I take strong offense to this mail and see it as an attack on Anirudh, aka Sir Nicholas. He is a senior member of the community, an active editor and administrator on the English Wikipedia, and a founding member of the chapter. One doesn't need Indic contribs to be an Indian Wikipedian. You might want to search again, or use a different search engine. The community hasn't reached any low because of this but because people are busy ranting out her and not contributing or letting others contribute.
On 2/18/13, Raj Tagore rajtagorev@gmail.com wrote:
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: rajtagorev@gmail.com Date: Sat, Feb 16, 2013 at 10:29 PM Subject: Re: [Wikimediaindia-l] Chapter Misleading Community! To: wikimediaindia-l@lists.wikimedia.org, anirudhsbh@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:
- 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.
- 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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