[ I wonder if LL or somebody can help teh professor also to convert teh
document using Open Source typesetting software? Does LateX support Indic
fonts like bangla? And convert them to PDF? - Sandip ]
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [Fsf-friends] Fwd: funds wanted for bangla book on gnu/linux
Date: Sun, 19 Sep 2004 00:32:09 +0530
From: Tathagata Banerjee <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
CC: dipankar das <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
forwarding a slightly revised form of the mail posted by me on fsf-wb and
ilug-cal lists.
---------- Forwarded Message ----------
Subject: [ilug-cal] "Free Software Foundation - West Bengal"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Tuesday 14 September 2004 13:06
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: "Free Software Foundation - West Bengal" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
dear all,
as many of you may already know, dipankar-da (known to some as
prof.dipankar das since he teaches economics at jaipuria college, but he has
strong objections to this salutation) has written a book for teaching
gnu/linux for the beginners-to-intermediate level.
i have been one of the first readers of the book through its many revisions
and fine-tunings, and know it to be a unique work not only because it is (as
far as i know) the only substantial (a little less than 400 A4 pages) bangla
book on this subject, but also because of its friendly and unconventional
approach that simulates the average learner's first steps in learning
gnu/linux. his tone is humorous, semi-serious and conversational, and his
material is carefully researched and well-presented. as and when it is
publicly available, this book should be a priceless possession to all who
have been wanting to learn gnu/linux, but were rebuffed by language barriers
or by the beginner-unfriendliness of texts commonly available.
dipankar-da has decided to release the book under the GNU Free Documentation
License, or some similar free licensing scheme, and the Free Software
Foundation of India has agreed to publish the work. but this has become
difficult because of a shortage of funds. it is estimated that it will cost
somewhat more than Rs.1,00,000/- to print 1000 copies without compromising too
much on quality. it was possible to cut the cost to this level mainly because
dipankar-da has given up all royalty claims to the work. but even of this
amount, only a fraction has been promised to FSFI by a certain sponsor. we
need to generate funds of our own if we want to see this work published. the
West Bengal Chapter of FSFI has taken on itself the task of organising the
collection of funds to the extent that its limited capcity permits. on behalf
of FSFI and FSFI-WB, i appeal to all supporters of 'linux', gnu/linux and
Free Software on these lists to donate to the cause. modalities of payment
and receipt can be worked out on a person-to-person basis, as soon as
interested people contact me by e-mail or telephone. my contact details are
given below. please DO NOT reply to the ilug-cal list but write/call me
directly. fsf-wb listers, however, are welcome to discuss this on their list.
also please note that we shall make every effort to repay the sponsors as we
recover the cost, and given the unique placement of the book we can expect
this to be a fairly rapid process. but of course nothing can be promised.
profits, if any after repaying the sponsors, shall go to the FSFI.
thank you.
Tathagata Banerjee
Co-ordinator, FSFI West Bengal Chapter.
Lecturer in English
Bangabasi College
19, Scott Lane, Calcutta - 700009.
e-mail: tathagatabanerjee at gmx dot net
tathagatab at gmail dot com
phone: (+9133) 98301-66313
addenda:
1. a few chapters of the book are available for free d/l in pdf form at
www.geocities.com/ddipankardas
2. a (full) pre-release version of the book is available on cdrom at cost
price + shipping. you have to write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
3. an attempt is on to make the book available for free d/l at fsf india's
website.
4. dipankar das makes the apology that the book was written and pdf-ed with
the help of proprietary software, because of the unavailibility or poor
usability of current bangla writing technologies using Free Software.
- t.
--
cogito, ergo es.
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--
Sandip Bhattacharya * Puroga Technologies * [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Work: http://www.puroga.com * Home: http://www.sandipb.net
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