I have also copied her, to keep her in the loop (until she is included in the list). I had the privilege of attending a workshop session she conducted in Mumbai a couple of months back, and it was absolutely mind-blowing. Great to know that a way has been found to bring her expertise and viewpoint on board.

On Fri, Feb 8, 2013 at 5:44 PM, Vishnu t visdaviva@gmail.com wrote:

Dear Pradeep,

If I may come-in on this.

*From: * Pradeep Mohandas prad2609@yahoo.com;

...

• To: * noopur noopur@cis-india.org;
• Subject: * Re: [Wikimediaindia-l] [A2K]: The Access to Knowledge -

Bulletin - January '13

• Sent: * Thu, Feb 7, 2013 8:05:53 AM

  Hi,

Thank you for the update, Noopur.

Could you or someone elaborate on the hiring of Tejaswini Niranjana, please?

I assume you are asking about the rational behind hiring Dr. Tejaswini Niranjana as a Consultant Adviser to the A2K team. As many of you on the list may not know, Tejaswini was one of the potential applicants for the position the Programme Director, Access to Knowledge. She had even made it to the short-list of candidates who were interviewed. In fact her interview happened the same day as mine at CIS. However, the interview panel felt that she is too senior and over qualified for the position, but wanted to keep her associated with the Wiki-movement in India. Then the interview panel suggested that we look at taking her as an Consultant Adviser. CIS (i.e. Sunil) went back to the WMF about this recommendation by the interview panel and the WMF accepted it, as uniformly it was felt that she would add tremendous value to the Wiki-movement in India.

I personally think that Tejaswini brings with her wealth of experience and professional expertise of working in the sector of Indian Languages in Higher Education. In addition to this she has multiple research institutional contacts and networks, which will potentially add value to the Indian Language Wikipedias and contribute to the expansion of editors and content. I was told that she has already played an instrumental role in facilitating two outreach workshops to researchers and college students in Mumbai and Ahmadnagar, to which some of our Wikipedians friends have gone. I think we should all concur with the strategic decision taken by the interview panel, which I am quite sure will benefit us and the movement. You can find her brief profile herehttp://cis-india.org/about/people/distinguished-fellows .

Please join me in welcoming Dr. Tejaswini Niranjana to the Wiki-movement in India. I have taken the liberty to coy her on this mail.

Best regards, Vishnu

---

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Uh, uh. It wasn't an outreach as such, it was an internal (closed) university academic event.

Vishnu, thanks for responding. Would you or someone from CIS help me understand the rationale for selecting two individuals affiliated with CSCS which is also affiliated with CIS? I don't mean to question the credentials of either you or Ms Tejaswini, however, was there a need felt for the inclusion of an additional consultant whilst there are already four other members in the CIS Delhi Office (previously WMF India Programs)? Do you feel that the current workload on the rest of the team justifies the hiring of an additional consultant?

Furthermore, based on my discussions with other members oft he community there appears to be some confusion on the amount of WMF grant quoted in your email above, that is, INR 2.6 crores [~USD 488,000]. If I recall correctly, the grant amount sanctioned by the WMF for CIS's A2k programme stands at INR 1.1 crores [~USD 206,000] with the possibility of further support from the FDC through a separate grant request. As far as my understanding goes, this support is provisional and dependent on the FDC's willingness to extend the grant amount on the basis of CIS's track record with spending and execution of programmes since the A2k programme was announced in the middle of 2012.

From Barry's mail:

[Link http://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/wikimediaindia-l/2012-July/008446.html]

The grant will be for two years in duration to complete the original first stage of the catalyst strategy. The first year’s grant will be for a total of INR 11,000,000 subject to final budget approvals. The second year will be for a similar amount plus inflation subject to a budget review in May 2013. The grant will be renewable via the Wikimedia Grants program (or the FDC, if CIS were to become an affiliated organization and meet eligibility)

Thanks, Srikanth

On Fri, Feb 8, 2013 at 6:26 PM, Gautam John gautam@prathambooks.org wrote:

On 8 February 2013 17:44, Vishnu t visdaviva@gmail.com wrote:

...

Please join me in welcoming Dr. Tejaswini Niranjana to the Wiki-movement in India. I have taken the liberty to coy her on this mail.

