >>> (including the A2K partnership) at the Centre. Second, the relationships >>> have been intellectually motivated because we found common grounds of >>> research and intervention for which institutional MoUs were signed. Third, >>> the relationships have been strategically entered into with full disclosure >>> about the amounts involved and ties mentioned to the donors who support >>> this project. I hope this gives some sense of past formal and institutional >>> relationships between the two centres. >>> >>> The rationale for selecting two individuals who have different >>> affiliations with CIS, on to the A2K team is something that the interview >>> committee will be in the best position to describe. However, there are a >>> few qualms about Conflict of Interest that I can address, from my own >>> location within CIS and our attempts at building networks of working >>> together. Especially because in the collaborative world of research and >>> policy, where institutions need to work together in order to have >>> sustainable interventions, it is something that is promoted highly by all >>> stake-holders to build solidarity and over-lapping teams that help >>> strengthen the causes we stand for. >>> >>> In most instances that I am familiar with, Conflict of Interest is >>> resolved through process. In the interview process initiated by the CIS for >>> appointment of the Director for the A2K programme, we mitigated any >>> possible conflict of interest by ensuring that CIS had 1 out of 5 >>> votes on the interview panel. While Sunil and I both were a part of the >>> interview at different times, we did not overlap in the process, and we had >>> equal say in the final decision as all the other 4 panelists. We were >>> acutely aware that the new director would need support of all the different >>> stakeholders – The community, the chapter, the India Office, the WMF and >>> the CIS – and tried to make sure that each body had a nominated >>> representative in the interview process. >>> >>> During the interview process, we made sure that the interview panel was >>> given sufficient information about the applicants’ background and past work >>> so that any questions of conflict of interest could be flagged by the >>> panel. This was doubly necessary because we were expecting applications >>> from people who have been associated with Wikipedia since many years in >>> different capacities, as well as people who might have had a more external >>> association with the causes that Wikipedia champions. I sat on the >>> interviews for the first round of short-listed applicants, and when I was >>> informed that Vishnu will be on the second round of interviewees, I had >>> categorically mentioned at that point (and I am sure my fellow-panelists >>> will be able to corroborate) that I have known Vishnu since many years as a >>> colleague and friend, and that I would want to be recused from interviewing >>> him, in case it exerts undue influence on the process. >>> >>> I was not privy to the discussions that emerged at the end of the second >>> round of interviews so I don’t know what steered the final decision, but I >>> just want to emphasise that we have tried to enforce transparency in and >>> about the process, and the fact that Vishnu was eventually appointed after >>> a rigorous process by a panel consisting of 5 people representing different >>> stake-holder bodies of the Wikipedia body, was a unanimous decision that >>> was arrived at by people who did not personally know him and did not have >>> any institutional connections with him, though CIS did have collaborations >>> with an organisation which is one of the many that he has been affiliated >>> with. >>> >>> Dr. Tejaswini Niranjana was also one of the applicants who was >>> short-listed for the interviews for the same position and the panel met >>> with her. Again, the only person who has institutional ties with her was >>> Sunil, but I want to highlight that the research collaboration with CSCS >>> has been through me, and not through Sunil per se. It is a small point to >>> labour, about distinguishing between institutional and personal tie-ups but >>> I hope that it helps reflection on the process. As Vishnu has already >>> mentioned in his response, the interview panel felt that Dr. Niranjana was >>> over-qualified for this position. However, it was recognised that her >>> contributions to the project in the role of an advisor would help us >>> greatly to achieve some of the grant deliverables that CIS has promised to >>> the WMF. >>> >>> Dr. Niranjana’s own interventions in the field of Indian language >>> translation, accessibility, educational resources and integration have been >>> consolidated in her intellectual work but also in the institutional growth >>> beginning with the establishment of the Higher Education Cell with the Tata >>> Trust and now the formal HEIRA that she leads. In our conversations with >>> the A2K team, we had also separately realised that one of the ways of >>> ensuring that Wikipedia reaches younger and new editors is by placing it >>> within the undergraduate-university learning environments. The Interview >>> Panel also realised that the work that HEIRA is doing right now, in >>> building a nation-wide network of academic institutions which are >>> interested in the questions of local language resource development through >>> digital technologies and OER platforms is in close sync with our ambitions >>> for the A2K team. Hence, it was recommended and then actualised, that Dr. >>> Niranjana is joining us as a Distinguished Fellow at the CIS, who will help >>> grow our networks, enhance our strategies, and consolidate our presence in >>> the academic-university spaces which will lead us to our ambition of >>> positioning Wikipedia more strongly within the local language communities >>> as well as within education systems. >>> >>> I hope this helps to clarify some of the doubts and to make the process >>> more transparent. >>> >>> >>> >>> *Theo Wrote: Hisham left almost 7-8 months ago, the hiring has been >>> delayed for a few months, then the entire game of charades with the new >>> hire. I'm lead to deduce that CIS wasn't itself thrilled with the prospect >>> of getting involved to this level, I believe they used an intern for the >>> majority of correspondence to this list. All the while a team remained >>> employed with no one to oversee them, no direction.