I don't know Vishnu, and I have only followed the recruitment process by email windowshopping, no direct participation. I have also enjoyed and admired the hard work being done by other enthusiastic Wikimedians, now in this debate, over the years.
But the questions being asked came across to me as perilously close to trolling, seemingly calculated to raise hackles rather than engage in open discourse. Not that the questions themselves were out of place, just that they could have been expressed better, imho. As far as the fact that suddenly a decent amount of money seems to have entered the Indian wikipedia scenario, I hope that is going to result in things that are hugely positive. The Wikimedia phenomenon is an enormous lesson to the world, especially the money-obsessed world that some politicians seem to think is a good thing, that there are choices on working together where achievements are exponentially superior. This is imho a huge thing, in a world where the ravagers of entire countries end up being rewarded with even higher paid jobs in their chosen sphere of junk bonds and predatory banking. How can we take advantage of the fact that, for the first time, some money might be visible to accomplish things that were just dreams till now? A few days back, at one of our Mumbai meets, we had a visiting Wikimedian. He was telling us about some good stuff happening in glam in the USA. We were grousing about the fact that glam stuff is hard to do here, not per se because of resistance from the archive managers, but because those folks neither have money nor expertise to make their archives available digitally. And he pointed out that it is relatively straightforward to identify a project, give students specific work to do in that connection – scanning, uploading etc – something they can report back to their colleges as internships contributing to their degrees, and get grants from wmf to make sure it is done. I have seen that it is hard for young Wikipedia persons to justify the time and work they put in, especially to their parents. Well, this is one way to show that good work can be done, much more rewarding than say, writing empty code for some banker's CSR initiative for a summer internship. There must be many others. It was news to me, and judging from the expressions of the others at the meeting, news to them as well. There must be zillions of other ways in which we can run such projects to make Indian content available to the world of knowledge, before even more is stolen and expropriated by hoarders. And I think we should celebrate that some money is available to leverage, not complain when some of that money goes to pay wages. -- Vickram Fool On The Hill "The cameras were all around. We've got you taped; you're in the play. Here's your I.D. (Ideal for identifying one and all.) Invest your life in the memory bank; ours the interest and we thank you." Jethro Tull: A Passion Play (1973) On Feb 9, 2013 12:27 AM, "Theo10011" <de10...@gmail.com> wrote: > Hello Vishnu > > You seem to be getting awfully defensive in the beginning. > > On Fri, Feb 8, 2013 at 1:23 PM, Vishnu t <visdav...@gmail.com> wrote: > >> Dear Srikanth, >> >> On 8 February 2013 18:56, Srikanth Ramakrishnan <parakara.gh...@gmail.com >> > wrote: >> >>> Vishnu, thanks for responding. Would you or someone from CIS help me >>> understand the rationale for selecting two individuals affiliated with >>> CSCS which is also affiliated with CIS? >>> >> >> First about my affiliation: I am not sure what you mean by affiliation. >> Technically I am no more affiliated to CSCS for the past 5 years. But >> intellectually I have friends and associates, because of my stint there >> from 2002-07. I am unable to see if this is in any way problematic. If it >> is, I am quite perplexed because I have intellectual connections with >> faculty/departments in nearly 20 Universities to where I would like to >> Wiki-movement. Or are you suggesting that there is some deep conspiracy to >> select ONLY because I was affiliated to CSCS? I personally believe not. But >> it would be nice to hear the interview panel (especially those representing >> the Community and Chapter) come in on this. On the other hand I am quite >> happy to showcase my work at CSCS which gave me an exposure to the debates >> and challenges of Indian Languages in Higher Education and Research. >> Similarly my role at SRTT over the past 5 years equipped me other >> intellectual capacities. Not sure, if I was able to address your concern, >> but I would encourage you further clarify, so that we have a closure on >> this. >> > > Allow me to help. First, here's what Affiliation means[1]. If it helps > let's call it association. > > You mention in the second line, that you haven't been affiliated to CSCS > for the past 5 years, implying that you were before then. BTW what is CSCS? > I don't know what you mean by "where I would like to Wiki-movement" it > sounds oddly coprophilic. :P > > I believe Srikanth might indeed be suggesting the latter - a conspiracy! > (with dramatic music even) > > >> >> Second about Tejaswini's affiliation: She is the founding director and >> will continue to be with CSCS. But what I think we should note is that she >> and other faculty because of their work brought whatever image CSCS has not >> that CSCS as an organization (which is impossible to think without the 5 >> people, esp. Dr. Niranjana) has given her credibility. It is her >> intellectual capacities that I personally see adding value to our movement >> and plans than just her 'affiliation' to CSCS. By the way she is also >> affiliated to half a dozen other institutions. Even in her case I am not >> able to see why 'affiliation' becomes a problem. Again, I think someone >> from the interview panel should come in on this and clarify whether it is >> her affiliation to CSCS or intellectual and professional expertise and >> experience that weighed on their recommendation. >> > > I don't know about any of these individuals, I barely know CIS to begin > with. I however know Wikimedia and the world that you might be associating > with. Both Ms. Tejaswini and you, are prior colleague and your organization > had long term association with the one that just hired you. I think the > line of questioning is fair, even though these associations are becoming > more and more common these days in the same circle. > > >> >> About CIS having affiliation to CSCS. Yes they did, I think, currently >> they don't and in future they may or whatever. So what? I am afraid I do >> not see the need to explain/see