Read Dr. Niranjana's profile. Wow! Welcome to the movement!

---

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Hello Vishnu

You seem to be getting awfully defensive in the beginning.

On Fri, Feb 8, 2013 at 1:23 PM, Vishnu t visdaviva@gmail.com wrote:

Dear Srikanth,

On 8 February 2013 18:56, Srikanth Ramakrishnan parakara.ghoda@gmail.com wrote:

...

Vishnu, thanks for responding. Would you or someone from CIS help me understand the rationale for selecting two individuals affiliated with CSCS which is also affiliated with CIS?

First about my affiliation: I am not sure what you mean by affiliation. Technically I am no more affiliated to CSCS for the past 5 years. But intellectually I have friends and associates, because of my stint there from 2002-07. I am unable to see if this is in any way problematic. If it is, I am quite perplexed because I have intellectual connections with faculty/departments in nearly 20 Universities to where I would like to Wiki-movement. Or are you suggesting that there is some deep conspiracy to select ONLY because I was affiliated to CSCS? I personally believe not. But it would be nice to hear the interview panel (especially those representing the Community and Chapter) come in on this. On the other hand I am quite happy to showcase my work at CSCS which gave me an exposure to the debates and challenges of Indian Languages in Higher Education and Research. Similarly my role at SRTT over the past 5 years equipped me other intellectual capacities. Not sure, if I was able to address your concern, but I would encourage you further clarify, so that we have a closure on this.

Allow me to help. First, here's what Affiliation means[1]. If it helps let's call it association.

You mention in the second line, that you haven't been affiliated to CSCS for the past 5 years, implying that you were before then. BTW what is CSCS? I don't know what you mean by "where I would like to Wiki-movement" it sounds oddly coprophilic. :P

I believe Srikanth might indeed be suggesting the latter - a conspiracy! (with dramatic music even)

Second about Tejaswini's affiliation: She is the founding director and will continue to be with CSCS. But what I think we should note is that she and other faculty because of their work brought whatever image CSCS has not that CSCS as an organization (which is impossible to think without the 5 people, esp. Dr. Niranjana) has given her credibility. It is her intellectual capacities that I personally see adding value to our movement and plans than just her 'affiliation' to CSCS. By the way she is also affiliated to half a dozen other institutions. Even in her case I am not able to see why 'affiliation' becomes a problem. Again, I think someone from the interview panel should come in on this and clarify whether it is her affiliation to CSCS or intellectual and professional expertise and experience that weighed on their recommendation.

I don't know about any of these individuals, I barely know CIS to begin with. I however know Wikimedia and the world that you might be associating with. Both Ms. Tejaswini and you, are prior colleague and your organization had long term association with the one that just hired you. I think the line of questioning is fair, even though these associations are becoming more and more common these days in the same circle.

About CIS having affiliation to CSCS. Yes they did, I think, currently they don't and in future they may or whatever. So what? I am afraid I do not see the need to explain/see this as THE RATIONALE which drove either CIS or rather the interview panel in recommending the candidates. It looks to me, Srikanth, that you are trying to connect dots to see something, which at least I personally believe is not the case in the first place.

So basically, you just admitted that there is affiliation between the organization that hired you and the one you worked for? to go further, your colleague will be joining you as an advisor. I don't see why you denied it or questioned Srikanth's assumption in the first place - most of them hold true by your own admissions.

About the need to explain, I think you did a good job above. In fact, that explanation is quite lengthy if you meant to imply, you don't see a need for it, it might not have worked.

...

I don't mean to question the credentials of either you or Ms Tejaswini,

Thanks Srikanth, but I feel you have already done the contrary above and I will not be honest if I say I am not hurt, especially when you trivialize a senior academician like Dr. Niranjana's getting associated to the Wiki-movement in India. If I were part of the interview panel, at least I would take severe exception to your mail.

hmm....double negative, so I'm guessing you meant you are hurt? You could have just stated that. I don't realize why you would take exception to a fair and apparently a viable assumption. 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.

If you have any problem with srikanth asking this question, please assume they are coming from me now on. This might be how CIS works, but we care for COI and something like this should have been disclosed first.

however, was there a need

...

felt for the inclusion of an additional consultant whilst there are already four other members in the CIS Delhi Office (previously WMF India Programs)?

