Mr.Sibal, Union Minister for IT and Communications, was quoted on two very interesting points by First Post

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 😀

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.

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Also, do read Nikhil Pawa’s column on Who plays Judge