From brick and mortar to pages and ink

Technorati Tags: goa, india, architect, publishing, mario miranda, houses of goa

By Frederick Noronha

THIS IS such an unusual, optimistic, upbeat story that it almost sounds too good to be true. But when Gerard da Cunha, the Godhra-born architect of Goan origin, sheds his inhibitions and tells you the story of his forays into publishing, the candour of his tale hits you hard. You had better believe it!

The other day, Cunha did the same at the PublishingNext 2013 conference in Goa. He’s a man who has achieved a lot in the field of architecture nationwide, and therefore it comes as a surprise that he’s covered so much ground in publishing too.

“Being an architect, practising in Goa, about 12-14 years ago, I felt it was my duty to come out with a book on Goan architecture. So very idealistically, I started writing the book. I got co-authors in place, and a photographer. Then I tried to look for a publisher. I had spent a lot of money already, a lot of effort. Others said it was not feasible. It would take two years to do, and if we could find some sponsors, then it might work out.”

Gerard came back to Goa, completely disappointed, as he puts it, and started contacting the printers. Gerard points to his slick coffee-table book ‘Houses of Goa’ that resulted from all this effort. But, we’re moving ahead of ourselves in the story.

Some 4000 copies would cost Rs 18 lakh, he was told by the printers. Co-incidentally, he got sponsorship for an exhibition on the same topic. He says he offered the book — “I didn’t even have a dummy at that time” — at the exhibition. While its price would be Rs 1400 after publication, his pre-print offer was a sharply discounted Rs 875 (or even less, for bulk orders). “With no book around, I sold about 300 copies of this book,” recalls Gerard, with a mild chuckle.

Understanding the book, and how it was shaped in the past

Technorati Tags: book history, india

By Frederick Noronha

The history of the book? What’s that, I can hear you asking. This might be a new term to many of us, given that the field is itself quite nascent. For instance, the academic journal ‘Book History’ was established only in 1998. In India, just two universities — Jadhavpur and Pune — seem to be seriously involved in work in this field. It has only recently been seen as an important field for study.

The history of the book is broadly defined as “the history of the creation, dissemination, and reception of script and print”. In a simpler language, it deals with the ‘back story’ of the book. What all was involved in making a book, into a book.

Recently, the University of Pune held an interesting seminar (in late September 2013) in this field. It was called ‘Journey of the Book: From Manuscript to Digital’, and looked at a wide range of subjects indeed.

Historians looked at ‘the book as history’. Others focussed on manuscripts in Puranic texts, contestations over the Bible in India, and Tamil texts from its Palmyra leaves times.

Dr. Rajan Barrett, a friend of Goan issues who traces his roots to Mangalore, spoke on ‘The Bible: Reception, Rejection, Contestations and Reformulation in India’. When we met up later, Dr. Barrett mentioned that he had started out life in academia in the field of Mathematics, but moved quite drastically to another field like English.

To me, the most interesting paper was the animatedly-presented one by Dr. Abhijit Gupta (Jadhavpur) called ‘Darogar Daptar, or the Strange Case of the Non-Existent Books’. Gupta looked at the fictional stories of a retired police officer of another (the 19th) century. The officer talks about some five book-related scams, involving a single unsucessful writer, in the Battala area of north Calcutta, once the heart of the book market in Bengal. The stories were fascinating; but more than that, it also reminded one how much certain parts of the country — like the Bengalis — love their books.

Tears of Salt

Technorati Tags: salt, goa, traditional sector, west coast of india

Salt has been an important produce of coastal Goa for centuries, and has been exported from here to countries in Africa and the rest of Asia. But today, the traditional salt sector lies decimated and threatened by extinction, says a new book on the subject.

“Goa once was a hub of salt making. Salt was the currency that allowed Goans to import essential commodities. Today, the very same occupation lies derelict, its spine truly broken by a century and more of official polices, governmental apathy, low social status…,” says a book authored by Benaulim-based sociologist Dr. Reyna Sequeira.

