FSCI Wiki

Difference between revisions of "Open Letter To Mammootty"

Open Letter To Mammootty (view source)

Revision as of 15:23, 15 February 2017

4,953 bytes added ,  15:23, 15 February 2017
m
Restore broken link
 
m (Restore broken link)
 
(117 intermediate revisions by 68 users not shown)
Line 3: Line 3:
We request all of you to blog on this and add your link to [[/Protest_Blog_Posts| Protest Blog posts]] page.
We request all of you to blog on this and add your link to [[/Protest_Blog_Posts| Protest Blog posts]] page.


A malayalam version of this letter is available [[/malayalam|here ]] . Please help to complete this Translation [[/malayalam|മമ്മൂട്ടിയ്ക്കൊരു തുറന്ന കത്തു് ]]
A malayalam version of this letter is available [[മമ്മൂട്ടിയ്ക്കൊരു_തുറന്ന_കത്തു്|here ]].
 
=== Context ===
=== Context ===


Line 15: Line 14:
This letter is to express our deepest disappointment in your involvement with Microsoft to launch their [http://www.aol.in/bollywood/story/2008040806139012000006/India/index.html e-literacy program in Kerala] and is based on the belief that you have high social convictions and commitment to the people of Kerala.
This letter is to express our deepest disappointment in your involvement with Microsoft to launch their [http://www.aol.in/bollywood/story/2008040806139012000006/India/index.html e-literacy program in Kerala] and is based on the belief that you have high social convictions and commitment to the people of Kerala.


Kerala's civil society had in the past been delighted by [http://www.hinduonnet.com/2004/03/26/stories/2004032600971500.htm your decision to dissociate with the coco cola advertisement]  project as a response to the resource exploitation and pollution caused by the corporate body. However, people of Kerala will be bewildered to see that you are lending your name and fame to support a devastatingly nefarious techno-monopolistic campaign unleashed by Microsoft in our state. We feel your move is both ill-advised and harmful.
Kerala's civil society had in the past been delighted by [http://www.hinduonnet.com/2004/03/26/stories/2004032600971500.htm your decision to dissociate with the Coca-Cola advertisement]  project as a response to the resource exploitation and pollution caused by the corporate body. However, people of Kerala will be bewildered to see that you are lending your name and fame to support a [http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20070923170905803 devastatingly nefarious techno-monopolistic campaign] unleashed by Microsoft in our state. We feel your move is both ill-advised and harmful.


Being the Director of a major media initiative (Kairali TV, Malayalam Communications Limited) that claims to be people-oriented both in terms of its initial resource mobilization tactics as well as its professed commitment to people's causes, it is embarrassing to see that such concerns are completely sidelined in favor of a hideous agenda of a major US based multi-national IT giant, despised even in US for its monopolistic tendencies. In fact there are records of this company [http://www.wired.com/software/coolapps/news/2007/08/ooxml_vote using underhanded tactics to enforce its views] on an organization like ISO which maintains international standards for public benefit.
Being the Director of a major media initiative (Kairali TV, Malayalam Communications Limited) that claims to be people-oriented both in terms of its initial resource mobilization tactics as well as its professed commitment to people's causes, it is embarrassing to see that such concerns are completely sidelined in favor of a hideous agenda of a major US based multi-national IT giant, despised even in US for its monopolistic tendencies. In fact there are records of this company [http://www.wired.com/software/coolapps/news/2007/08/ooxml_vote using underhanded tactics to enforce its views] on an organization like ISO which maintains international standards for public benefit.
Line 23: Line 22:
Software is a tool and a means with which we can achieve a lot of things. In this respect, it is similar to infrastructure like roads and rails. Using Microsoft software is akin to using a road built by a private agency who levies a charge for its use. Any further development of that road and the terms of usage of that road will be subject to the whims of that private agency alone, however insane it may be. Free Software is like an alternate road , with equal or better quality. It is community owned - public property. What modifications have to be done, and where it has to be done is driven by public need and is not influenced by a private party.
Software is a tool and a means with which we can achieve a lot of things. In this respect, it is similar to infrastructure like roads and rails. Using Microsoft software is akin to using a road built by a private agency who levies a charge for its use. Any further development of that road and the terms of usage of that road will be subject to the whims of that private agency alone, however insane it may be. Free Software is like an alternate road , with equal or better quality. It is community owned - public property. What modifications have to be done, and where it has to be done is driven by public need and is not influenced by a private party.


