Subject: Worldwide Indian Network (WIN)
Dear WIN Member:
Many people have been sending us messages regarding things
they'd like to see the Network do. Unfortunately, the active
coordinators and I alone cannot handle all the requests we've
been getting. Therefore, I am writing this letter to all
members.
As a member, you are expected to help improve the services
the Network has to offer. Currently, only a handful of members
have taken the initiative. We need each and every member to
participate actively. Only with your support, will the Network
be able to better serve the Indian community.
Below is a list of things you can do to help improve the
Network:
1) Obtain an FTP Site
------------------
Today the Network has more than eleven hundred members. But
only one member -- Anil Goel -- has secured an FTP site for
the Network. Directly or indirectly that FTP site has been
serving a very large community. There are many more items of
general interest that could be added to the FTP site.
Unfortunately, our FTP site at the University of Waterloo is
already overburdened. We need another site to share the
load.
Also, recruiting takes up an astronomical amount of time. If
we could get another FTP site, we could automate the
recruiting process. Then we could devote much more time to
operations, and the Network could accomplish substantially
more.
Our immediate need is for two additional FTP sites. Please
ask your local computer administrator for permission to set
up an FTP site (see "task25").
2) Obtain a Special Computer Account
---------------------------------
Many institutions around the world grant special computer
accounts to non-profit organizations like the Worldwide
Indian Network. But they will not approach you, you must
take the initiative. Therefore, we urge all members to ask
their administration for a special computer account (see
MN08 of "task10"). You might consider submitting a joint
petition with other Indians at your institution.
Currently, coordinators conduct network related business from
their personal accounts. We need recognition. We need
special computer accounts from which to conduct network
business.
3) Assume the Responsibilities of a Coordinator
--------------------------------------------
Very few members have volunteered their services as
coordinators. As a result, the Network has been functioning
at only a fraction of its potential. There are many
coordinator positions currently open (see "task20").
Virtually all members will find at least one position that
matches their background and interests. The only way the
Network can accomplish more things is for more members to
come forward and assume the responsibilities of a
coordinator.
4) Join a Committee
----------------
Once the Network decides to work on an issue, to plan our
future course of action, that issue needs to be discussed
thoroughly amongst ourselves. We have established e-mail
discussion groups on a number of projects, e.g. Family
Reunification Bills, Kashmir, Pressler Amendment, etc (see
"task51"). With the wide variety of projects the Network has
undertaken, surely you will find one that is of interest to
you.
5) Recruit New Members
-------------------
It is very simple. I have recruited more than one thousand
members, and therefore, I know how simple it is. But it has
taken me an astronomical amount of time. Now, I am asking
all of you to divide this responsibility amongst yourselves
(see MN05 of "task10"). Then the amount of time and effort
each member would have to invest would be negligible. If all
members follow these simple steps, membership will double
within a month. We should always keep one thing in mind that
membership is the lifeblood of the Network.
(a) Collect the e-mail addresses of as many Indians as
possible. Those e-mail addresses don't have to belong to
your friends or acquaintances -- they should belong to
Indians. There is no need for you even to know those
people. The fact is I did not know you in the past.
That did not prevent us from forging a working
relationship.
(b) Mail each person on your list the message notifying them
of the availability of certain files of general interest
at our FTP site ("task++").
(c) After one month, mail the recruiting message ("task00")
to each person on your list.
(d) Mail me, in complete confidence, the list. No one will
ever find out the source, because once I receive e-mail
addresses of Indians, I put them in a file. Then there
is no way for anyone to discover how they got there. I
would greatly appreciate it if you would mail me the list
using the following format:
bhalder@lynx.neu.edu : Mr Biswanath Halder
Also, some companies have e-mail addresses especially for
their Indian employees. And, some Indian Students'
Associations have their own e-mail addresses. I would
appreciate having them.
Thank you very much.
Biswanath Halder
-- Network Coordinator
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Date: Wed, 12 Jan 94 18:17:01 EST
From: Venkateswarlu
To: Biswanath Halder
Dear Biswanath:
I would be pleased if you would list the following
information in your network.If you wish, you are welcome to edit it.
Educational Organization For Orphans And Handicapped
Children.
Dear Friends:
The Organization was registered under the canadian
Federal Charter as a non-profit society.The main objective was to provide
food,shelter,education,medical aid and careers to poor orphans and ... .
================================================================================
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 94 11:11:12 PST
From: sgharve@sunny.edaca.ingr.com (Satyen G. Harve)
To: halder@cs.umb.edu
Subject: AIN
Hello,
I received an e-mail from you sometime back about Indian Info
on a ftp site. I have a request to make for some help or information.
We here in the Silicon Valley (through SIPA, Silicon Valley Indian
Professionals Association) are volunteering our efforts to put
together a delivery mechanism for business related information
pertinent to India and the U.S.
We need some ftp capabilities and possibly a mail-server capability.