* >>> >>> Theo, one of the things we are very proud of at CIS, and indeed, are >>> learning from the new possibilities that structures like Wikipedia offer, >>> is our commitment to not creating hierarchies, working within an >>> environment of mutual trust, and believing in peoples’ commitment to their >>> work without micro-managing them. I am giving a short-hand summary there >>> (it almost sounds like an elevator pitch even as I write it) only so that I >>> can respond to some of the concerns that you have flagged. >>> >>> There is no denying that CIS is thrilled to be collaborating with the >>> WMF for setting up the A2K programme. Not only does it help us in getting >>> closely associated with a community and a structure that we have been >>> deeply involved in researching, but we also see it sitting very tightly >>> with our other endeavours in the field of open access, intellectual >>> property rights and accessibility. As a young independent research >>> institute, we feel privileged to have this formal collaboration with the >>> WMF and the Wikipedia community and even though I am not very hands-on >>> involved in the everyday running of this team, I want to just reiterate >>> that we are indeed thrilled with this collaboration. That is not to say >>> that we appreciate the risks involved and the huge administrative >>> responsibilities that come with such a valuable project (not just >>> monetarily but also in terms of is real-life politics), but we hope that we >>> will be able to provide it the support and housing it needs, and also learn >>> from the process. >>> >>> Unlike some of my other colleagues who were more closely working with >>> the India Office under Hisham’s leadership, I am not privy to the range of >>> events that happened in the early part of the setting up. However, once CIS >>> got involved with the project and the decision was made to house the A2K >>> programme at CIS, I can confidently say that the A2K team members were >>> guided and managed as much as any other members at the Centre. There were >>> regular visits from other colleagues, one-on-one conversations with the >>> team as well as with individual members helping them to transition into the >>> new structure, and long reviews stretching into several days, of >>> conceptualising, strategising and planning towards the deliverables of the >>> WMF grant. We firmly believe, at CIS, that people who are in the field, >>> and know the mechanics of actual functioning, should be trusted and >>> encouraged to perform their tasks in a manner that they think best, and our >>> role, institutionally, is to help them grow to their full potential. And >>> this is the position we have taken with the A2K team, as we have, with all >>> our other team members, and I do sincerely hope that the team did not feel >>> ‘orphaned’ in that stage of transition. >>> >>> However, I do take the critique that the team might not have been at its >>> most productive during the transition because it required a lot of >>> restructuring and setting up of institutional processes which requires a >>> learning curve. Also, we believe that adequate time spent on consolidating >>> and planning our activities- even at the risk of being inactive for a short >>> period – is generally more productive to efficient work for the future and >>> that the delays in the new kick-start might have been because we were >>> spending time in reviewing and planning for the future. >>> >>> The hiring process has been long, and indeed, the most rigorous that I >>> have ever been a part of. The delays in it and the final appointment are >>> things that others who were more involved with it might be able to explain >>> better – I am guessing there were a lot of factors at play – and so I will >>> leave it to them to chip in. >>> >>> You mentioned that most of the correspondence happened through Jadine >>> Lennon who is an intern at CIS and I want to just explain that at CIS, we >>> take our long-term interns very seriously. Jadine is at the CIS for 11 >>> months, through a long-standing relationship with the University of >>> Torronto. This is not an off-the-cuff short-term internship to get those >>> credits to graduate, but a serious commitment from both sides to integrate >>> her in our work. At CIS, very frankly, our interns rock the world. They are >>> there to learn, but they learn through supervision and personal attention >>> and we take pride in the fact that most long-term interns have managed >>> professional grants, delivered research and policy publications, and even >>> after their official internships, have returned to be a part of our team in >>> different capacities. In the non-hierarchical space that CIS is striving to >>> be, the fact that communication happened through an intern is not any >>> indication of our disinterest in the project. >>> >>> Also, it might be worthwhile mentioning that while Jadine was the >>> official contact person on the list for this process, it was closely >>> supervised by Sunil Abraham, who is the executive director at the CIS. Emails >>> were drafted collaboratively, checked to make sure that they are correct, >>> and sent after deliberation by the people involved. If there were errors, >>> those are not because an ‘intern’ was managing them, but because we are >>> also quite human (and also like most non-profit organisations, generally >>> have multiple commitments to various projects) and we did try our best, but >>> sometimes these things happen. >>> >>> I just want to end by saying that we are very proud and thrilled to be a >>> part of the collaboration. We see the A2K as deeply central to much of our >>> research and policy work and we hope that we will be able to bring our >>> institutional knowledge and network, as well as independent commitment to >>> Wikipedia’s interventions in the world of Access to Knowledge. We also see >>> this as an opportunity for us to learn and grow through these interactions >>> and work. I, for one, am excited to see the A2K team coming together and do >>> hope that despite the baggage of the past, we will get a fair chance to >>> prove our mettle and to earn trust (because trust must be earned) from the >>> different communities involved. In the meantime, we do ask for some faith >>> (because faith can be asked for) and support from the community to help us >>> achieve the goals that the WMF has set for us through this project. >>> >>> Warm regards >>> >>> Nishant >>> >>> P.S. I do apologise for the length of this email. But sometimes these >>> things require the space, and partly, I guess it is a professional hazard >>> where researchers find it difficult to say less when they can say more! >>> >>> -- >>> Nishant Shah >>> Director (Research), Centre for Internet and Society,Bangalore, India ( >>> www.cis-india.org ) >>> International Tandem Partner, Inkubator - Leuphana University, >>> Lueneburg, Germany >>> # +49-0176-841-660-87 >>> http://www.facebook.com/nishant.shah >>> http://cis-india.academia.edu/NishantShah >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Wikimediaindia-l mailing list >>> Wikimediaindia-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org >>> To unsubscribe from the list / change mailing preferences visit >>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l >>> >>> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Wikimediaindia-l mailing list >> Wikimediaindia-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org >> To unsubscribe from the list / change mailing preferences visit >> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l >> >> > > _______________________________________________ > Wikimediaindia-l mailing list > Wikimediaindia-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org > To unsubscribe from the list / change mailing preferences visit > https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l > >