I think, I see your point about A2K teams' workload and I am sure my colleagues will be reading this. However, if I were you, I would see Adviser as part of the solution than as problem itself. Mainly because the Adviser will not do the job of any of the A2K team member (who by the way is 3 after Shiju left us). If I understand the logic (from my experience in the not for profit and academic sectors) Advisers generally increase a team's work exponentially, because they throw ideas, opportunities, plans at the team to make them achieve the Goals and also check, criticize, mentor, etc. them. Not sure why you get an impression that she will do the teams' job. But probably the interview panel could throw more light on their 'rationale' for recommending her as an Adviser. At my level I can tell you that in the last 7 days of her coming in, she has given the team a lot to think and do.

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.

Either way, I would love to know what some of the "ideas, opportunities and plans" that have been "thrown" in the last few days, because I don't know if either of you have a Wiki account yet or what it is, or how much exposure you've had to this world before you lead it.

Do you feel that the current workload on the rest of

...

the team justifies the hiring of an additional consultant?

Same as above para.

...

Furthermore, based on my discussions with other members oft he community there appears to be some confusion on the amount of WMF grant quoted in your email above, that is, INR 2.6 crores [~USD 488,000]. If I recall correctly, the grant amount sanctioned by the WMF for CIS's A2k programme stands at INR 1.1 crores [~USD 206,000] with the possibility of further support from the FDC through a separate grant request.

Srikanth, here again we are getting misled by the way we are interpreting the terms. Sanctioning a Grant does not mean releasing/disbursing a grant. I have in my earlier capacity sanctioned many grants and there are instances where you do not end up releasing/disbursing the entire amount and typically you set various milestones for the release of installments. But the Grant letter says you are sanctioned a grant of X amount of which X-y will be sanctioned initially and after review, etc the balance amount of X-z will be released. Thus CIS has been sanctioned INR 2.6 crores of which INR 1.1 is released. Trust this clarifies.

Oh thank you for explaining the grants system. Again, perhaps people here might be just a bit more familiar with Wikimedia grant system and basing their questions on that rather than the one you might have followed.

As far as my understanding goes, this support

...

is provisional

No it is not provisional. As far as I know no agency releases grant provisionally.

Actually, you might be wrong, by your own explanation it means it is provisional, as in conditional, and contingent upon further review, or crossing of a milestone.

Though I was upset reading your mail initially, I should thank you for being forthright Srikanth, which gave an opportunity to be clear and open about what is happening with the A2K team. Anything further do get back. I can also be reached on my mobile +91-9845207308 if in case any one of you is comfortable talking one on one.

Yes, the Y2K team has a lot of work ahead.

Regards Theo

[1]http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/affiliation

Hi all,

My best wishes for the new A2K team.

A sincere request to all Indian Wikimedians:

CIS has been given a grant by WMF. Let CIS do their job in peace and let them be answerable to the grant review committee.

Just because they are located in India and working on Indian Wikimedia projects, I don't think they need to answer every question from the community. Especially, hiring related questions and when they are yet to start work.

The former Indian Wikimedia office was burnt out precisely because of this negative approach from the community.

If the community needs to strengthen the movement, either work on your own language Wikimedia projects or join the India Wikimedia chapter and take it forward.

Ravi

While broadly concurring with Ravi, I have been informed by several Wikimedians that the office also had to deal with a plethora of well-meant queries and initiatives from external sources, ie outside India. I don't think any of us should be afraid to raise doubts, but equally, I don't think any of us should do so in a fashion that implies doubt about anyone's intentions or abilities, unless the questioner has a serious issue with that itself, based on actual experience.

My earlier post on this issue needs some more clarity, I think. For Wikimedians, design projects and initiatives to bring our native storehouse of knowledge to the benefit of the whole world (in every form, be it text, visual, aural, graphic, or whatever). For the Chapter (and CIS, together) build processes to ensure that funds can be smoothly funnelled where needed to make those projects and initiatives fructify in a timely fashion. CIS has the necessary certification from the government to allow international Wikimedia funding to be used in India. The Chapter doesn't, afaik. Let us build from our known strengths, together.