When we use Microsoft's products, which do not give the 4 essential freedoms in Computing (Right to study, Right to copy, Right to modify and Right to Redistribute software), we are becoming helpless creatures. Non-free softwares like Windows are designed to keep users helpless and prohibit cooperation. On the other hand , Free software believes in sharing and cooperation.  
When we use Microsoft's products, which do not give the four essential freedoms in Computing (Right to study, Right to copy, Right to modify and Right to Redistribute software), we are becoming helpless creatures. Non-free softwares like Windows are designed to keep users helpless and prohibit cooperation. On the other hand, Free software believes in sharing and cooperation.  


For your kind attention, Microsoft, the company with which you plan to sign the contract, has a track record of being fined($1.35 billion) for Antitrust Charges in European Union for not complying with EU standards and trying to avoid giving essential information required for interoperability to others by asking for a huge price. As the report says, "Microsoft was the first company in 50 years of EU competition policy that the commission has had to fine for failure to comply with an antitrust decision," [http://www.hindu.com/2008/02/28/stories/2008022854441401.htm The Hindu February 28, 2008].
For your kind attention, Microsoft, the company with which you plan to sign the contract, has a track record of being fined $1.35 billion for Antitrust Charges in European Union for not complying with EU standards and trying to avoid giving essential information required for interoperability to others by asking for a huge price. As the report says, "Microsoft was the first company in 50 years of EU competition policy that the commission has had to fine for failure to comply with an antitrust decision," [http://www.hindu.com/2008/02/28/stories/2008022854441401.htm The Hindu February 28, 2008].


The [http://keralaitmission.org/web/main/ITPolicy-2007.pdf Kerala state IT policy] says motto of Akshaya project is ‘making technology and e-government services accessible to common man’. For making technology and e-governance accessible to common man without vendor lock-in, Free Software (Swathanthra Software) is the only solution available.  
The [http://keralaitmission.org/web/main/ITPolicy-2007.pdf Kerala state IT policy] says motto of Akshaya project is ‘making technology and e-government services accessible to common man’. For making technology and e-governance accessible to common man without vendor lock-in, Free Software (Swathanthra Software) is the only solution available.  


On [http://www.aol.in/bollywood/story/2008040806139012000006/India/index.html IANS Report] you are saying "your mission is to help make all sections of the society IT literate".  We understand and appreciate your genuine spirit. But selecting Microsoft as an accomplice would be a wrong choice. Making people literate benefits the society as a whole. Proprietary software rejects their thirst for knowledge: it says, “The knowledge you want is a secret — learning is forbidden!” Free software encourages everyone to learn. The free software community rejects the 'priesthood of technology', which keeps the general public ignorant of how technology works. The people and Government of Kerala understood it and has already [http://www.indianexpress.com/story/280323.html introduced it in our schools] and government institutions. So we request you to stand for free software and essential freedoms in computing to fulfill your mission.
In the [http://www.aol.in/bollywood/story/2008040806139012000006/India/index.html IANS Report], you said that you want to launch the project "to help make all sections of the society IT literate".  We understand and appreciate your genuine spirit. But selecting Microsoft as an accomplice would be the wrong choice. Making people literate benefits the society as a whole. Proprietary software rejects their thirst for knowledge: it says, “The knowledge you want is a secret — learning is forbidden!” Free software encourages everyone to learn. The free software community rejects the 'priesthood of technology', which keeps the general public ignorant of how technology works. The people and Government of Kerala understood it and has already [http://www.indianexpress.com/story/280323.html introduced it in our schools] and government institutions. So we request you to stand for free software and essential freedoms in computing to fulfill your mission.