Sequeira, who did her Ph.D. on the salt making communities of Goa and is an associate professor at Quepem, says in the book that traditional occupations must be remembered “not as a tapestry in a museum merely to be viewed, but as a living part of our society”.

Her field work, spread over a couple of decades involving both her Masters and doctorate on this often ignored subject, looks at salt makers in three villagers scattered across diverse pockets of coastal Goa — Agarvaddo (Pernem), Batim (Tisvadi) and Arpora (Bardez).

Besides focussing on the salt making communities, she highlights the “geography, history and politics” of salt in Goa. In the first two, one gets a hint of how the area of salt extraction has shrunk particularly over recent decades, but also since the late nineteenth century and the Anglo-Portuguese Treaty.

Ore, and more

Technorati Tags: goa, mining, india, chowgules, iron ore

By Frederick Noronha

It’s always fascinating to read about the movers and shakers in any society. More so when these stories come from the otherwise little-discussed world of business. Not only do these narratives give an insight into the lives and times of the people that were, but they give deeper hints into how society works, what makes it tick.

Here we have the story of a doyen of Goan business, Vishwasrao Chowgule. In tiny Goa, along with other big names like the Dempos, Salgaocars, the Chowgules, the Menezeses, the Timblos (and a handful of others) have shaped the world of business. And, one could say, in some cases, even politics, economics, news, and education.

This book was first published nearly a generation ago, around 1975. But those were times when reviews of new titles hardly happened — probably less than even now. So, the recent second edition of this title is an excuse to look at it once over again.

Amidst Mario Miranda’s typical drawings — even the dusty port of Mormugao looks scenic when seen this way — we get an image of Goa that was, and how it was “built” up. Between a plethora of figures, and facts, an interesting picture emerges.

We see colonial Goa growing on iron-ore, in times when the world was itself recovering from the ravages of World War II. Strangely enough, it was the losers of the war — the Japanese and the Italians, through Sesa then — that depended more on Goan ore to reconstruct.

Interesting tidbits emerge from the many stories included in this compiled volune. Did you know, for instance, that the first Japanese ore-carrier ‘Shozen Maru’ sailed for its first consignment exported by the Chowgules way back in 1950. Ore was brought in country craft from the Sirigao mines! The Chowgule brothers supervised the loading operations personally.

We hear shades of the debate which still continue till this day: Was Goan ore being sold cheap to Japan? If so, why? How did Goan ore compared with Australian? Should Goa have its own steel plant?

In times where only a handful of books, if at all, were published on Goa each year, this one takes on wider strokes. For instance, it has an essay by author, journalist and art-critic Dnyaneshwar Nadkarni, who talks of “the cultural heritage of Goa”.

In between the hard-bound covers, what we come across here are contributions from various persons who knew Vishwasrao Chowgule. They comment on his role in various spheres — the Goan (and Indian) economy, economic and capitalist growth in Goa, Goa-Japanese ties in the iron ore trade (from an era when Japan, not China, was Goa’s main buyer), and tributes from fellow industrialists, friends and admirers.

The last category includes individuals as diverse as former Lt. Governor S.K. Banerji, ex-chief minister (and mineowner herself) Shashikala Kakodkar, and ambassadors, judges, union leaders, ex-MPs and former editors. Few of our generation, for instance, would hear a bell in the name of V.H. Coelho — the Consul General in Goa between 1951-54, before the post-Independent Government of India imposed its economic blockade on this former Portuguese colony.

This is V.M. Salgaocar, the head of another business empire in Goa, talking about Vishwasrao Chowgule in 1975: “My association with Shri Vishwasrao has been both long and rewarding. We first chanced to meet on the train from Vasco to Mormugao, about forty years ago. He gave an impression of energy and enerstness. Later he built himself up into a leading industrialist and businessman. Since then several business and social occasions have brought us together. During such meetings I discovered that Shri Vishwasrao, who can be strong and firm, even tough, in business negotiations, can also relax and be full of human warmth.”

