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Open Letter To Mammootty
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 .
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
- FOSS Communities in India
- GNU Linux Users Group- Thiruvanathapuram
- Swathanthra Malayalam Computing
- Swathantra Software User Group Malappuram
- Palakkad Libre Software Users Society
- GNU/Linux Users Group Calicut
- Free Software Users Group Bangalore
- Indian Linux User Group Cochin Chapter
- PHP Trivandrum
- Free Software Users Group Thrissur
- Free Software Foundation of India
- Open Source Foundation of India
- Movingrepublic
- Global Alternate Information Applications(GAIA)
- ViBGYOR Film Collective
- Keraleeyam Magazine
- Third Eye Films
- Visual Search, Bangalore
- samalochana
- SPACE
- Forum Kerala
- Cinemela Film Festival, New Delhi
- South Asia Citizens Web
- KONANGAL FILM SOCIETY, COIMBATORE
- BMS Libre Software Users' Group (BMSLUG)
- Swatantra Kannada Localisation Project
- COIMBATORE HUMAN RIGHTS FORUM
- Malayala Kalagramam Film Society,New Mahe
- Kerala Society for Theatre Research,Sree Sankaracharya University,Kaladi.
- Padhabhedam magazine, Calicut
- IBON South Asia
- FOSSMeet@NITC
- Fireflies- an ngo for children and youth
- Subaltern Studies. An open-access media, communications, and cultural studies collective
Individuals
- Abdulkareem UK
- Abhinandh
- Aditya Kavoor
- Afthab Ellath
- Ajai Joseph
- Ajo Augustine
- Amel Mathai
- Amey Jahagirdar (One Happy Linux Mint User)
- Amit Narkar
- Amit Surana
- Anand Babu Periasamy
- Anand Haridas
- Anand S Babu
- Anand Narayanan
- Ani Peter
- Anish Bhaskaran
- Anivar Aravind
- Anoop C Jacob
- Anoop John
- Anoop Jacob Thomas
- Anoop P Alias
- Anoop Panavalappil
- Anoop V Muraleedharan
- Anto Jose
- Anu James
- Arun.K.R
- Arun Eapen
- Asha Gopinathan IISc
- Ashik Salahudeen
- baburajbhagavathy
- Baiju M
- Basil Baby
- Bipin Thayyullathil
- Birenjith P S
- Chandra Sekar.S
- Chandrasekharan Nair S
- Cibu C J
- Chandra Kumar
- CK Raju
- C.Saratchandran
- desertwind
- DileepRaj, Resident Editor, Penguin Malayalam
- Dinesh Joshi
- Dr. Mahesh Mangalat
- Edwin
- Fr. Benny Benedict
- Mr. Bruce Mathew
- Geethika G.
- George John
- Gopal menon, Film maker
- G. Palaniappan
- G.P Ramachandran
- Hafiz A Haq
- Harish Veeramani
- Hari Vishnu
- Harsh Kapoor
- Hiranjyoti Mahanta
- Hiran Venugopalan
- Indu.R.Nair
- Jaisen Nedumpāla
- J Suresh Kumar
- Jagadish S
- Jayakumar Thazhath
- Jayesh V
- Jinesh K J
- Dr. Sunny Kuriakose Alwaye
- Jithu Sudhakar
- Joby John
- John Samuel, Convenor, National Social Watch Coalition
- Joice Mulanthanam
- Joseph John (Saji)
- Justin Joseph
- Kalyani Menon-Sen
- karthick.n(linux loves me)
- Kishore.A
- K.M Venugopal
- K.P Sasi, Filmmaker
- K.Satchidanandan, Poet
- Kurian John
- Kishore Budha
- M Jayadev
- Madhusoodanan P
- Mahesh Aravind
- Manilal K M
- Manish Sharma
- Kiran Chand
- Manu S Madhav
- Manuel Jose
- Mathew Chacko
- Mohana Krishnan
- Mustafa Desamangalam
- Nimesh V
- Nishan Naseer
- Nishanth Dhar
- Noor Manseel Mohamed
- Pavithran S
- P.Baburaj
- P.K.Pokker, Director, Keralabhasha Institute
- Pramode C.E
- Prashant Shah
- Pratheesh Prakash
- Praveen A
- Praveen Gopinath
- Praveen Kunjapur
- Praveen P
- Prakash Kumar Ray, Cinema Studies, SAA, JNU, New Delhi
- Prinson.P.J
- Rahul Ghose
- Raja Swamy, Austin, Texas
- Rajiv R Nair
- Rakesh Sharma Film Maker
- Reju Rajeev
- Ranjith S. Kumar
- Ravi Chandra Padmala
- Renni P Mathunny
- Sajeer.A.R
- Sajina Raman
- Sajith VK
- Sam Albuquerque
- Sameer Mohamed Thahir
- Sandeep Jairam Web Developer
- Sanju Surendran
- S.Anoop
- Santhosh Kurian
- Santhosh Thottingal
- Sarah Singh
- Sarath Lakshman
- Sasi Kumar, V.
- Seena Sreevalson
- Shabnam Hasmi
- Shailesh Kumar Soft Developer
- Shashank Bharadwaj
- Sheshu K R
- Shyam.k
- Sibi Antony
- Siddhartha Brahma
- Sp^wN_0F_S^T^N
- Sreenadh H
- Sudev
- Sudhang Shankar
- Sujith Haridasan
- Sujith S
- Sushovan Dhar
- Thanesh Thampi
- Thejesh GN
- The Overclocked Fragger
- T.T Sreekumar
- Thomas Mannuthy
- Venkatesh Choppella IIITM-K
- Vikram Vincent
- Venu V.K
- Vimal Joseph
- Vineesh Thalethodi
- Vipin Vincent
- Vishal Rawlley
- Vivek Khurana
- V K Adarsh
- Yadu Rajiv
- Yesudeep Mangalapilly
- Zaheer M Kozhakkaniyil
- Mohan R
- Sabeel
- Anish Samuel
- KamalHariMenon
- Lijeesh S D
- Alfahed P M
- PON.CHANDRAN, COIMBATORE
- Pramod G Menon
- Dr Haroon Ashraf
- Praveen K. Prasad
- Girish G G
- Sreekumar R
- Arun Murali
Relates Links
- Microsoft, Mammootty to launch Kerala e-literacy programme
- CPI(M) supports Free software
- Globalization Institute's submission to European Union
- Kerala schools use free software
- What is Free Software?
- 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