On Thursday 15 October 2009, Karthik Shanmugam wrote: > sk > > > > --- On Thu, 15/10/09, jtd <[email protected]> wrote: > > From: jtd <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [fosscomm] Another Struggle of FREEDOM for India : > Follow Gandhiji To: "Indian FOSS Community Network list" > <[email protected]> Date: Thursday, 15 October, 2009, 1:08 PM > > On Wednesday 14 October 2009, Karthik Shanmugam wrote: > > Hi Edwin, > > > > Yes, I agreed with him. > > September 1984 RMS began to work in GNU Emacs eventually to develop 'Free > > OS' at the same time in India 1984 November, Indian Government announced > > NCP(New Computer Policy) ... This is the historical, technical and > > political gap ... When a guy in the US talked about 'Free OS' India was > > relaxing import conditions ... > > I presume you are berating the removal of import restrictions: > No. I try to point out how much we are trailing in technology NOT to rebuke > NCP 1984 completely(mean meanwhile I don't agree with it completely since > yet I've to understand NCP 1984 completely)... The years are same so I try > to I map it logically ...
Ok. > > The biggest opposer of computerisation was the left trade unions - the guys > on the inside having fun at the expense of 70% of the populace ekeing out > an existence on the outside. > > The left trade unions! I remember during 70s one communist MP says, "In a > socialist society automation is boom" ... When I read about implementation > of railway reservation systems the people who were AGAINST are bureaucrat > NOT clerks. You have got that partly right or wrong. It wasnt only the bureaucrats, but also the rank and file in every organisation - banks, LIC, Railways, customs etc. BTW Mr. Rajiv Gandhi had a thorough understanding of IT tech and it's chance to play a pivotal role in our economy. > > If it ONLY the left against computerization I will correct myself "The biggest opposer of computerisation was PRIMARILY the left trade unions. Though they were joined off and on by congress or independent unions. I sat thru several demonstrations in Calcutta, when party cadres would round up workers to attend the local nutcases protest meeting against computerisation. > why the congress and the JP > packed IBM and other companies? Because Georgy boy never new an iota of economics. As usual the poltician, lacking any ability to analyse, just indulges in his whims and fancies, abetted by cronies. > > The aim of trade left unions are improve the living conditions of the > workers and getting their needs met. Dont make me laugh. Personal experience of living thru the violence and misery caused by unionism because they have a complete lack of understanding (or atleast their actions show such a lack) of how economics works, showed me otherwise. To give you a few examples L & T, the mill strikes, small industry unrest in ghatkopar and vikhroli, National Rayon Corp. Ambivli, Amar Dye Chem, Century Rayon Kalyan, Several factories in Ambad Nasik, Bush and Murphy India, Mukand Iron and steel, Kamani Engineering, Siemens Kalwa, Premier automobiles, GKW Bhandup, Godrej etc. Most of the workers in these companies were amongst the highest paid and the perks they enjoyed then arent available to most even now. The mill strikes were because unions (some congress, some communist) extorted Rs.5~10 per employee for the privilege of being allowed onto the mill premises to earn a daily wage of Rs.15~30. Most were temps for over 20 years. That is what started the fight, worker groups against other worker groups, sometimes aided by managements, though more often the managements never new what hit them. BTW not joining a union meant death and often joining one meant just the same. The commies were relatively better extorting Rs.1~3 per worker since the founding of the mills. Initially it was "voluntary" but ofcourse you got beaten up - though rarely murdered - if you did not "volunteer" in this kafesque world. Worker welfare!!! i sure hope you never ever get into one of these fights to know what unionism is about. You had better be well trained in the art of mayhem to come out alive. There is no welfare just one dog group getting the better of another. Some companies were handed over to the workers for operating. Everyone (Metal box, GKW, Amar Dye, Richardson Cruddas ) of them failed. > > Have other trade unions(other than left) supported the computerization? > Please give some references, I'd like to understand Only some independent unions in private companies. Most others were passive opposers. But the communist led ones (CITU afaik) were the most vocal. Communist unions at the time were near the end anyway and imo they just wanted some cause to try and stay relevant. > In 87 a seminar was run by the ERTL on graphics and the > main focus was X. Most of us were throughly pissed off at this resource hog > and wondered why the seminar did not focus on assembly graphics routines > (which everbody used anyway), it being very fast and with a minimal memory > and disk footprint. > > Interesting ... I was one who sent a stinker letter to the faculty and refused to pay as it was a waste of my entire day. HA HA. Hind sight is a very exacting science, and was justified in not paying as there was no tech substance (programming wise) at all. Bottom line again. If Government interventions in business is dangerous, Extra constitutional rabble rousing are a disaster. What is the remedy? I am afraid none that i know of, save that individual freedom is the only thing that guarantees that the capable will rise and create more equitable situations. Curtail these and the capable will go away. -- Rgds JTD _______________________________________________ network mailing list [email protected] http://lists.fosscom.in/listinfo.cgi/network-fosscom.in