Beyond the kind words, it could be noted that here are two whose thoughts and preferences shaped the Goa that we know. Both played a key role, directly or otherwise, in shaping the language controvery of the 1980s, for instance.

One slightly confusing element is the inclusion of recent images and photographs in the generation-old book. So, it would appear, the picture of the now-plush Chowgule College (in Margao) and the Chowgule House, overlooking the waters, are more recent additions to the earlier book.

Writing Green: A Guide to Handhold You

Technorati Tags: india, environmental journalism, book reviews, santosh shintre, pune

Reviewed by Frederick Noronha

Journalism is obviously an imprecise science. As has been pointed out: while science tries to be deliberate, precise and reflective, journalism is fast, imprecise and keen on drama. Yet, what would science be without the public outreach that the media offers? You could say the same for environmentalism, even if the latter is more of a social movement trying to influence the political process by lobbying, activism, and education so as to protect natural resources and ecosystems.

Many younger journalists (and a few not-so-young ones too), including media students, have their heart in the right place. They have a natural inclination towards the environment. But here is the dilemma: how or where do they get started?

The other day, I was pleasantly surprised to see two copies of Santosh Shintre’s handbook — published both in English and Marathi — reach by the post. Santosh had been in touch with me via email earlier, though one had all but forgotten our conversations.

Environmental journalism was one of the themes I too have had a soft-corner for during part of my journalistic career, in particular in the 1990s. Some of my employers encouraged my interest in this. But then, in post-Liberalisation India, the space for writing green simply dried up, thus putting subtle and not-so-subtle pressures on freelancing choices.

With Keya Acharya of Bangalore, nonetheless, more recently I co-edited a book called The Green Pen, where senior environmental journalists across India shared their experiences. Because of another of my interests, in cyberspace, I founded by happenstance the India-EJ mailing list for environmental journalists in India. Today it is run on Googlegroups by those still active in the field.

But contrary to the impression this all might create, I too would often be struggling to understand this vast field. More so, given that my background is not in the Sciences and my Green commitment stems from my heart and feelings about the need to go in for sustainable growth, whatever that might mean.

Bookshops in Goa

Technorati Tags: goa, bookshops, india, booktrade

MARGAO

Confidant/Golden Heart Emporium, Near GPO, Margao Goa 403601 Behind Main POST OFFICE, Same as Confidant. confidantgoa@yahoo.co.in Ph 2732450 or Walburg Coutinho, 9823 010528.

Book Mart G/8, Costa Chambers, Near Hotel Nanutel, Margao, Goa 403601 Ph 2711796

Wisdom Books 118, 1st Flr, Lake Plaza, Damodar Ling, Fatorda, Fatorda, Goa 403602 Ph 2743433

Maya Book Store Near Bank Of Baroda, Isodorio Emilio Baptista Road, Margao, Goa 403601 Ph 2731759

Yugved Pustak Gahar, Near Shantadurga Temple Gogol, Margao, Goa, 403601 Ph 2710754

Mayoor Book Service Radha Enclave, I B Rd, Margao, Goa 403601 Ph 2737041 or 9422443265

Kitaab Book Store, Sterling Apts,, Nr. Alankar Bldg, Panjifond,, Margao, Goa 403601 Ph 2731493

Priolkar Brothers, Municipal Bldg, S250, Gandhi Market, Margao 403601 Ph 2730367 or 2737057.

Zito Almeida (Near Cine Lata, Holy Family House, Opposite Cine Lata, Margao, Ph: 2732354, 2715319).

Remedian Vaz Book Stall (Old Market-Pornnem Bazarant).

M P Raikar Book Stall (Near Bank of India).

Narayan D. Munz (Near Bombay Café).

PANJIM

Broadway bbcbooks@rediffmail.com Ph 6647038, 2420677 Khalil: 9822 488564 (sometimes you get a msg saying “Please check the number you have dialled.” Ignore. The number is right. Retry later.) Faheem: 9860 030339.

