Introduction

Hi !! So nice of you to drop by. This is an initial attempt at collation and thus is a very temporary ground before we move on to bigger things and so not much will be provided by the way of information. Just a few sketchy details of what I do, where to contact me and other trivial things.

My name is Sankarshan Mukhopadhyay and my current contact details are:

Sankarshan Mukhopadhyay
129, Ho Chi Minh Sarani, Barisha,
C - 7/4 Shreeram Estates,
Kolkata - 700 008,
West Bengal, India
Landline: +91 033 2447 4531
GSM: 98313 20136 [Kolkata number]
email: sankarshanmukhopadhyay at vsnl dot net

These are a few things I am currently involved with ::

• Ankur Bangla Project :: a project aimed at Localisation of GNU/Linux in Bangla (or Bengali if you so prefer). A collaborative effort between developers, translators, graphic artists and technologists from India and Bangladesh, the group has released the AnkurBangla LiveDesktop v1.0 Technology Preview. Based on a Morphix/Knoppix base, the localised Operating System runs off the CD (after the boot sequence in the BIOS has been properly configured) to provide a complete Bangla computing experience. An insight into the project is available here.

• Screenshots are available here
• Some news articles (scanned images) about the initiative are available here and here. If you do know someone who will be glad to provide coverage to the group, please contact me - sankarshan at bengalinux dot org
• Sayamindu Dasgupta provides regular insights into the project in his blog

Other notable Localisation [L10n] sites/efforts includes the one for Hindi, drop by Guntupalli Karunakar's blog. Also check out Indictrans - an initiative by Prof Jitendra Shah (jitendras at vsnl dot com) to bring together various L10n initiatives under a 'collaborative umbrella'.

• FLOSSToday :: a mailing list aimed at bringing some cohesion into the disjointed nature of Free/Libre Open Source Software development models in India and Asia. Relaying news and views of the projects, issues and events, FLOSSToday run jointly with Frederick Noronha (fred at bytesforall dot org), who also runs BytesForAll - an effort aimed at lifting the veil of technological mystique

• LowCostComputing :: a mailing list for discussing issues related to Low Cost Computing as well as analysing the nature and deployment of ICT4D efforts towards effective implementation of Localised Low Cost Computing (L2C2)

• GNOME India :: put simply - it is a place for talking about GNOME. Run jointly with Sayamindu Dasgupta (unmadindu at softhome dot net), this is a regional list of the GNOME Marketing initiative led globally by Jeff Waugh. Lot's of fun and a free flow of ideas permeate this list

• Linux For You :: Asia's premier magazine on GNU/Linux from the EFY Group (Electronics For You). Currently I am involved in completing a set of tutorial-like articles on OpenOffice. Provide some content on and off to this magazine

• Free Software Foundation :: in my blogs Random Thoughts and Open Minds, Open Source I like to describe myself as a Free Software enthusiast. Thus I work with the FSF-India as well as the regional chapter FSFI-West Bengal towards advocacy and promotion of Free Software in the region

• Indian Linux Users Group - Kolkata :: I am a member of the iLUG-Kolkata and participated in the LUG's presence at COMPASS2003 - the largest IT fair in Eastern India. I also contribute content for the site

• SpeakForYourself !! :: a group of concerned citizens aimed at raising a voice against harassment of women in society. Currently the group is looking for a sponsor for their proposed website

• Conducting a study titled " GNU/Linux L10n initiatives and their impact on ICT4D efforts with special relevance to management of such projects, integration and collaboration protocols, tools and methodologies " under the Independent Research Fellowship offered by the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (Sarai), New Delhi.

The aim of this study includes :

[i] an attempt to understand the publicly available roadmaps for the L10n projects, 

[ii] analyse the project management and release management protocols in place,

[iii] an attempt to analyse ICT4D efforts based on these localised GNU/Linux implementation and releases and

[iv] an effort to locate and identify possible 'index cases' and test bench areas leading to a self-sustaining implementation

I wish to :

[i] investigate existing domains of ICT4D through interaction with the shared networks in order to understand the processes

[ii] analyse (and help in analysing) new 'niche' systems where ICT4D implementations can be carried out

If you do wish to get in touch with me, please feel free to do so at

sankarshanmukhopadhyay at vsnl dot net

The site contains a few more pointers to my areas of interest

1. GLT-Madhyamgram - The GNU/Linux Thek at Madhyamgram is an initiative by Dipankar Das (paagol at softhome dot net) to create a culture of GNU/Linux as well as promote the OS through a base level awareness. To know more about the effort do please go through the following PDFs (PDF reader required) - GLT-Madhyamgram (Bengali) and GLT-Madhyamgram (English)

2. Musings - A compilations of my musings on various issues be it F/L OSS related or just gripes about something that needs to be talked about.

3. CSDS-study - This is a collection of the content created as part of the study mentioned above

4. Some other interesting tidbits include writings from Niyam Bhushan, who contributes on a regular basis to Linux For You.