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[A2K]: The Access to Knowledge - Bulletin - January '13
by noopur 07 Feb '13

07 Feb '13

Dear all, Wikimedia Foundation, beginning from September 1, 2012, awarded the Centre for Internet & Society (CIS) a two-year grant of INR 26,000,000 to support and develop free knowledge in India. Consequently, Wikimedia Foundation's India Program became the Access to Knowledge (A2K) program [1] of CIS. In the first issue of our newsletter for 2013, we are glad to introduce you to our new programme director, Vishnu Vardhan, provide you an update of the Access to Knowledge (September to December 2012) Report, the Indic Languages Wikipedia Statistical Report 2012 and reports of the events organised in Goa in the month of December 2012. Archives of our newsletters are here [2]. Wikipedians from various communities can reqDeuest for outreach programs, technical bugs, logistics-merchandize and media, public relations and communications at http://bit.ly/TOcXId [3]. # CIS Office in Delhi * The A2K team [4] consists of four members: T. Vishnu Vardhan [5], Nitika Tandon [6], Subhashish Panigrahi [7] and Noopur Raval [8]. # New Project Director for Wikipedia Project * T. Vishnu Vardhan [9] is the new Programme Director-Access to Knowledge at CIS. Vishnu has over the last 11 years worked in various capacities as researcher, grant manager, teacher, project consultant, information architect and translator. Vishnu managed the Art, Crafts and Culture [10] portfolio of Sir Ratan Tata Trust [11] and also worked as Research Coordinator at the Centre for the Study of Culture and Society [12] in Bangalore. # Distinguished Fellow * Tejaswini Niranjana [13], a Senior Fellow at the Centre for the Study of Culture and Society (CSCS), Bangalore, and Visiting Professor at Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai is joining our team as an Adviser to the 'Access to Knowledge' programme. She will guide the A2K team in expanding the Indian language Wikipedias and in increasing the number of active editors through strategic partnerships with Higher Education institutions across India. # Events Organised by CIS: Note: The events in Goa were organized in the month of December 2012. However, reports were published the following month. * Two-day Wiki Workshop in Goa University: An Introduction [14] (by Nitika Tandon, January 15, 2013). * Wikipedia in St. Xavier's College, Mapusa, Goa [15] (by Nitika Tandon, January 19, 2013). * Promoting GLAM in Goa [16] (by Nitika Tandon, January 24, 2013). * Konkani in Wikipedia Incubator -- Taking it to the Next Level [17] (by Nitika Tandon, January 25, 2013). * A Wiki Workshop at Raj Kumar Goel Institute of Technology, Ghaziabad [18] (RKGIT, Ghaziabad, January 17, 2013). * Odia Education Program [19] (Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dhenkanal, Orissa, January 26, 2013). * Odia Wikipedia 9th Anniversary Celebration [20] (Academy of Media Learning, Samantha Vihar, Bhubaneswar, Orissa, January 29, 2013). # Meeting * Bringing Konkani Encyclopedia in Public Domain [21] (by Nitika Tandon, January 22, 2013). # Event Participated * Celebrating the success of Wikipedia in Wikipedia Summit Pune 2013 [22] (organized by Wikipedia Club, Pune, January 12 - 13, 2013). # Media Coverage * First Odia Wikipedia Education Program concludes at IIMC, Dhenkanal [23] (Odisha Diary Bureau, Dhenkanal, January 27, 2013). * Odia Wikipedia's 9th Anniversary and Workshop on Application of Odia in Media [24] (Sambad, January 30, 2013). *About CIS [25]* CIS was registered as a society in Bangalore in 2008. As an independent, non-profit research organisation, it runs different policy research programmes such as Accessibility, Access to Knowledge, Openness, Internet Governance, and Telecom. The policy research programmes have resulted in outputs such as the e-Accessibility Policy Handbook for Persons with Disabilities [26] with ITU and G3ict, and Digital Alternatives with a Cause? [27], Thinkathon Position Papers [28] and the Digital Natives with a Cause? Report [29] with Hivos, etc. We have conducted policy research for the