Since you have on several occasions expressed your support to the causes upheld by left forces in the country, we hope that it will not be news to you that CPI(M) and other progressive forces in the country have been ardent supporters of free software and as a matter of principle, detest Microsoft's monopoly built through treacherous market machinations that even the developed countries find unbearable.
Since you have on several occasions expressed your support to the causes upheld by left forces in the country, we hope that it will not be news to you that CPI(M) and other progressive forces in the country have been ardent supporters of free software and as a matter of principle, detest Microsoft's monopoly built through treacherous market machinations that even the developed countries find unbearable.
Line 43: Line 42:
A group of free software activists, supporters and users who believe in freedom, free society and free expression of ideas.
A group of free software activists, supporters and users who believe in freedom, free society and free expression of ideas.


=== Endorsed by ===
=== Endorsed by ===  


==== Organisations ====
==== Organisations ====
Line 54: Line 53:
#[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gluc GNU/Linux Users Group Calicut]
#[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gluc GNU/Linux Users Group Calicut]
#[http://bangalore.gnu.org.in Free Software Users Group Bangalore]
#[http://bangalore.gnu.org.in Free Software Users Group Bangalore]
#[http://www.ilug-cochin.org Indian Linux User Group Cochin Chapter]
#[http://www.php-trivandrum.org/pleading-to-bharat-mammootty/ PHP Trivandrum]
#[http://fsugtsr.org/ Free Software Users Group Thrissur]
#[http://gnu.org.in Free Software Foundation of India]
#[http://opensource.org.in Open Source Foundation of India]
#[http://opensource.org.in Open Source Foundation of India]
#[http://movingrepublic.org Movingrepublic]
#[http://movingrepublic.org Movingrepublic]
#[http://www.ilug-cochin.org Indian Linux User Group Cochin Chapter]
#[http://www.php-trivandrum.org/pleading-to-bharat-mammootty/ PHP Trivandrum]
#Global Alternate Information Applications(GAIA)
#Global Alternate Information Applications(GAIA)
#[http://vibgyorfilm.com ViBGYOR Film Collective]
#[http://vibgyorfilm.com ViBGYOR Film Collective]
Line 63: Line 64:
#[http://Thirdeyefilms.org Third Eye Films]
#[http://Thirdeyefilms.org Third Eye Films]
#[http://visualsearch.org Visual Search, Bangalore]
#[http://visualsearch.org Visual Search, Bangalore]
#samalochana
#[http://space-kerala.org SPACE]
#[http://space-kerala.org SPACE]
#Union Christian College FOSS CELL, ALWAYE
#[http://fsugtsr.org/ Free Software Users Group Thrissur]
#Forum Kerala
#Forum Kerala
#[http://cinemela.blogspot.com Cinemela Film Festival], New Delhi
#[http://cinemela.blogspot.com Cinemela Film Festival], New Delhi
#[http://sacw.net South Asia Citizens Web]
#[http://sacw.net South Asia Citizens Web]
#[http://gnu.org.in Free Software Foundation of India]
#[http://konangalfilmsociety.blogspot.com KONANGAL FILM SOCIETY, COIMBATORE]
# BMS Libre Software Users' Group (BMSLUG)
# BMS Libre Software Users' Group (BMSLUG)
#[http://swatantra.org Swatantra Kannada Localisation Project]
#[http://swatantra.org Swatantra Kannada Localisation Project]
#[mailto:chrfindia@hotmail.com COIMBATORE HUMAN RIGHTS FORUM]
#[mailto:chrfindia@hotmail.com COIMBATORE HUMAN RIGHTS FORUM]
# Malayala Kalagramam Film Society,New Mahe
# Kerala Society for Theatre Research,Sree Sankaracharya University,Kaladi.
# Padhabhedam magazine, Calicut
# [http://http://info.ibon.org/ IBON South Asia]
# [http://www.fossmeet.in/nitc FOSSMeet@NITC]
#[http://www.fireflies.in/ Fireflies- an ngo for children and youth]
#[http://subalternstudies.com/ Subaltern Studies. An open-access media, communications, and cultural studies collective]