I fully agree with Vicram and others who feel its only fair that we give the new organisation a chance to do good and succeed.

Dhaval & Aravind, you are both right & wrong. You are right that large parts of the India Program's strategic decisions went wrong and should bear the major blame for the organisation's failure, but it is equally true in the debate which followed, no matter how justifiable, a lot of negative energy entered the atmosphere, making things difficult and disheartening for anyone who wanted to work sincerely. I'm sure I must contributed some of that negative energy myself too. So without trying to blame anyone, what Ravi said was essentially true also.

But let us not allow the sad failure of India Program to deny us the new hope! Let us hope this program with new people heading it, lead to new opportunities, new challenges and new successes!

Lastly, I would request the new A2K Program people to ignore the tone of some of the messages and instead concentrate on the kernel of truth that some of these messages concern -

- that the community is suspicious of programs where not enough Wikimedians/people who are editors have been employed or made part of the process. The Wikimedian community is uber sensitive to non-Wikimedians coming in with their initiatives and good intentions, no matter how genuine. Sometimes, we Wikimedians tend to throw the baby out with the bath-water. Cant help it, once burnt, twice shy. - that while a part of the Wikimedian community is right now in support of A2K just based on pure faith, the A2K can build up that support base of the remaining community enormously by engaging the community and its concerns and by a solid track record of work done and promises fulfilled. - that many Wikimedians are protective of the Chapter and feel that it has been neglected or treated badly by the WMF. We need the A2K to build a healthy, complementary relationship with the Chapter - not a competitive one. We need the A2K to have a close fit with the Chapter, taking up initiatives where Chapter and its volunteers find it difficult to succeed, and avoiding the space meant for normal wikimedians. - Though the grant to A2K is from the WMF, the Wikimedian Community feels it is the judge and jury as to deciding whether the money has been spent well or frivolously. Lots of honest communication is required all the time. Remember that WMF grants are not the Foundation's money, but donations by tens of thousands of the supporters of the movement all over the world.

On my part, I pledge my cooperation to A2K, as I have done to the Chapter, and to India Program in the past.

Lastly, I request my fellow Wikimedians that any further queries to A2K may be started on a new thread and in neutrally phrased language so that the A2K gets a fair chance.

Happy editting all!

AshLin

On Sat, Feb 9, 2013 at 8:33 PM, Anivar Aravind anivar.aravind@gmail.comwrote:

There are 2 separate issues here . Please address them seperately

1. Blaming community for the organizational management failures of WMF

India program

(read Ravi once gain : "Indian Wikimedia office was burnt out precisely because of this negative approach from the community." , and a WMF Board member giving +100 to that) . When you are working on an accountable position in front of a community there will be questions and critiques always. This is a usual phenomenon . Blaming the community for the organizational failures of WMF India team is not the solution for that . Ravisankar and Bishakha have a moral responsibility to explain this critique, since this is different from whatever WMF told us so far . I hope they will respond and close this thread

Dear Anivar,

I took your comment seriously and went back and re-read Ravi's comment - and I continue to agree with what he says. Nowhere does he (or I) hold the community responsible for the failures of the India program. I cannot understand how this conclusion can be arrived at or derived from those comments.

Over the last two years, community members, including those from the wider wikipedia communities, have on many instances rightly pointed out things that were going wrong with the program. That's not the issue here. Constructive feedback is always needed and always welcomed.

But we also know - and need to acknowledge - that the community has not always been constructive in its feedback. It is well known that not just members of the India program team, but volunteers from India have themselves felt burnt out and unfairly targeted by the atmosphere of suspicion and the level of politics.

With new leadership in place at the A2K program team following a rigorous selection process, there is a chance to make somewhat of a fresh start. The newly-led team has yet to start work and cannot be held responsible for the lapses of the past. What it needs is a level playing field to start working. Without this, it cannot possibly succeed, no matter how solid its intentions are, no matter how capable it may be, no matter how much effort it puts into working in an inclusive, transparent and peer-like manner with the larger community.

Given this, I would ask that you and everyone on their list do their bit to build a level playing field, and ensure that the newly-led team is given a fair chance to prove its mettle or earn its stripes, in an atmosphere that is free of suspicion and pre-judgement.