Ministry of Communications & Information Technology, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, etc., on WIPO Treaties [30], Copyright Bill [31], NIA Bill [32], etc. CIS is accredited as an observer at WIPO. CIS staff participates in the Standing Committee for Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR) meetings regularly held in Geneva, and participate in the discussions and comments on them from a public interest perspective. Our Policy Director, Nirmita Narasimhan won the National Award for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities [33] from the Government of India and also received the NIVH Excellence Award [34]. *Follow us elsewhere* * Get short, timely messages from us on Twitter [35] * Join the CIS group on Facebook [36] * Visit us at http://cis-india.org [37] *Support Us* Please help us defend consumer / citizen rights on the Internet! Write a cheque in favour of 'The Centre for Internet and Society' and mail it to us at No. 194, 2nd 'C' Cross, Domlur, 2nd Stage, Bengaluru - 5600 71. *Request for Collaboration* We invite researchers, practitioners, and theoreticians, both organisationally and as individuals, to collaboratively engage with Internet and society and improve our understanding of this new field. To discuss the research collaborations, write to Sunil Abraham, Executive Director, at sunil(a)cis-india.org [38] or Nishant Shah, Director - Research, at nishant(a)cis-india.org [39] _CIS is grateful to its donors, Wikimedia Foundation, Ford Foundation, Privacy International, UK, Hans Foundation and the Kusuma Trust which was founded by Anurag Dikshit and Soma Pujari, philanthropists of Indian origin, for its core funding and support for most of its projects._ Links: ------ [1] http://cis-india.org/a2k/access-to-knowledge-program-plan [2] http://cis-india.org/about/newsletters [3] http://bit.ly/TOcXId [4] http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Access_To_Knowledge/Team [5] http://cis-india.org/about/people/our-team [6] http://cis-india.org/about/people/our-team [7] http://cis-india.org/about/people/our-team [8] http://cis-india.org/about/people/our-team [9] http://cis-india.org/about/people/our-team [10] http://www.srtt.org/institutional_grants/arts_culture/overview.htm [11] http://www.srtt.org [12] http://www.cscs.res.in [13] http://cis-india.org/about/people/distinguished-fellows [14] http://cis-india.org/openness/blog/two-day-wiki-workshop-in-goa-university [15] http://cis-india.org/openness/blog/wikipedia-in-st-xaviers-college-goa [16] http://cis-india.org/openness/blog/promoting-glam-in-goa [17] http://cis-india.org/openness/blog/konkani-in-wikipedia-incubator [18] http://cis-india.org/openness/wikipedia-workshop-at-rkgit-ghaziabad [19] http://cis-india.org/openness/events/odia-education-program-at-iimc-dhenkan… [20] http://cis-india.org/openness/events/odia-wikipedia-9th-anniversary-celebra… [21] http://cis-india.org/openness/blog/bringing-konkani-encyclopedia-in-public-… [22] http://cis-india.org/openness/blog/celebrating-the-success-of-wikipedia-in-… [23] http://cis-india.org/news/orissa-diary-january-27-2013-first-odia-wikipedia… [24] http://cis-india.org/news/sambad-e-paper-january-30-2013-odia-wikipedia-wor… [25] http://cis-india.org/about/newsletters/ [26] http://cis-india.org/about/advocacy/accessibility/blog/e-accessibility-hand… [27] http://cis-india.org/about/digital-natives/front-page/blog/dnbook [28] http://cis-india.org/about/digital-natives/front-page/blog/position-papers [29] http://cis-india.org/about/digital-natives/front-page/blog/digital-natives-… [30] http://cis-india.org/about/a2k/blog/cis-analysis-july2011-treaty-print-disa… [31] http://cis-india.org/about/a2k/blog/analysis-copyright-amendment-bill-2012 [32] http://cis-india.org/about/internet-governance/front-page/blog/cis-feedback… [33] http://cis-india.org/about/accessibility/blog/national-award [34] http://cis-india.org/about/news/nirmita-nivh-award [35] https://twitter.com/cis_india [36] http://www.facebook.com/groups/28535315687/ [37] http://cis-india.org [38] mailto:sunil@cis-india.org [39] mailto:nishant@cis-india.org

