My brother, Krishnadev Calamur’s novel- to be published on July 17th 2012
we are, naturally, very chuffed 
Apr 242012
Jan 202012
Times of India has linked back to this blog. in a section called ‘women molested’ *face palm*
and, it links back to this page on the ToI Website
I must appreciate the Time’s of India’s ability to get all searchers of all sort of stuff onto its site.. I wonder if there is a page for “indian p*rn”
Jan 172012
But thats become the big question thats derailed the bills progress in the House. Congressmen and women have tacitly admitted that they dont understand how the Internet works, and Internet experts have argued that the nations lawmakers dont understand how the Hollywood-supported bill stands to destroy the Internet as we know it by opening up the possibility of widespread censorship. The emerging theme, weve said before, is that SOPA uses a draconian solution to address a problem that we truly dont understand. If you asked Reddits hivemind, they would tell you emphatically: it is a bad idea.
via Rupert Murdoch vs. The Internet – Technology – The Atlantic Wire.
Worldwide the net has struck a blow at the powers that be (TPTB), and those stakeholders are striking back…..
Dec 152011
Mr.Sibal, Union Minister for IT and Communications, was quoted on two very interesting points by First Post
a) Though the reach of social media is large, number who use it are limited. We are only getting an elitist viewpoint
b) We want the social media companies to give a voice to the aam aadmi whose views are not represented in these platforms
I actually agree with the first statement . The internet is India is elitist. It is. the reach of Internet in India is estimated at a 100 million. 38 million of these are on Facebook, the largest social networking platform
Social Bakers, a afantastic site for this sort of data, also tells me that
Our social networking statistics show that Facebook penetration in India is 3.53%compared to the country’s population and 51.11% in relation to number of Internet users. The total number of FB users in India is reaching 41399720 and grew by more than 13094900 in the last 6 months.
Comparing these nearest countries by penetration of Facebook users shows that India has 0.07% higher FB penetration than Solomon Islands and 0.16% lower FB penetration than Belarus.
So when Mr.Sibal says it is elitist – he is not wrong. 38 million out of 1.3 billion is a woefully small fraction. The elite fraction. It is also, the young who are adapting to this medium faster than anyone else. Also, 73% of the users are men. More women on the net, like more women elsewhere, is possibly a kinder, gentler net
Demographics of FB membership in India
My issue with him is on his second statement on social media companies giving aam aadmi a voice. Actually Mr.Sibal they are.
Most social networking sites are available in multiple regional languages. There are blogs, FB pages, tweets in a myriad of Indian languages – enabling people who are not from ‘elite’ English speaking backgrounds to communicate effectively and forcefully in the language that they are most forceful in. Many manage communication in multiple languages.
The internet should have been a tool that is available for all, that empowers people to communicate, share and interact. To let voices – marginal, mainstream, elite, mass and niche to have a say. But, where is the connectivity? Where is the IT policy that ensures that aam aadmi, or indeed, aam aurat – has internet access. Where is the content in various languages that will help change these lives.
And finally, Let me ask you an even more simple question, you manage to bring connectivity, people miraculously manage to become literate overnight, become tech savvy and use a computer in any form – tablet, desktop, laptop, community PC etal – where is the electricity.
It is all very well to put the onus on others. But, in this case that is wrong. The onus is with the Government of India to provide infrastructure – that includes schools, teachers, electricity, training, connectivity. Unless that is done, you won’t have aam aadmi on social networking.
A piece of advice to you Mr.Sibal . My father taught me this before I began working, it is advice that i have taken seriously, to my benefit. When wrong, have the courage to apologise. I will respect you more for having said sorry. This is making a mostly capable person look terribly inept and out of it.
__________________________________
Also, do read Nikhil Pawa’s column on Who plays Judge
Dec 152011
Mr.Sibal, Union Minister for IT and Communications, was quoted on two very interesting points by First Post
a) Though the reach of social media is large, number who use it are limited. We are only getting an elitist viewpoint
b) We want the social media companies to give a voice to the aam aadmi whose views are not represented in these platforms
I actually agree with the first statement . The internet is India is elitist. It is. the reach of Internet in India is estimated at a 100 million. 38 million of these are on Facebook, the largest social networking platform
Social Bakers, a afantastic site for this sort of data, also tells me that
Our social networking statistics show that Facebook penetration in India is 3.53%compared to the country’s population and 51.11% in relation to number of Internet users. The total number of FB users in India is reaching 41399720 and grew by more than 13094900 in the last 6 months.
Comparing these nearest countries by penetration of Facebook users shows that India has 0.07% higher FB penetration than Solomon Islands and 0.16% lower FB penetration than Belarus.
So when Mr.Sibal says it is elitist – he is not wrong. 38 million out of 1.3 billion is a woefully small fraction. The elite fraction. It is also, the young who are adapting to this medium faster than anyone else. Also, 73% of the users are men. More women on the net, like more women elsewhere, is possibly a kinder, gentler net
Demographics of FB membership in India
My issue with him is on his second statement on social media companies giving aam aadmi a voice. Actually Mr.Sibal they are.
Most social networking sites are available in multiple regional languages. There are blogs, FB pages, tweets in a myriad of Indian languages – enabling people who are not from ‘elite’ English speaking backgrounds to communicate effectively and forcefully in the language that they are most forceful in. Many manage communication in multiple languages.
The internet should have been a tool that is available for all, that empowers people to communicate, share and interact. To let voices – marginal, mainstream, elite, mass and niche to have a say. But, where is the connectivity? Where is the IT policy that ensures that aam aadmi, or indeed, aam aurat – has internet access. Where is the content in various languages that will help change these lives.
And finally, Let me ask you an even more simple question, you manage to bring connectivity, people miraculously manage to become literate overnight, become tech savvy and use a computer in any form – tablet, desktop, laptop, community PC etal – where is the electricity.
It is all very well to put the onus on others. But, in this case that is wrong. The onus is with the Government of India to provide infrastructure – that includes schools, teachers, electricity, training, connectivity. Unless that is done, you won’t have aam aadmi on social networking.
A piece of advice to you Mr.Sibal . My father taught me this before I began working, it is advice that i have taken seriously, to my benefit. When wrong, have the courage to apologise. I will respect you more for having said sorry. This is making a mostly capable person look terribly inept and out of it.
__________________________________
Also, do read Nikhil Pawa’s column on Who plays Judge