this as THE RATIONALE which drove either >> CIS or rather the interview panel in recommending the candidates. It looks >> to me, Srikanth, that you are trying to connect dots to see something, >> which at least I personally believe is not the case in the first place. >> > > > So basically, you just admitted that there is affiliation between the > organization that hired you and the one you worked for? to go further, your > colleague will be joining you as an advisor. I don't see why you denied it > or questioned Srikanth's assumption in the first place - most of them hold > true by your own admissions. > > About the need to explain, I think you did a good job above. In fact, that > explanation is quite lengthy if you meant to imply, you don't see a need > for it, it might not have worked. > > > >> >> >>> I don't mean to question the >>> credentials of either you or Ms Tejaswini, >>> >> >> Thanks Srikanth, but I feel you have already done the contrary above and >> I will not be honest if I say I am not hurt, especially when you trivialize >> a senior academician like Dr. Niranjana's getting associated to the >> Wiki-movement in India. If I were part of the interview panel, at least I >> would take severe exception to your mail. >> > > hmm....double negative, so I'm guessing you meant you are hurt? You could > have just stated that. I don't realize why you would take exception to a > fair and apparently a viable assumption. I don't know you and I don't know > Dr. Niranjana, try and understand "Wiki-movement in India" doesn't have any > relation with you, in fact, it barely knows you. I barely know CIS, the > organization that hired you. If there is an older link that might have > conflict of interest in this hiring, I believe it should have been > disclosed. > > If you have any problem with srikanth asking this question, please assume > they are coming from me now on. This might be how CIS works, but we care > for COI and something like this should have been disclosed first. > > >> >> however, was there a need >>> felt for the inclusion of an additional consultant whilst there are >>> already four other members in the CIS Delhi Office (previously WMF >>> India Programs)? >>> >> >> I think, I see your point about A2K teams' workload and I am sure my >> colleagues will be reading this. However, if I were you, I would see >> Adviser as part of the solution than as problem itself. Mainly because the >> Adviser will not do the job of any of the A2K team member (who by the way >> is 3 after Shiju left us). If I understand the logic (from my experience in >> the not for profit and academic sectors) Advisers generally increase a >> team's work exponentially, because they throw ideas, opportunities, plans >> at the team to make them achieve the Goals and also check, criticize, >> mentor, etc. them. Not sure why you get an impression that she will do the >> teams' job. But probably the interview panel could throw more light on >> their 'rationale' for recommending her as an Adviser. At my level I can >> tell you that in the last 7 days of her coming in, she has given the team a >> lot to think and do. >> > > You are probably missing an year and a half of context. The problem with > your predecessor and the previous direction has been criticized, not just > by some people on the list, but several Wikipedians abroad, even in an > official report, for not having enough experienced Wikimedians on hand. Add > to that your hiring, and your advisor, it is odd how 2 people who barely > know about Wikipedia will be leading a team that has been criticized for > not having enough experience and exposure in the first place. > > Either way, I would love to know what some of the > "ideas, opportunities and plans" that have been "thrown" in the last few > days, because I don't know if either of you have a Wiki account yet or what > it is, or how much exposure you've had to this world before you lead it. > > >> >> Do you feel that the current workload on the rest of >>> the team justifies the hiring of an additional consultant? >>> >>> Same as above para. >> >>> Furthermore, based on my discussions with other members oft he >>> community there appears to be some confusion on the amount of WMF >>> grant quoted in your email above, that is, INR 2.6 crores [~USD >>> 488,000]. If I recall correctly, the grant >>> amount sanctioned by the WMF for CIS's A2k programme stands at INR 1.1 >>> crores [~USD 206,000] with the possibility of further support from the >>> FDC through a >>> separate grant request. >>> >> Srikanth, here again we are getting misled by the way we are interpreting >> the terms. Sanctioning a Grant does not mean releasing/disbursing a grant. >> I have in my earlier capacity sanctioned many grants and there are >> instances where you do not end up releasing/disbursing the entire amount >> and typically you set various milestones for the release of installments. >> But the Grant letter says you are sanctioned a grant of X amount of which >> X-y will be sanctioned initially and after review, etc the balance amount >> of X-z will be released. Thus CIS has been sanctioned INR 2.6 crores of >> which INR 1.1 is released. Trust this clarifies. >> > > Oh thank you for explaining the grants system. Again, perhaps people here > might be just a bit more familiar with Wikimedia grant system and basing > their questions on that rather than the one you might have followed. > > >> >> As far as my understanding goes, this support >>> is provisional >>> >> >> No it is not provisional. As far as I know no agency releases grant >> provisionally. >> > > Actually, you might be wrong, by your own explanation it means it is > provisional, as in conditional, and contingent upon further review, or > crossing of a milestone. > > >> >> Though I was upset reading your mail initially, I should thank you for >> being forthright Srikanth, which gave an opportunity to be clear and open >> about what is happening with the A2K team. Anything further do get back. I >> can also be reached on my mobile +91-9845207308 if in case any one of you >> is comfortable talking one on one. >> > > Yes, the Y2K team has a lot of work ahead. > > Regards > Theo > > [1]http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/affiliation > > _______________________________________________ > Wikimediaindia-l mailing list > Wikimediaindia-l@lists.wikimedia.org > To unsubscribe from the list / change mailing preferences visit > https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l > >
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