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Wikimedia India needs your support: Our First Fundraiser
by Karthik Nadar 01 Feb '13

01 Feb '13

Cross posting to reach mass, apologies if you have already read this! * * *Dear all,* * * *On the second anniversary of the Chapter, we made public our intention of running our first fundraiser. Going ahead with the first phase of this plan, we will be running a central site notice on the chapter website for a period of two calendar months starting 1 February, 2013. In the second phase of this plan, we aim to approach high networth individuals and corporates in the month of March 2013. This will be done using personal and professional networks of current and past EC members, staff, volunteers among others.* * Suggestions, help and support from the community on what we can do to ensure success of this fundraiser are welcome. Every drop counts :) Donations can be made by Online Bank Transfer (NEFT/RTGS) or by sending us a Cheque through snail mail. We are unable to accept card payments at this current time. Link to the donation page on our website: http://wiki.wikimedia.in/Donate Thanking you, Executive Committee, Wikimedia India. *Reasoning* (From our public statement on 4 January, 2013) A lot of people may ask why the chapter needs a fundraiser when it has access to WMF funding. The answer is, we are still ineligible for FDC of WMF (we hope to be eligible for the second round of funding in 2013) and would need to rely on grants, spending of which is restricted by the WMF. Since formation, the chapter has relied heavily on the Executive Committee to take on the burden of running the show. In an ideal world, the EC would like to take on the role of guiding the chapter rather than actually be responsible for operations after two years of incorporation, which should be best done by professionals rather than volunteers in their spare time. The chapter has hired an employee (Sowmyan Tirumurti, our Executive Manager) as well as plans to lease its own office premises in Bangalore. We will need the help of those volunteers who are in a position to support us. It could be a small individual donation or in the form of a corporate donation from an institution. A small token of support from you could go a long way in helping us achieving our goals of furthering the movement in India.* * * * * * * *--* *Thanks and regards,* *Karthik Nadar,* *Secretary, Wikimedia India Chapter.*