==== Individuals ====
==== Individuals ====
# [http://kareemsblog.blogspot.com Abdulkareem UK]
# [http://kareemsblog.blogspot.com Abdulkareem UK]
# [http://abhi.totalh.com Abhinandh]
# [http://abhi.totalh.com Abhinandh]
# [http://kavoor.info Aditya Kavoor]
# Afthab Ellath
# Ajai Joseph
# Ajai Joseph
# [http://ajoaugustine.wordpress.com Ajo Augustine]
# Amel Mathai
# Amey Jahagirdar  (One Happy Linux Mint User)
# [mailto:narkaramit@yahoo.com Amit Narkar]
# [http://suranaamit.blogspot.com/ Amit Surana]
# [http://suranaamit.blogspot.com/ Amit Surana]
# [http://ab.freeshell.org/ Anand Babu Periasamy]
# Anand Haridas
# [http://ilug-tvm.org/ Anand S Babu]
# [http://ilug-tvm.org/ Anand S Babu]
# [http://www.astro.psu.edu/users/anand/ Anand Narayanan]
# Ani Peter
# Ani Peter
# Anish Bhaskaran
# Anish Bhaskaran
# [http://anivar.movingrepublic.org Anivar Aravind]
# [http://anivar.movingrepublic.org Anivar Aravind]
# Anoop C Jacob
# [http://www.thondomraughts.com/ Anoop John]
# [http://www.thondomraughts.com/ Anoop John]
# [http://freedomismybirthright.blogspot.com/ Anoop Jacob Thomas]
# [http://anoop.caremedia.org/ Anoop Jacob Thomas]
# [http://gnusys.net/ Anoop P Alias]
# [http://gnusys.net/ Anoop P Alias]
# [http://gnuism.blogspot.com Anoop Panavalappil]
# [http://gnuism.blogspot.com Anoop Panavalappil]
# [http://ilug-tvm.org/ Anoop V Muraleedharan]
# [http://ilug-tvm.org/ Anoop V Muraleedharan]
# [http://www.ilug-tvm.org Anto Jose]
# [http://www.ilug-tvm.org Anu James]
# [http://www.ilug-tvm.org Anu James]
# [http://www.chintaadaara.blogspot.com Arun.K.R]
# [http://www.chintaadaara.blogspot.com Arun.K.R]
# Arun Eapen
# Asha Gopinathan IISc
# [http://www.ilug-tvm.org Ashik Salahudeen]
# [http://www.ilug-tvm.org Ashik Salahudeen]
# baburajbhagavathy
# baburajbhagavathy
# [http://baijum81.livejournal.com/ Baiju M]
# [http://baijum81.livejournal.com/ Baiju M]
# [http://360.yahoo.com/basilappackan Basil Baby]
# [http://bipinthayyullathil.tk Bipin Thayyullathil]
# [http://bipinthayyullathil.tk Bipin Thayyullathil]
# Birenjith P S
# Birenjith P S
Line 101: Line 123:
# [http://ernakulam.sancharnet.in/doxa/ CK Raju]
# [http://ernakulam.sancharnet.in/doxa/ CK Raju]
# [mailto:sarat@thirdeyefilms.org C.Saratchandran]
# [mailto:sarat@thirdeyefilms.org C.Saratchandran]
# [http://mayyazhi.blogspot.com/ Dr.Mahesh Mangalat]
# [[User:Desertwind|desertwind]]
# DileepRaj, Resident Editor, Penguin Malayalam
# Dinesh Joshi
# [http://mayyazhi.blogspot.com/ Dr. Mahesh Mangalat]
# [http://openspace.org.in Edwin]
# Fr. Benny Benedict
# Fr. Benny Benedict
# [mailto:brucemathew@gmail.com/ Mr. Bruce Mathew]
# [mailto:brucemathew@gmail.com/ Mr. Bruce Mathew]
# Geethika G.
# George John
# George John
# Gopal menon, Film maker
# G. Palaniappan
# G. Palaniappan
# [mailto:gpramachandran@gmail.com G.P Ramachandran]
# [http://blog.uiandtheworld.com Hafiz A Haq]
# Harish Veeramani
# Harish Veeramani
# [http://college-memories.blogspot.com Hari Vishnu]
# [http://college-memories.blogspot.com Hari Vishnu]
Line 111: Line 141:
