[Fsf-friends] Statement of FSF India board on recent incidents

[Praveen A]

2008/11/30 ajay kumar <freeajju at gmail.com>:
> dear friends

Dear Ajay,

Welcome to Free Software community (or I don't seem to remember seeing
your mails in any of the lists I subscribe to - at least for the lists
I'm a member you are new).

I'm happy to see so many of new members joining and actively
participating in serious discussions.

>
> local chapters
> are you saying that FSF-I should run like its run in Europe, Americas? that
> means we are trying to force solutions meant for other countries to that of
> ours! in order to have more people (in general terms we call "mass base")
> FSF-I must have local chapters. I mean considering your own views Just see
> the number of population in indian states they are as equal in population to
> that in each country in europe, this clearly shows the importance of having
> local chapters.

IMHO, FSUGs across the country will provide more decentralized way of
reaching masses. I think Nagarjuna and others stressed this point
earlier. I appreciate your enthusiasm to get the message of Freedom to
the masses. I would like to ask you to join a local user group, if you
have not done it yet. Where are you based out of? Is there a Free
Software User Group there? If not are you interested in opening a new
user group in your locality? May be as a first step you can meet with
your friends and discuss about it. If you announce it here, anyone
from that part of the country may be able to join you.


> On an average I think people sleep for 6 hours else if a person sleeps for
> months and years together, wake up a fine morning find themselves in losing
> there control over the foundation, obviously it makes them irritated,
> uncomfortable and the consequence is FAQ's in gnu.org. You people didn't
> even bother inform organisations that are mentioned in the FAQ's.

So are you repeating the hijack theory again? Do you support the
hijack theory? Doesn't "losing there control over the foundation"
amount to hijacking? Are you suggesting the conspiracy theory of
hijacking FSF India real? On the contrary to your observation, what I
saw was a patient response from FSF India in clarifying each and every
question raised and engaging in positive conversation. I am sure FSF
India would focus more on supporting and working together with FSUGs
across the country now that more people are asking for Free Software
community presence in more parts of the country. I hope you would join
in this effort and help reach the message of Freedom to the masses.

>
> board of directors
> When is the so called Board of Directors going to so called NOMINATE there
> new Board?

As Nagarjuna asked Vikram, do you have someone in mind? Who do you
think should be nominated to the the board from the working group?

All the working group members are here.
http://www.gnu.org.in/about-fsf-india/whos-who

Also who do you suggest the new people for the working group. Let us
see what the community feels about your nominations and see if FSF
India accept them. I hope you will give a try.

> most of the current board of directors are the same onces who are there
> since its inception which needs a change. (well power and control over FSF-I
> need to change)

Again are you repeating the hijack theory? As I wrote earlier, can you
suggest new names from the community? Obviously you need to support
your nominations with arguments and show the record of the people you
are proposing.

> for everything that is old has to go and something new will always come into
> place and this transition dosn't happen smoothly.

It does not have to be confrontational from the start. Give a try.

>
> Well as the mails start poring in and that board of directors feel that they
> are baring the peoples quest for clarity, they are actually undermining the
> larger interest of the people. And to say "when you have a responsibility
> you don't bare things or say "patiently replying", rather you need to
> understand the pulse of the people".

Well, it is not as simple as you think. It is easy to just criticize.
An organization like FSF India needs to discuss and it will take time.
Considering the time it took to come up with FAQ, I don't think it was
slow. Patience is a virtue.

>
> How long can you guys go on dictating terms like this?

For a change now you already started dictating. FSF India should do
this, do that ...

>
> who can speak on behalf of fsf india?

It is already explained clearly in the FAQ. If you are just hoping it
be different, I am sorry.

>
> ha thats such a big joke.
> first you say that what ever the fsf-i board members say becomes the stand
> of fsf-i and then you say that fsf-i board will discuss it first and then
> say that "ITS THE BOARDS DECISSION". Well I need some more clarity the mails
> that arun, sasi and nagarjuna have mailed to this mailing list, are they the
> official stand and official statements of FSF-I? or are they just some
> personal views?

"8. Who can speak on behalf of FSF India?

 The Secretary is normally the official spokesperson of FSF India. But
any member of the Board may speak on behalf of the Foundation.
However, it may be noted that such statements by any member of the
Board, including the Secretary, may be considered as the official
statement of the Board only if it is specifically mentioned so."

Doesn't that explains what you are asking for?

> Why do you guys make the rules and then break them? (by going on your own
> words "WE THE *BOARD OF DIRECTORS FSF INDIA* have the only right to dictate)
> i haven't seen any of you guys mention weather the statement that you are
> making is an official stand of fsf-i or its just personal views.

It would have taken quite a bit of effort from your side to get "right
to dictate", judging from the number of people coming up with
dictatorial suggestions. Did you thought it would be so easy? You just
have to stare and FSF India and the Free Software community would look
away?

>
> other than the mention of "For instance, this FAQ is a statement from the
> Board." in the page that is on the gnu.org.in website there is no mention of
> it any were else.

You would have done quite a bit of research to discover this. Good work.

>
> For instance
> http://www.google.com/search?q=satement+from+the+board+inurl%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fmm.gnu.org.in%2Fpipermail%2Ffsf-friends%2F&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.debian:en-US:unofficial&client=iceweasel-a

Hey its just so cool you are using iceweasel. I too use it.
>
> when people at the top look bellow there feet they find lilliputs. When
> these lilliputs come face to face they suddenly become big, this is called
> as mass base and this mass base has to be organised in a democratic way.

May be you can help us understand how to do this by explaining how you
did it. There is something to learn from everyone.

>
> I am proud to be in a democratic country were i can express my views freely.
> I want that freedom back to the very organisation which i believed for and
> trusted for so many years has motivated and kept me free from escapism,
> opportunism.

Great to have known someone so passionate. It is really motivating.

>
> with love for freedom
> ajay kumar

Cheers
Praveen
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