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Invitation to Wikimedia Annual Day Celebrations !!!
by RadhaKrishna Arvapally 18 Jan '13

18 Jan '13

Dear Wikimedians, I cordially invite you to the 53rd Bangalore wikimedia Meetup. Let us celebrate our 2nd Annual Day for wikimedia India chapter along with 12th Annual Day of Wikimedia foundation, 10th Annual day of Telugu Wikipedia. *Venue: *(please note this is a* NEW venue*) HiveMinds Innovative Market Solutions Pvt Ltd, 10, SERENITY, A Cross Off Palm Grove Road, Austin Town Bangalore 560047, KA INDIA *Time: *20th Jan (Sunday) 3:00 PM Please register @ http://wiki.wikimedia.in/WP:MBL53 for any questions, please call me @ 99010 79268 or Mr.Sowmyan, Executive Manager, Wikimedia India @ 96329 11650 Best Regards, RadhaKrishna Chair, Bangalore SIG Wikimedia India

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Preparation for Wikimedia Foundation & India chapter Annual Day Celebrations !!!
by RadhaKrishna Arvapally 02 Jan '13

02 Jan '13

Hi, In preparation for the Wikimedia Foundation & India Chapter Annual Day celebrations, we are looking for speakers from Knowledge based organizations. like http://www.indg.in/ http://kinige.com/ http://www.cdac.in/?id=spot805 http://www.marathiencyclopedia.com/ http://www.vishwakosh.org.in/ Urdu Encyclopedia (http://urduencyclopedia.org/ ?) Please share your suggestions/thoughts. -- Thanks & Regards, RadhaKrishna Bangalore SIG

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[A2K] Workshop at NMAMIT, Karkala in Karnataka
by Subhashish Panigrahi 12 Dec '12

12 Dec '12

Dear all, We have an opportunity to organize a Wikipedia workshop at NMAMIT, Karkala in Karnataka on 21st December. It will be a day long workshop with over 100 students, mostly to tell them about Wikipedia in Indian languages and how they can contribute. I am yet to confirm the time for the workshop but it will be held at NMAMIT on 21st December. Would any Wikipedians from the Bangalore community want to join me? CIS would be willing to support the travel expense for upto 2 wikipedians to and from Bangalore (or any other place in Karnataka which is close to Karkala). If you know any wikipedian from any other nearby places do let me know. We are still planning it out and the more the merrier it is! Please write to me offlist if you are interested. Best! Subhashish Panigrahi Programme Officer, Access To Knowledge, Centre for Internet and Society, New Delhi

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[A2K]:The Access to Knowledge - Bulletin - November '12
by noopur 10 Dec '12