Singbal’s Book House Communidade Building, Church Square, Panaji Ph: 2425747

Sardesai Enterprises, Coelho Pereira Building, Dr Dada Vaidya Road Ph 2420538.

Valsad Book House (Law Books Only), 3 Amina Apts, Dr Dada Vaidya Rd, Opp Hotel Manoshanti 2229510

Shri Nagesh Book Agency (Law Books Only), 7 Shri Saraswati Mandir, Panaji Head Post Office, Goa – 403001. Ph 2230503.

Book Fair C/o Hotel Mandovi, DB Marg, Panaji, Goa – 403001 Ph 2224406, 2426270, 2224405, 2224407 [For stocking, headoffice: Norman Faleiro 2427904]

Varsha Book Stall, 1 Ormuz Road, Near Azad Maidan, Panjim. 403001 Ph 2425832.

St Paul’s Book Centre, Rani Pramila Arcade, 18th June Rd. Ph 2231158

Book World, 104 Kamat Chambers, Opposite Hotel Neptune, Panaji, Goa 403001 books@goatelecom.com Ph 2421857

Pranti Book Shop 9 Uge Kamat Complex, Phase 5, Panaji, Goa 403001 Ph 2228041

New Book Shop C/o Hotel Fidalgo, 18th June Road, Panaji, Goa – 403001 Ph 2226291

Om Books Store Shop No 27/28,1st Floor, Alfran Plaza, Near Don Bosco School, M G Road, Panaji, Goa – 403001 Ph 2422908 or 9970125816

Jeevit, #8, 2nd Flr Patto Centre, Bus Stand Ph 2438638 or 2411201 (home)

Amrut Book Depot, KTC Bus Terminus, Patto Plaza Ph 2223490, 2438082

Gomantak Book Center Shop No 13, Near Maruti Temple Kadamba City Bus Stand, Panaji, Goa – 403001 Ph 2437639

Wisdom Book House 9 Rayu Chambers, Helidoro Salgado Road, Panaji Head Post Office, Goa – 403001 Ph 3260748.

4D Books Shop No. 46, Kamat Arcade, St Inex, Panjim, Goa – 403002 Ph 0832 – 6653454 M 9225980770 Website (not up) http://www.4ddistributor.com

Goa Konkani Akademi at Patto. 243, Patto Colony, Panaji – Goa – 403001 Phone: 2437385/87. email: info@goakonkaniakademi.org Only Konkani books. Government-established body.

Dalgado Konkani Akademi cum Tiatr Akademi of Goa. Ph c/o Jose Salvador Fernandes 9881 810832.

Semi-permanent exhibition next to Domino’s Pizza across the street from Kamat Resataurant in Panjim.

Institute Menezes Braganza should be regarded as another semi-permanent book exhibition venue (can buy many of my bargain basement books).

New Central Library at Panjim, has opened an outlet to dispose of books published by the Dept. of Art and Culture.

Vendor near Cafe Vihar.

Bookstall in Panjim market. Entrance from north end.

CALANGUTE

Literati Bookshop E/1,282 Gaura Vaddo, Opp Tarcar Ice Factory & Next To Abc Farms, Calangute, Goa – 403516 books@literati-goa.com http://www.literati-goa.com Ph 2277740 Contact Diviya Kapur

Goa Unlimited, G-1, Don Domingoa Residency, Naiko Vaddo, Calangute, Bardez, Goa – 403516. Contact, Nikhil Mirkar. http://www.goaunlimited.com Landmark: Near Calangute Post Office. P 2281888. M 98221 88818 , 93731 88818 Fax 2276046

Book Palace (Ms Sunita) GTDC Building, Opp Football Ground, Calangute, Goa – 403516 Ph 2281129

Jay Jays Book Shop Ph: 2275581 Near Cavala Hotel, Saunta Vaddo, Baga, Calangute, Goa – 403516. Second-hand books. http://bit.ly/SecondHandBooksGoa

Nicky’s in CSM Road, Baga (very friendly owner, some books for sale, some for rent).