# [http://versuslinux.blogspot.com/ Hiranjyoti Mahanta]
# [http://versuslinux.blogspot.com/ Hiranjyoti Mahanta]
# [http://hiraneffects.blogspot.com Hiran Venugopalan]
# [http://hiraneffects.blogspot.com Hiran Venugopalan]
# Indu.R.Nair
# [http://nedumpala.blogspot.com Jaisen Nedumpāla]
# [http://nedumpala.blogspot.com Jaisen Nedumpāla]
# [http://jsureshkumar.blogspot.com/ J Suresh Kumar]
# [http://jsureshkumar.blogspot.com/ J Suresh Kumar]
# [http://www.ilug-tvm.org/ Jagadish S]
# Jayakumar Thazhath
# Jayesh V
# Jayesh V
# [[User:jinesh.k|Jinesh K J]]
# [[User:jinesh.k|Jinesh K J]]
Line 118: Line 151:
# Jithu Sudhakar
# Jithu Sudhakar
# Joby John
# Joby John
# [http://infochangeindia.org John Samuel], Convenor, National Social Watch Coalition
# Joice Mulanthanam
# Joice Mulanthanam
# Joseph John (Saji)
# Joseph John (Saji)
# Justin Joseph
# Justin Joseph
# [mailto:kmenonsen@gmail.com Kalyani Menon-Sen]
# karthick.n(linux loves me)
# [[User:kishoreasok| Kishore.A]]
# [[User:Kmvenuannur|K.M Venugopal]]
# K.P Sasi, Filmmaker
# K.P Sasi, Filmmaker
# K.Satchidanandan, Poet
# K.Satchidanandan, Poet
# [http://www.ilug-tvm.org Kurian John]
# [http://subalternstudies.com/?author=1 Kishore Budha]
# M Jayadev
# [mailto:gladmuthambi@gmail.com Madhusoodanan P]
# [mailto:gladmuthambi@gmail.com Madhusoodanan P]
# [http://maravind.blogspot.com/ Mahesh Aravind]
# [http://maravind.blogspot.com/ Mahesh Aravind]
# [http://libregeek.blogspot.com Manilal K M]
# [http://libregeek.blogspot.com Manilal K M]
# Manish Sharma
# Manish Sharma
# M Jayadev
# Kiran Chand
# [http://manusmad.blogpot.com Manu S Madhav]
# [http://ilug-tvm.org Manuel Jose]
# Mathew Chacko
# Mathew Chacko
# Mohana Krishnan
# Mustafa Desamangalam
# Mustafa Desamangalam
# Nimesh V
# Nimesh V
# [http://www.ilug-tvm.org Nishan Naseer]
# [http://www.ilug-tvm.org Nishan Naseer]
# Nishanth Dhar
# Noor Manseel Mohamed
# [http://look-pavi.blogspot.com Pavithran S]
# [http://look-pavi.blogspot.com Pavithran S]
# [mailto:pandavathbaburaj@gmail.com P.Baburaj]
# [mailto:pandavathbaburaj@gmail.com P.Baburaj]
Line 139: Line 185:
# [http://njaan.blogspot.com Pratheesh Prakash]
# [http://njaan.blogspot.com Pratheesh Prakash]
# [[User:Pravs|Praveen A]]
# [[User:Pravs|Praveen A]]
# Praveen Gopinath  
# Praveen Gopinath
# Praveen Kunjapur
# Praveen P
# Prakash Kumar Ray, Cinema Studies, SAA, JNU, New Delhi
# Prakash Kumar Ray, Cinema Studies, SAA, JNU, New Delhi
# Prinson.P.J
# Prinson.P.J
# [http://www.rahul-ghose.co.cc/ Rahul Ghose]
# [mailto:raja.swamy@gmail.com Raja Swamy], Austin, Texas  
# [mailto:raja.swamy@gmail.com Raja Swamy], Austin, Texas  
# [http://ilug-tvm.org/ Rajiv R Nair]
# [http://ilug-tvm.org/ Rajiv R Nair]
# [mailto:rakeshfilm@gmail.com Rakesh Sharma] Film Maker
# [http://www.ilug-cochin.org Reju Rajeev]
# Ranjith S. Kumar
# Ravi Chandra Padmala
# Renni P Mathunny
# Sajeer.A.R