Dwelling on the past and nitpicking on inessentials is not going to get us there - but making concrete suggestions for the future might. Once again, I would urge anyone who has specific suggestions for the new A2K team to publicly share them so that these can be seriously considered. This would help create the level playing field that is so badly needed now.

Best Bishakha

Nobody's being blamed! Negative approaches do cause burn outs. This is a reality. We know it. To say something that is a reality does not mean that anyone is being blamed. I genuinely can't understand why this is seen as blame or a stigma on the community.

Also, I am not a politician and do not believe that anyone must follow what I say or surrender to it. So please feel totally free to disagree with me - I mean it.

I will re-emphasize that introspection is needed if we are to get anywhere - not just on the part of the program team, but also on the part of the community. We cannot continue to take the stand that everything that the community does is fine; we need to introspect on our strengths and weaknesses with honesty.

I continue to read Ravi's statement as part of this much-needed introspection.

Best Bishakha

On Sun, Feb 10, 2013 at 12:08 PM, Dhaval S. Vyas dsvyas@gmail.com wrote:

Hi Bishakha,

I am amazed to see how beautifully something is ignored to be answered.

On Sun, Feb 10, 2013 at 3:13 AM, Bishakha Datta bishakhadatta@gmail.comwrote:

...

On Sat, Feb 9, 2013 at 8:33 PM, Anivar Aravind anivar.aravind@gmail.comwrote:

...

There are 2 separate issues here . Please address them seperately

1. Blaming community for the organizational management failures of WMF

India program

(read Ravi once gain : "Indian Wikimedia office was burnt out precisely because of this negative approach from the community." , and a WMF Board member giving +100 to that) . When you are working on an accountable position in front of a community there will be questions and critiques always. This is a usual phenomenon . Blaming the community for the organizational failures of WMF India team is not the solution for that . Ravisankar and Bishakha have a moral responsibility to explain this critique, since this is different from whatever WMF told us so far . I hope they will respond and close this thread

Dear Anivar,

I took your comment seriously and went back and re-read Ravi's comment - and I continue to agree with what he says. Nowhere does he (or I) hold the community responsible for the failures of the India program. I cannot understand how this conclusion can be arrived at or derived from those comments.

do you mean to say there is no blame on community here in this statement? "Indian Wikimedia office was burnt out precisely *because of this negative approach from the community*." I have underlined and marked in bold the portion that I and (think Arvind) found objectionable and questioned. Please be advised and read my reply more carefully once again, I never asked any question to A2K team nor I raised any concerns, What I tried was just to ask something to Ravi to clarify, which I think for some incomprehensible or mystic reasons he is trying to avoid and answering himself.

Anyways, as a member of Board of Trustees if you donot see anything objectionable in saying that "Indian Wikimedia office was burnt out precisely *because of this negative approach from the community*", I as a tiny member of Indic wikipedia community, have no right to feel hurt. You being trustee our representative and leader, and in our culture it is said that *Yatha Raja tatha Praja*, so as you're not offended (I assume you are community member as well as trustee) we must not be offended and live with this stigma.

...

Over the last two years, community members, including those from the wider wikipedia communities, have on many instances rightly pointed out things that were going wrong with the program. That's not the issue here. Constructive feedback is always needed and always welcomed.

But we also know - and need to acknowledge - that the community has not always been constructive in its feedback. It is well known that not just members of the India program team, but volunteers from India have themselves felt burnt out and unfairly targeted by the atmosphere of suspicion and the level of politics.

With new leadership in place at the A2K program team following a rigorous selection process, there is a chance to make somewhat of a fresh start. The newly-led team has yet to start work and cannot be held responsible for the lapses of the past. What it needs is a level playing field to start working. Without this, it cannot possibly succeed, no matter how solid its intentions are, no matter how capable it may be, no matter how much effort it puts into working in an inclusive, transparent and peer-like manner with the larger community.

Given this, I would ask that you and everyone on their list do their bit to build a level playing field, and ensure that the newly-led team is given a fair chance to prove its mettle or earn its stripes, in an atmosphere that is free of suspicion and pre-judgement.

Dwelling on the past and nitpicking on inessentials is not going to get us there - but making concrete suggestions for the future might. Once again, I would urge anyone who has specific suggestions for the new A2K team to publicly share them so that these can be seriously considered. This would help create the level playing field that is so badly needed now.

