Hallo Anirudh, Lodewijk,
While I think that this discussion is very useful, it has been happening for some time - I know that Anirudh has raised these questions before, for instance. In that sense, I'm not sure how the registration of a trust changes the situation at all; I think that for anyone involved with the Wikimedia movement in India, the relationship between the Foundation entity in India and the India chapter has been perceived as an interesting, evolving - and highly experimental - situation, at least since the strategic plan was concluded.
To repeat, I think this discussion is very useful, but I think it's important to remember that the situation is neither new nor unexpected. Having said that:
On Friday 11 November 2011 10:09 AM, Anirudh Bhati wrote:
My personal opinion, and I only speak for myself and not the Chapter or the Foundation (I wouldn't dare!).
I'd be interested in understanding what the India chapter and the WikiConference India organising committee (to name one formal community grouping outside either the chapter or foundation) think of the Foundation's presence in India. In my own personal experience, there have been large periods of time when the India chapter was not as active as it is now; there have also been (as can be expected) many differences of opinion between community groupings in India. To that extent, and assuming good faith, have the presence of several entities (formal and informal) helped balance out periods of inactivity or dysfunction among all involved?
On Fri, Nov 11, 2011 at 4:11 PM, Lodewijklodewijk@effeietsanders.orgwrote:
Hi,
thanks a lot all for exmplaining the differences. I would be very much interested to know more about the ''relationship'' between the trust and Wikimedia India. You seem to suggest that trustees get appointed by (or on the advice of - not sure of the legal wording) the WMF - but will Wikimedia India be involved in that too? Since they are the chapter in that country I could imagine them to have a say in it.
Nope. Up until now WMIN has not received any say either with the India Education Programs design and implementation or the structuring of the Wikimedia India Program Trust. And given that not many people are going to talk about it, I don't think much will change in the future.
There appears to be a strong sense of exclusion you are expressing here, which I think it's important to bring up. I'm curious to understand if it's a more widespread feeling - are there others who were consulted? Or weren't but felt they should be? My own understanding of the program is that the India Education Program involved people who elected to get involved - as a community member, I, for instance, know very little about it because I feel I have nothing to contribute there. More importantly, does the chapter feel it was inadequately consulted? And does it feel like it was in a position to contribute more? I think this would be very interesting to probe a little further.
How closely will this trust and the chapter work together? You mention that there is communication etc - but is cooperation likely to become the default or the exception?
From my own experience and from what I have heard from a fellow Pune
community member, the general community and the Chapter body have been excluded and ignored by WMF consultants from the very beginning. In fact, the Chapter representatives were only invited to attend meetings when Frank Schlenburg and Annie Lin were in town.
And how will it work with regards of who will be the primary point of contact in India for institutions who want to partner with Wikimedia? Will they have to approach one of the two or whichever they like (and if they dont get the answer they like, can they just approach the other?). Will the chapter and the trust be competing with each other or collaborating?
I think there is already a lot of confusion with regard to the two entities operating out of India. Going by the media, news reporters are already very confused by the existence of two Wikimedia bodies and I personally get a lot of queries every week asking me to clarify on the location of Wikimedia offices. With its paid consultants, the local WMF consultants have done a good job of making their presence felt (especially in Western India), and more and more journalists are interested in hearing from WMF (the "international organization") than WMIN.
Honestly, news reporters in India are confused about *everything* related to Wikipedia and Wikimedia :) Even a cursory analysis of news coverage will confirm that they routinely mix up what the movement is, what the difference between Wikipedia and the Wikimedia Foundation is, what the difference between a chapter member and a staff member is, etc. And as someone who has been following this from the outset, I can say with some confidence that this has nothing to do with the chapter and the Foundation in India, rather, just our own complicated terminology and insider-language, and a general laziness on the part of Indian news media to learn the details. Basically, we'd still get completely whacky press coverage even if there was no chapter and no Foundation entity.
The initial idea, if I understood it correctly, was to establish another non-profit body within India, for a period of three to five years to execute specific (and large-scale) programmes. As of now, the WIPT (Wikimedia India Program Office) can pretty much do anything it wants with the Wikimedia brand - partner with institutions, raise money locally, have paid employees and bypass community. This is what I foresee happening: WMIN will be involved in community-building and small-scale projects which support volunteers and the WIPT will partner with large institutions in India (who are understandably looking to club with international organizations), get a lot of media coverage and acquire the big grants (since WMIN is not a professional body). WMIN and WIPT will theoretically compete for funding within India, much of which will be allocated to WIPT, given that it is professionalized (and because we never had a chance) and in WMF's good graces. This is how WMIN has been made redundant (something that I have been saying for a long, long time).
I think it's a little premature to say that WMIN has been made redundant. As someone who helped the chapter group, right from 2008, for the India chapter to be made redundant would mean that some 3+ years of work and involvement on my part is flushed down the toilet. If that's the case, or is ever made the case, I'll be shouting on the streets - but it isn't, and I'm not sure it's anyone's intention.
For instance, Anirudh, the fact that you are on the board of the India chapter, but don't live in India anymore (you live in Cambodia now, right?), leads me to believe that your involvement with India-based activities, or leading efforts on the ground, is necessarily at a minimum. Don't you think that overall, the effectiveness of the India chapter is a consequence of the involvement and productivity of its members? I recall a host of recent events - the WikiAcademy for librarians in Bangalore, a widely attended copyright seminar, the AGM, elections, regular newsletters - that are testament to the fact that the India chapter is not - and doesn't want to be - "redundant". But perhaps this is something the chapter can clarify more officially.
I'm not saying that there are no issues of overlap to sort out; I am saying that from my perspective it does not seem like there is anything close to the level of antagonism or redundancy you describe in your email.
The most important difference, something many are uncomfortable talking about, is in the distribution of money. The WIPT in India will have access to *significantly *more WMF funding than WMIN (significant meaning *real significant*). Around the time when discussions about the India Office began, Barry came to India and assured us that the WIPT will only be here for a period of 3-5 years. I am hopeful that the Foundation will stick to its words, and with time we will all learn that small volunteer-driven projects have a larger impact than costly, ill-designed, large-scale programmes run by hired consultants who hire consultants with no relevant background (with a couple of exceptions).
Like you, I read of the India Education Program's work with some concern. While I think that serious analysis and introspection is in order, I think it's a little premature to jump on this incident and dismiss the entire scope of potential Foundation activity in India.
I share your concerns overall, but I think we can be concerned without launching an outright offensive against all Foundation staff, right? Think back to some of the tough moments the India chapter has had to face from Indian community groupings - the chapter was then placed in the position that the Foundation now finds itself in, i.e. being "the man" - and I don't think it would have helped anyone to run this kind of black/white, I'm good/ you're bad dialogue.
Thanks for helping me seeing the situation more clearly,
No, thank you for asking the right questions.
Thank you too, for opening up the discussion.
Cheers, Achal
Lodewijk
anirudh
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