# Sajina Raman
# Sajith VK
# Sajith VK
# [[User:gameon|S.Anoop]]
# Sajeer.A.R
# Sam Albuquerque
# Sam Albuquerque
# [http://www.ilug-cochin.org Sameer Mohamed Thahir]
# [http://www.ilug-cochin.org Sameer Mohamed Thahir]
# [mailto:seetheskybelow@gmail.com sarah singh]
# Sandeep Jairam Web Developer
# Sanju Surendran
# Sanju Surendran
# [http://www.ilug-cochin.org Sreenadh H]
# [[User:gameon|S.Anoop]]
# Santhosh Kurian
# [http://santhoshtr.livejournal.com Santhosh Thottingal]
# [http://santhoshtr.livejournal.com Santhosh Thottingal]
# [mailto:seetheskybelow@gmail.com Sarah Singh]
# [http://sarathlakshman.info Sarath Lakshman]
# [http://sarathlakshman.info Sarath Lakshman]
# [http://swatantryam.blogspot.com Sasi Kumar, V.]
# Seena Sreevalson
# [mailto:shabnamhashmi@gmail.com Shabnam Hasmi]
# Shailesh Kumar Soft Developer
# [[User:Shashank | Shashank Bharadwaj]]
# [[User:Shashank | Shashank Bharadwaj]]
# Sheshu K R
# Sheshu K R
# [[User:aeshyamae| Shyam.k]]
# [[User:aeshyamae| Shyam.k]]
# [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Sibi_antony Sibi Antony]
# [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Sibi_antony Sibi Antony]
# Siddhartha Brahma
# [http://raw-ev1l.blogspot.com Sp^wN_0F_S^T^N ]
# [http://raw-ev1l.blogspot.com Sp^wN_0F_S^T^N ]
# [http://www.ilug-cochin.org Sreenadh H]
# [[User:Barar | Sudev]]
# Sudhang Shankar
# Sudhang Shankar
# [http://sujith-h.livejournal.com Sujith Haridasan]
# [http://sujith-h.livejournal.com Sujith Haridasan]
# Sujith S
# Sushovan Dhar
# [http://samastham.wordpress.com/ Thanesh Thampi]
# [http://samastham.wordpress.com/ Thanesh Thampi]
# [http://thejeshgn.com/ Thejesh GN]
# [http://overclockedfragger.wordpress.com/ The Overclocked Fragger]
# [http://overclockedfragger.wordpress.com/ The Overclocked Fragger]
# [[User:Barar | Sudev]]
# [mailto:sreekumartt@gmail.com T.T Sreekumar]
# Thomas Mannuthy
# [http://www.iiitmk.ac.in/~choppell Venkatesh Choppella] IIITM-K
# [[User:Vincentvikram|Vikram Vincent]]
# Venu V.K
# Vimal Joseph
# Vimal Joseph
# [[User:Vincentvikram|Vikram Vincent]]
# Vineesh Thalethodi
# Vipin Vincent
# Vipin Vincent
# [http://blogbhoomi.blogspot.com/ V K Adarsh]
# [http://www.bombay-arts.com Vishal Rawlley]
# [http://www.bombay-arts.com Vishal Rawlley]
# [[User:Vivekkhurana| Vivek Khurana]]
# [[User:Vivekkhurana| Vivek Khurana]]
# [http://blogbhoomi.blogspot.com/ V K Adarsh]
# [http://yadu.deviantart.com Yadu Rajiv]
# Yesudeep Mangalapilly
# Yesudeep Mangalapilly
# karthick.n(linux loves me)
# [http://www.gnu.org Zaheer M Kozhakkaniyil]
# Ranjith S. Kumar
# Mohan R
# Amey Jahagirdar  (One Happy Linux Mint User)
# Sabeel
# [http://anishsamuel.blogspot.com/ Anish Samuel]
# KamalHariMenon
# Lijeesh S D
# Alfahed P M
# PON.CHANDRAN, COIMBATORE
# Pramod G Menon
# [http://www.annyann.blogspot.com Dr Haroon Ashraf]
# Praveen K. Prasad
#[mailto:girish.gg@gmail.com Girish G G]
#Sreekumar R
#[mailto:cyber.arunmurali@gmail.com Arun Murali]


