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Open Letter to Mammootty to Reconsider Promotion of Microsoft and their Proprietary Softwares

We request all of you to blog on this and add your link to Protest Blog posts page.

A malayalam version of this letter is available here . Please help to complete this Translation മമ്മൂട്ടിയ്ക്കൊരു തുറന്ന കത്തു്

Context

Microsoft will be signing up Malayalam movie star Mammootty as one of the brand ambassadors for the Computer Literacy programme that is to be organized soon in Kerala, a Southern Indian State well known for its pro-free software policies. This is an open letter by Free Software Activists, Supporters and Users of Kerala to Mammootty.

Open Letter to Mamootty from Free Software Community

Dear Bharat Mammootty,

This letter is to express our deepest disappointment in your involvement with Microsoft to launch their 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 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 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 using underhanded tactics to enforce its views on an organization like ISO which maintains international standards for public benefit.

We are assuming that you were not given enough information about the IT Scenario we live in.

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 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," The Hindu February 28, 2008.

The 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.

In the 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 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.

It is high time that you understood the implications and ramifications of your support for Microsoft. It seriously undermines your role as a socially committed artist, progressive media leader and sympathizer of leftist politics.

We hope that being a thinking man, you will realize the error in endorsing proprietary software and will persist in your mission of bringing about IT to the common man via free software and open standards. As a great man who has enriched the culture of Kerala and India, please do set an example by using and promoting free software.

We as a body that strives to support free standards and free society through free software, request you to reconsider your decision and be a proponent of free software to achieve your mission to help make all sections of the society IT literate.

Let us build your dream together with free software.

A group of free software activists, supporters and users who believe in freedom, free society and free expression of ideas.

Endorsed by

Organisations

  1. FOSS Communities in India
  2. GNU Linux Users Group- Thiruvanathapuram
  3. Swathanthra Malayalam Computing
  4. Swathantra Software User Group Malappuram
  5. Palakkad Libre Software Users Society
  6. GNU/Linux Users Group Calicut
  7. Free Software Users Group Bangalore
  8. Indian Linux User Group Cochin Chapter
  9. PHP Trivandrum
  10. Free Software Users Group Thrissur
  11. Free Software Foundation of India
  12. Open Source Foundation of India
  13. Movingrepublic
  14. Global Alternate Information Applications(GAIA)
  15. ViBGYOR Film Collective
  16. Keraleeyam Magazine
  17. Third Eye Films
  18. Visual Search, Bangalore
  19. samalochana
  20. SPACE
  21. Forum Kerala
  22. Cinemela Film Festival, New Delhi
  23. South Asia Citizens Web
  24. KONANGAL FILM SOCIETY, COIMBATORE
  25. BMS Libre Software Users' Group (BMSLUG)
  26. Swatantra Kannada Localisation Project
  27. COIMBATORE HUMAN RIGHTS FORUM
  28. Malayala Kalagramam Film Society,New Mahe
  29. Kerala Society for Theatre Research,Sree Sankaracharya University,Kaladi.
  30. Padhabhedam magazine, Calicut
  31. IBON South Asia
  32. FOSSMeet@NITC
  33. Fireflies- an ngo for children and youth
  34. Subaltern Studies. An open-access media, communications, and cultural studies collective