Best Bishakha

A surrendered member of community, Dhaval

---

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I am getting a bit sick of the hypocrisy here. It's the people that are employed, people in the position of power complaining to people who have nothing to gain. It's like any other politician, government babu, complaining about the aam aadmi being angry after an year of scams and questionable conduct. Do the people complaining have anything ventured? Do they stand to lose or gain anything? Yet, they should be the one to shut up and let the establishment get on with whatever it is, it has been doing for the years before.

Bishakha it's always enjoyable to have you appear on this list to protect the same interests again. I would barely see your comments on these lists if not for that. it was the office bearers last years when you argued to hold them to a lower standard on Wikipedia, the wikipedia community disagreed. My own feelings wouldn't be as strong here if I didn't know the actual spending, or the level of some people's involvement in the failed India initiatives or CIS and others having had other associations. But it's not like you are an elected representative of this community who should care about these things.

Either way, I don't think you know what a "level playing field" is in the first place. It is the right to treat others as equals, and question as equals. They have the same right to answer back or not. What you are asking for here is actually the opposite - an uneven playing field. We should all shut up, stop asking questions, welcome the newcomers with open arms, and forget that there was any conflict. So, they can indeed be above criticism.

-Theo

PS Bishakha feel free to avoid reading my emails from now on, or disengage all together.

On Sun, Feb 10, 2013 at 1:13 AM, Bishakha Datta bishakhadatta@gmail.comwrote:

Hi

Vickram, there seems to be a false assumption on your part that is underpinning most of your logic. Allow me to clarify. The funding is not new, it is not entering India now, in fact if I had to make an educated guess I would say the spending is an eighth or a sixth of what it was the last year and the year before. Money hasn't been diverted now, it was for the last 2-3 years, it has just been reduced to a fraction of what it was. Second, CIS has other benefactors and other priorities. There seems to be some link that was formed a while ago between them and the foundation. CIS might have the financial approvals in place to process the grant, but they are not being used to transfer to the organic entity in India but create an alternative to them. There is also no problem in getting those financial approvals for the chapter itself, it was a decision made a while ago to support CIS instead - I don't believe the chapter was a party to it. Working together would be CIS supporting the chapter, not continuing to employ and hire people on the other side of the country, for a community they know little about.

Ashwin, you're a mensch. I appreciate your attempts at levity here, but these questions haven't been asked for a while. 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. I don't recall if any of them worked with any community members in the last year on anything substantial. If I'm wrong then please tell me you've been working with them in Pune or Mumbai, I heard things to the contrary and occasionally saw low impact, low visibility undertakings.

However, I see someone being accused of trolling for asking these questions, someone else of getting defensive. There isn't any clarification, no answer - just that these questions shouldn't be asked. These aren't necessarily questions directed at Dr. Niranjana or Vishnu, or even CIS alone, they might be more suited to inquiring how the whole situation came to be.

On Sat, Feb 9, 2013 at 6:37 AM, Bishakha Datta bishakhadatta@gmail.comwrote:

And to all on this list: can we please give the new A2K team the space, the good faith, and the openness so they can start to do what they need to do without feeling like people are nipping at their heels?

The team has been there for over an year now, I think hisham left 7-8 months. If anything I really don't know what half of them have been doing, or who is on the team these days. It sounded like any other gov. babu job.

Can we please put the politics, suspicions, and judgements aside and give them a break? This atmosphere seems the very opposite of a welcome.

I seem to recall you being adapt at politics yourself, ma'am. I've heard about a lot of things being said to the board. Perhaps, you can talk more about me or the Indian community to the board and staff on another occasion, and then ask to put aside politics on an open mailing list.

Can we please give them a level playing field?

Does that mean turning a blind eye to nepotism, favoritism and undisclosed conflicts of interest? They are getting more and more common I see. But sure, a level playing field - for people in places of power and authority.

-Theo

Welcome Tejaswini.

Its great that a person of your wide interests, experience and accomplishments is associated with the Indian language Wikipedian movement. Indian Language Wikipedias need all the help they can get and it is a great asset to have some one like you to present a different viewpoint which will help us chalk up new achievements.

Ashwin Baindur