10 Dec '12

Dear all, Beginning from September 1, 2012, Wikimedia Foundation has awarded CIS a two-year grant of upto INR 26,000,000 to support and develop free knowledge in India. The Wikimedia Foundation's India Program has become the Access to Knowledge (A2K) program [1] of the Centre for Internet & Society (CIS). In this issue we bring you updates from the Kolkata wiki community, the Odia wiki community, a report of a workshop organized exclusively for women in Mumbai, Wikipedia hackathon organised in Delhi and Hyderabad, and the recent news and media coverage. Wikipedians from various communities can request for outreach programs, technical bugs, logistics-merchandize and media, public relations and communications at http://bit.ly/TOcXId [2]. # CIS Office in Delhi * The A2K team [3] consists of three members: Nitika Tandon [4], Subhashish Panigrahi [5] and Noopur Raval [6]. Shiju Alex [7] left the organisation. November 16 was his last working day. # Education Program * First Odia Wikipedia Education Program to be Rolled Out [8] (by Subhashish Panigrahi, November 30, 2012). The program was initiated at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication in Dhenkanal on November 8, 2012. # Workshops Organised by CIS: * Odia Wikipedia Workshop at AML [9] (Academy of Media Learning, Bhubaneswar, November 10, 2012). * Follow up to Wikipedia Introductory Session [10] (Bharati Vidyapeeth, Delhi, November 19, 2012). * An Odia Wikipedia Workshop at KMBB [11] (KMBB College, Bhubaneswar, November 19, 2012). # Workshop Organised by Wiki Community * Wikipedia Women's Workshop in Mumbai [12] (by Noopur Raval, Vidyalankar Institute of Technology, Wadala, Mumbai, November 4, 2012). # Meetup Organised by CIS * Kolkata: Tasting the Sweetness of Wikipedia! [13] (Kolkata, November 3, 2012). # Hackathon organised by CIS * A Wikipedia Mini-hackathon in Delhi [14] (CIS, New Delhi, November 11, 2012). # Hackathon Participation * Wikipedia Hackathon [15] (organised by BITS, Hyderabad, October 25 - 27, 2012). # News and Media Coverage * 'Some Indian laws could be challenging [16]' (by Kalyan Subramani, Bangalore Mirror, November 15, 2012) * A Report of the Odia Wikipedia Workshop held in KMBB College of Engineering, Bhubaneswar [17] (Sambad, November 19, 2012). * OdishaDiary conferred prestigious Odisha Youth Inspiration Award 2012 to Odia Wikipedia team [18] (by Pravuprasad Routray, Orissa Diary, November 23, 2012). * વિકિપીડિયા ગુજરાતી માં પણ છે [19] (by Harsh Kothari, Cybersafar, November 28, 2012). # Blog Entry * Typing in Indic Languages from Mobiles made Easy! [20] (by Subhashish Panigrahi, November 19, 2012). About CIS [21] CIS was registered as a society in Bangalore in 2008. As an independent, non-profit research organisation, it runs different policy research programs such as Accessibility [22], Access to Knowledge [23], Openness [24], Internet Governance [25], and Telecom [26]. _CIS is grateful to its donors, Wikimedia Foundation, Ford Foundation, Privacy International, UK, Hans Foundation and the Kusuma Trust which was founded by Anurag Dikshit and Soma Pujari, philanthropists of Indian origin, for its core funding and support for most of its projects._ FOLLOW US ELSEWHERE * Get short, timely messages from us on Twitter [27] * Join the CIS group on Facebook [28] * Visit us at http://cis-india.org [29] *SUPPORT US* * Please help us defend consumer / citizen rights on the Internet! Write a cheque in favour of 'The Centre for Internet and Society' and mail it to us at No. 194, 2nd 'C' Cross, Domlur, 2nd Stage, Bengaluru - 5600 71. -- Thank you, Best Noopur Raval, Programme Officer, Centre for Internet & Society Links: ------ [1] http://cis-india.org/a2k/access-to-knowledge-program-plan [2] http://bit.ly/TOcXId [3] http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Access_To_Knowledge/Team [4] http://cis-india.org/about/people/our-team [5] http://cis-india.org/about/people/our-team [6] http://cis-india.org/about/people/our-team [7] http://cis-india.org/about/people/our-team [8] http://cis-india.org/openness/blog/first-odia-wikipedia-education-program-t… [9] http://cis-india.org/openness/blog/odia-wiki-workshop-at-aml [10] http://cis-india.org/openness/blog/follow-up-to-wikipedia-introductory-sess… [11] http://cis-india.org/openness/blog/odia-wikipedia-workshop-organized-in-kmb… [12] http://cis-india.org/openness/blog/wikipedia-womens-workshop-in-mumbai [13] http://cis-india.org/openness/blog/kolkata-tasting-the-sweetness-of-wikiped… [14] http://cis-india.org/openness/blog/mini-hackathon-delhi [15] http://cis-india.org/openness/blog/wikipedia-hackathon-hyderabad [16] http://cis-india.org/news/bangalore-mirror-article-kalyan-subramani-nov-15-… [17] http://cis-india.org/news/report-of-odia-wikipedia-workshop-in-sambad [18] http://cis-india.org/news/orissa-diary-november-23-2012-pravuprasad-routray [19] http://cis-india.org/news/article-in-cybersafar [20] http://cis-india.org/openness/blog/typing-in-indic-languages-from-mobiles [21] http://cis-india.org/ [22] http://cis-india.org/accessibility [23] http://cis-india.org/a2k [24] http://cis-india.org/openness [25] http://cis-india.org/internet-governance [26] http://cis-india.org/telecom [27] https://twitter.com/cis_india [28] http://www.facebook.com/groups/28535315687/ [29] http://cis-india.org/about/

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