VASCO DA GAMA

Bookland Books & Stationery, 6,Raghunath Apartments, Opp Auto Service, F L Gomes Road, Vasco Da Gama, Goa 403802 Ph 2511413.

National Book Depot, Municipal Market, Vasco. 403802 Ph 2512659.

Sahayee Book Stall Railway Station, Vasco. 403802 Ph 2512765.

Saras Book Stall, Shop No 3, Palaciano Building, Baina, Vasco Da Gama, Goa 403802. Ph 2510579.

PONDA

Ameya Book Agency, Below Sirsat Hospital, Tiska, Ponda, Goa 403401. Ph 2314731.

Vidya Vriksh, Shop No G2, Kurtarkar Commercial Arcade, Ponda 403401. Ph 2319718 or 2314879.

Nalanda Books & Crafts Combine, 2 Mahalaxmi Shopping Complex, PB No 91, Ponda 403401, Ph 2312443, 2317613.

Roop Rohan Agency (Near Public Café)

CURCHOREM, SHIRODA, MARCELA ETC

Damodar Book Stall Shop No 7,Karmali Building, Near Sarvoday High School, Cuchorem, Goa 403706 Ph 2650371.

Pranav Book Stall House No 1135, Thai, Shiroda, Goa 403103 Ph 2306280.

Narvekar Agencies, Luis Apartments, Near Fish Market, Marcela Goa 403107. Ph 2287779.

MAPUSA

Other India Bookstores, Alternative, NGO, Environmental books. Above Old Mapusa Clinic, Feira Alta, Mapusa 403507 Goa. Ph 2263306 otherindiabookstore@gmail.com http://www.otherindiabookstore.com

Valex Stationery and Book House, Shop No 3 St Britos Apartments, Next To Mapusa Clinic, Mapusa (Mapuca), Goa 403507 Ph 2251041. Saligao (Res) 2278289.

Suraj Book Stall, Feira Alta, Main Road, Mapusa 403507 Ph 2250167.

Ganga Books & Stationery Saldhana Business Towers, Shop No.A2, Near Mapusa Court Junction, Mapusa, Goa 403507. Ph 9923083512.

Shalom Book Shop S-2, Fred Plaza, Nr. DCB Bank,, Morod Road,, Mapusa (Mapuca), Goa – 403507 Ph 6520869 [Contact Edwin, c/o nancy3@dataone.in]

Pratap Book Stall, Near Maruti Temple, Mapusa (Mapuca), Goa 403507 Ph 2254822.

PORVORIM, ANJUNA, ETC

Indulgence Book Shop, Techno Park, Near Landscape City, Chogm Road, Porvorim, Goa 403521 Ph 6525543 [NOW CLOSED]

Shree Ganesh Enterprises, S9 Britania Hse, Alto Porvorim, Porvorim, Goa 403521 Ph 2414476.

Manali Book Shop, c/o Milind Salkar manalionline@sify.com C/O Manali Guest House, Dmello Vaddo, Near Anjuna Beach, Bardez, Goa – 403519 Ph 9890298321.

Narayan Book Stall Chapora, Vagator. 403509 Ph 2274449

MAJORDA

Nile Gen. Store & Book Stall

BOMBAY

Jack of All Stall, Gloria Church Building.

Check list: http://yellowpages.webindia123.com/dpy/Goa/Goa/Book+Shops/1/

Understanding India’s roots of Western classical

Technorati Tags: music, western, scholar, india, Sebanti Chatterjee, Goa

By Frederick Noronha

Western Classical music first came to India as a extension of the colonial encounter, but over time it has become “an essential part of Indian culture”, says scholar Sebanti Chatterjee who has recently done her M.Phil on the subject.

Chatterjee’s study is a comparative study of the practices of Western Classical Music across three areas — Mumbai, Kolkata and Goa.

But while Western Classical has stayed a “marginalised presence” in India, musical elements of this genre “get comfortable absorbed in other musical styles — both in the realm of indigenous and Western music”, comments the scholar.