Individuals

  1. Abdulkareem UK
  2. Abhinandh
  3. Aditya Kavoor
  4. Afthab Ellath
  5. Ajai Joseph
  6. Ajo Augustine
  7. Amel Mathai
  8. Amey Jahagirdar (One Happy Linux Mint User)
  9. Amit Narkar
  10. Amit Surana
  11. Anand Babu Periasamy
  12. Anand Haridas
  13. Anand S Babu
  14. Anand Narayanan
  15. Ani Peter
  16. Anish Bhaskaran
  17. Anivar Aravind
  18. Anoop C Jacob
  19. Anoop John
  20. Anoop Jacob Thomas
  21. Anoop P Alias
  22. Anoop Panavalappil
  23. Anoop V Muraleedharan
  24. Anu James
  25. Arun.K.R
  26. Arun Eapen
  27. Asha Gopinathan IISc
  28. Ashik Salahudeen
  29. baburajbhagavathy
  30. Baiju M
  31. Bipin Thayyullathil
  32. Birenjith P S
  33. Chandra Sekar.S
  34. Chandrasekharan Nair S
  35. Cibu C J
  36. Chandra Kumar
  37. CK Raju
  38. C.Saratchandran
  39. desertwind
  40. DileepRaj, Resident Editor, Penguin Malayalam
  41. Dinesh Joshi
  42. Dr. Mahesh Mangalat
  43. Edwin
  44. Fr. Benny Benedict
  45. Mr. Bruce Mathew
  46. Geethika G.
  47. George John
  48. Gopal menon, Film maker
  49. G. Palaniappan
  50. G.P Ramachandran
  51. Hafiz A Haq
  52. Harish Veeramani
  53. Hari Vishnu
  54. Harsh Kapoor
  55. Hiranjyoti Mahanta
  56. Hiran Venugopalan
  57. Indu.R.Nair
  58. Jaisen Nedumpāla
  59. J Suresh Kumar
  60. Jagadish S
  61. Jayakumar Thazhath
  62. Jayesh V
  63. Jinesh K J
  64. Dr. Sunny Kuriakose Alwaye
  65. Jithu Sudhakar
  66. Joby John
  67. John Samuel, Convenor, National Social Watch Coalition
  68. Joice Mulanthanam
  69. Joseph John (Saji)
  70. Justin Joseph
  71. Kalyani Menon-Sen
  72. karthick.n(linux loves me)
  73. Kishore.A
  74. K.M Venugopal
  75. K.P Sasi, Filmmaker
  76. K.Satchidanandan, Poet
  77. Kurian John
  78. Kishore Budha
  79. M Jayadev
  80. Madhusoodanan P
  81. Mahesh Aravind
  82. Manilal K M
  83. Manish Sharma
  84. Manu S Madhav
  85. Manuel Jose
  86. Mathew Chacko
  87. Mohana Krishnan
  88. Mustafa Desamangalam
  89. Nimesh V
  90. Nishan Naseer
  91. Nishanth Dhar
  92. Noor Manseel Mohamed
  93. Pavithran S
  94. P.Baburaj
  95. P.K.Pokker, Director, Keralabhasha Institute
  96. Pramode C.E
  97. Prashant Shah
  98. Pratheesh Prakash
  99. Praveen A
  100. Praveen Gopinath
  101. Praveen Kunjapur
  102. Praveen P
  103. Prakash Kumar Ray, Cinema Studies, SAA, JNU, New Delhi
  104. Prinson.P.J
  105. Raja Swamy, Austin, Texas
  106. Rajiv R Nair
  107. Rakesh Sharma Film Maker
  108. Reju Rajeev
  109. Ranjith S. Kumar
  110. Ravi Chandra Padmala
  111. Renni P Mathunny
  112. Sajeer.A.R
  113. Sajith VK
  114. Sam Albuquerque
  115. Sameer Mohamed Thahir
  116. Sandeep Jairam Web Developer
  117. Sanju Surendran
  118. S.Anoop
  119. Santhosh Kurian
  120. Santhosh Thottingal
  121. Sarah Singh
  122. Sarath Lakshman
  123. Sasi Kumar, V.
  124. Seena Sreevalson
  125. Shabnam Hasmi
  126. Shailesh Kumar Soft Developer
  127. Shashank Bharadwaj
  128. Sheshu K R
  129. Shyam.k
  130. Sibi Antony
  131. Siddhartha Brahma
  132. Sp^wN_0F_S^T^N
  133. Sreenadh H
  134. Sudev
  135. Sudhang Shankar
  136. Sujith Haridasan
  137. Sujith S
  138. Sushovan Dhar
  139. Thanesh Thampi
  140. Thejesh GN
  141. The Overclocked Fragger
  142. T.T Sreekumar
  143. Thomas Mannuthy
  144. Venkatesh Choppella IIITM-K
  145. Vikram Vincent
  146. Venu V.K
  147. Vimal Joseph
  148. Vineesh Thalethodi
  149. Vipin Vincent
  150. Vishal Rawlley
  151. Vivek Khurana
  152. V K Adarsh
  153. Yadu Rajiv
  154. Yesudeep Mangalapilly
  155. Zaheer M Kozhakkaniyil
  156. Mohan R
  157. Sabeel
  158. Anish Samuel
  159. KamalHariMenon
  160. Lijeesh S D
  161. Alfahed P M
  162. PON.CHANDRAN, COIMBATORE
  163. Pramod G Menon
  164. Dr Haroon Ashraf
  165. Praveen K. Prasad
  166. Girish G G
  167. Sreekumar R

Relates Links

  1. Microsoft, Mammootty to launch Kerala e-literacy programme
  2. CPI(M) supports Free software
  3. Globalization Institute's submission to European Union
  4. Kerala schools use free software
  5. What is Free Software?
  6. ORUMA: the result of KSEB’s concerted efforts

Press Release

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