=== Relates Links ===
=== Relates Links ===
Line 184: Line 266:
# [http://www.hindu.com/2008/03/09/stories/2008030953940500.htm ORUMA: the result of KSEB’s concerted efforts]
# [http://www.hindu.com/2008/03/09/stories/2008030953940500.htm ORUMA: the result of KSEB’s concerted efforts]


===Press Release===
[http://www.ilug-tvm.org/content/open-letter-mammootty-press-release-0 Open letter to Mammootty - Press release]
==Mammootty's Response==
'''
'''
May 07, 2008
Dear Sir,
'''Sub: Computer Literacy Programme for computer illiterates of Kerala, India:
Greetings'''''' from Mammootty’s Office, Kochi!'''
This is in response to the fire ignited by free software lovers of the state against Mammootty’s alleged association with Microsoft for the Computer Literacy Programme for computer illiterates of Kerala.
In this regard Mammootty would like to make it clear that Mammootty is in no way a part of the project. Mammootty has in no way associated with Microsoft nor held any discussions with them. Mammootty Fans and Welfare Association & Microsoft are envisaging the Project. As a person Mammootty is against any kind of monopoly in any area.
Mammootty Fans and Welfare Association is a registered society, which is independent and Mammootty by no means a part or office bearer of it. Mammootty Fans and Welfare Association is working for the upliftment of marginalized sections of the society. As per our knowledge their major works include ‘Kazhcha 06-07’ – An eye care programme for the poor sections of the society. Through this they provided free eye surgeries & treatment to thousands. Recently announced ‘Heart to Heart’ a free open-heart surgery scheme for 100 hearts patients who are unable to afford the treatment.
Mammootty believe that the reason for the Mammootty Fans and Welfare Association associating with Microsoft is a genuine one. It seems that its aim is to orient computer illiterates of Kerala. It will be a great step, if it achieves its fruit. We, Keralites can again be proud about the fact that we will be first state in India to become 100 percent computer literate like our former literacy programme. It will bring accolades to the state from worldwide and will help in increasing the reputation of the state. Mammootty is ready to join hands with any one interested in the welfare of the public.   
Yours sincerely
Robert Kuriakose
P R O to Mammootty
[[Category:Campaigns]]
[[Category:Campaigns]]
Retrieved from "https://wiki.fsci.in/Special:MobileDiff/6641...10558"