With the curiosity of the scholar and the soft-spokenness of a research student, the young lady plans to shortly take on her Ph.D. in this rather unusual field – Western music in India.

Tracing its history, she notes the importance to understand the Western Classical music scenario in late eighteenth century Anglo-Indian society. The 1760s and 1770s saw rise of all male musical clubs with limited access granted to the ladies, such as Catch club. In the 1780s there was a lucrative business of supplying Anglo Indians with music and instruments.

Some wine links

PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST… AS A WINE-MAKER
http://osdir.com/ml/culture.region.india.goa.saligao/2004-08/msg00015.html

Commodity tourism: wine & dine in the farm!
http://www.commodityonline.com/news/Commodity-tourism-wine–dine-in-the-farm!-12561-3-1.html

Winemaking is way of life
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/winemaking-is-way-of-life/398546/0

The Wine Classroom

http://pawinenovice.blogspot.com/2009/08/md-e-letter-features-winemaking-school.html

Make your own wine (it’s not what you think)
http://www.blogcatalog.com/blog/the-wine-case/038ea3b381af454efc0e012fb1a646fb

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Computer education for rural kids riddled with obstacles

By Frederick Noronha

There are plans afoot to computerise thousands of rural schools across India, attended mainly by poor children. But where is the software that is suitable for use in these schools?
—————————————————————-

WHY IS it easier for Indian school students to use the computer to study the geography of the United States, rather than know the states of their own country better? What is the fate of students in non-English schools who want to learn how to use computers optimally? In a word, are we producing suitable software to cope with the needs of our own schools?

These issues come up regularly to haunt educationists keen to give school-children better access to computers. More so, when the students come from underprivileged or poor backgrounds, are familiar only with regional languages, and study in resource-poor government schools.

“Availability of suitable (educational software) material in the Kannada language is next to nil,” complains engineer S Jayaraman. He is a consultant to the Azim Premji Foundation (APF), a philanthropic network started by Bangalore’s prominent IT house.

The APF has plans to computerise around a thousand rural schools, attended mainly by children of the poor. So far it has managed around three dozen. This too has not been problem-free. Plans to set up these ‘community learning centres’ which could be used in the evenings by general villagers have, among other things, been hit by a lack of relevant software.

“Some of the (commercial software producers) are offering syllabus-based learning,” says Jayaram. Much of the ‘educational software’ available is in English, and better suited to foreign students rather than Indian needs. Others firms have simply taken textbooks and dumped it onto a CD.

Some of the other problems the Azim Premji Foundation has to struggle with include finding sufficiently motivated teachers close-by, difficult infrastructure (high and ultra low-voltage power), reluctance of school authorities to open access to villagers outside school hours, and the like.

But the Foundation is already reporting that putting computers in rural schools has boosted attendance, and that admissions to otherwise-ignored government schools has also improved.

APF has been able to make use of two specific software — one a Karnataka-based treasure hunt, giving information on the state’s various districts; and the other called ‘Brainstorm’ that helps students practise simple Arithmetic concepts.

C V Madhukar of the APF stresses that the foundation has taken up “primary education as our target, not so much as philanthropy but more as problem-solving”. He said the possible agenda on this front could revolve around computer-based content creation (either teacher-centred or child-centred content); TV-based content; setting up Community Learning Centres; and facilitate the donation of used PCs from companies to schools.

Tia Sircar of the Bangalore-based TeLC (The e-Learning Consortium) also stresses the need to look at the ‘content needs’ of the Indian rural masses. She points to the success of some experiments like the Pratham initiative of computer training in Mumbai, which Sircar says has been a “vast success”.

Sircar concedes that students across the country feel the need to study English. But without regional language software, the aim of making India a computer-literate nation would simply not happen, as educationists agree.

Others wanting to promote computers in schools have also faced similar problems. From the west coast, the Goa Computers-in-Schools Project (GCSP) is an Internet-based alliance between overseas Goans and those here to help spur on attempts to give schools in the state access to more computers.

Recently, the GCSP managed to finally get the Central government to allow Customs-free import of once-used computers from abroad to non-elitist, non-commercial privately run schools. This is particularly relevant in Goa, a state where much of school education is privately managed.

Such measures could allow overseas expats to send in donated and once-used computers by the containerful, on just paying the freight charges. But software questions remain. In the past too, some linked to this network have raised questions about the ethics of using pirated proprietorial software in schools, where students are supposed to be taught to follow a principled approach to life.

Other approaches are being tried out. Aware of this acute lack of educational software, the small but active network across India that promotes Open Source and ‘free’ software is also beginning to pay some attention to the issue.

Prof Nagarjuna G of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Mumbai has set up a Internet based mailing-list to study the potential in school education of GNU-Linux, the Open Source and ‘free’ software. Life can be contacted via Life-admin@hbcse.tifr.res.inThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it while the website is at http://hbcse.tifr.res.in/mailman/listinfo/life

There are other global websites like linuxforkids.com which offer megabytes for education software on a CD for prices ranges between three to six dollars. Programs offered include First_math (a maths quiz game), Anton (a challenging maths game), Cindrella (commercial interactive geometry software), Linux Letters (learning game for children from 2-up for letters and numbers), TuxType (typing tutor), Gnerudite (a Scrabble-clone), Across (to generate your own crossword puzzles), Qvocab (to increase your foreign language vocabulary), Lingoteach (to learn foreign languages), Atomix (a molecule-creation game), LOGO (tool for children to learn programming).

This might be helpful, but doesn’t quite solve the main problem at hand.

Linux is still, unfortunately, seen as a “geeks’ operating system”. So, support available is relatively limited, specially in remote rural areas. In addition, again the problem of having relevant, local-language educational software remains.

On the positive side, there are some signs of hope. Local GNU-Linux enthusiasts are showing signs of growing interest to build India-relevant software applications, and the educational sector could benefit too.

Committed supporters of Linux do appreciate that for their Operating System to grow in popularity, it should have something specifically relevant to Indian needs. Bangalore incidentally could be called one of the Linux capitals of India, with its active network of supporters and enthusiasts who showcase their work through events like the IT.com in November and the Banglinux held in early summer each year.

Others are also trying out their own initiatives.

Dr Pavanaja, a scientist who was earlier with the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in Mumbai and now devotes his time to promoting computer usage in Kannada through the Kannada Ganaka Parishad (see vishwakannada.com), agrees that relevant software is sorely lacking in regional languages.

“The only field IT has failed to change dramatically is education. Computers can remake education. It is indeed time to begin,” says he.

He points to his own initiatives. ‘Kannada-Kali’ is a software that generates a jig-saw puzzle from Kannada alphabets. One has to fit the pieces in the right place, thus enabling youngsters or those not knowing the Kannada language to practise on its alphabet. “I don’t claim you can learn Kannada using this. But it is an entry point,” says Dr Pavanaja.

He has also put together a Kannada version of LOGO, the logic-oriented, graphic-oriented software that is used as a tool to teach young children the basic concepts needed for programming. It is still under development. So far, only a few keywords required for the LOGO program have been completed. Some 300 more keywords are yet to be done.

Dr Pavanaja is more than open to the idea of freely sharing his ‘intellectual property’. In fact, the Kannada-Kali program has a prominently distributed message: “Feel free to distribute this among your Kannada friends.” In such a situation of scarcity, it is indeed laudable to see some of those working on such themes to be more than willing to share the fruit of their labour generously, without thinking about monetary gain.

Of course, at the end of the day, much of the Indian educational software scarcity simply boils down to a question of economics. In spite of their millions-strong numbers, the rural dweller simply doesn’t have the purchasing power. So why should anyone bother with writing software specifically for him? Even if this is a country that is increasingly claiming the status of being the world’s software superpower.

(Frederick Noronha is a freelance journalist based in Goa-India interested in developmental issues)

http://infochangeindia.org/2001010476/Education/Features/Computer-education-for-rural-kids-riddled-with-obstacles.html