Is it possible for us to use plg.uwaterloo.ca or any other similar
node to write and read data?
Please reply. If you need any more information please reply and I
will be more than happy to share it with you.
Thanks In Advance.
Satyen
satyen@edaca.ingr.com
sgharve@ingr.com
(408) 732-9477 (h)
(415) 691-6423 (w)
(415) 691-9016 (f)
================================================================================
Date: Wed, 26 Jan 1994 10:44:57 -0500
From: Mirajkar Srinath
Apparently-To: halder@cs.umb.edu
Hi :
How are you ?
Regarding the Senate Bill S.618 (project #93S618), I just found
out that there is Not enough support being shown and hence nothing
may happen on it !! I talked to Mr. Rob in the Congressional
Sub-committee (202 -224-7878).
It is important that more and more people call their senators and
write to them. If you can post the article on the Bill again and
stress on the fact that people should take immediate measures and
let their friends/families know of it as well, MAYBE things will
turn around.
I don't have post access, so Iam requesting you.
Thanks and Best wishes
-- Srinath
================================================================================
Date: Wed, 2 Feb 1994 16:35:10 -0500 (EST)
From: "'[PURANE PAPPEE]'"
Subject: Robin Raphel
To: Biswanath Halder
Will appreciate if you can send it Washington/Baltimore persons on your
list today please - Thanks.
The Asia Society Washington Center
invites you to a luncheon and lecture in
Washington Perspective on Asia series
U.S. Policy in South Asia
with
The Honorable Robin Raphel
Assistant Secretary of State, South Asian Affairs
Wednesday, February 9, 1994, noon-2:00 pm
The Benjamin Franklin Room
The U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street, NW, Washington, DC
================================================================================
Date: Sat, 5 Feb 1994 19:16:04 -0500 (EST)
From: AK
Subject: NOMINATION OF SOLARZ AS AMBASSADOR TO INDIA
To: halder@cs.umb.edu
Please forward the following to all Indian Americans ASAp
Thanks
Dr. Appu Kuttan
INDIA NEEDS AN AMBASSADOR NOW
The White House is in the process of making a final decision on
Ambassador to India. We need to send to the President ASAP as many
messages of support for the nominee Stephen Solarz as possible.
Please send messages yourself and ask all your family and friends
to do the same.
See below a suggested format:
================================================================================
From: Praveen Kumar Nidumolu
Subject: VERY VERY IMPORTANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To: halder@cs.umb.edu (Biswanath Halder)
Date: Sun, 13 Feb 1994 01:27:05 -0600 (CST)
Dear Mr. Biswanath Halder,
This is Praveen from Mississippi state university.
I have some very important mail for you.
I hope you will mail it to all the Indians of your acquaintance in the USA.
Thanks in advance.
> Dear friends,
>
> This is a request for help. An Indian graduate student, Soumya Dey,
> in the Dept. Of Materials Science and Engineering at the University
> of Utah, Salt Lake City met with a car accident on Nov the 18th.
================================================================================
Date: Fri, 25 Feb 1994 16:41:43 -0600 (CST)
From: Aslam Mukhtiar
Subject: Re: your mail
To: Biswanath Halder
LISTEN YOU CUNT,
IF I'VE TOLD YOU ONCE I'VE TOLD YOU A THOUSAND TIMES
do not send me any me any mail
I DO NOT WISH TO BE A PART OF THIS CRAZY NETWORK OF YOURS
FUCK YOU
AND GOOD-BYE.
================================================================================
Date: Thu, 03 Mar 94 22:51:25 EST
From: Banjot Singh Chanana
To: Biswanath Halder
I would like to reiterate that my stance on such issues are not in accordance
with the letter drafted and if this will be the stance taken by the
Network on the Kashmir and Punjab and Assam conflicts then I would like to
be removed from your mailing lists. I suggest that if you would like to form
a more COHESIVE south asian community that you either discuss the issues or
be sensitive to the differing opinions presented and known to exist.
If you are going to assume that everyone on the network has the same opinion
on this issue then you are mistaken. This will never form a united south
asia that you are striving for. The network you set up is never going
to acheive this goal without being sensitive to differing opinions.
If you are determined to delve into this issue then please respect the
opinions of others and their right to proclaim the corruption and abuses that
are being incurred on the people of Kashmir, Punjab, Assam and the other
states of India. You CANNOT just assume that your audience has the same
opinions of you or the hindu majority. The Sikhs and Muslims also deserve
a say in what is happeneing and what should be done about it.
Don't misunderstand what I am saying, I am a Sikh who would like to
see the sub-continent in a peaceful resolution bu we all have ideas about
what is going on and you cannot force these ideas on others and assume they
agree.
Please take this into consideration since I would like to see a network like
this succeed but if it means a political stance that is insensitive to
others then I do not want to be a part of it.
Sincerely,
Banjot Singh Chanana
================================================================================
From: khud@ihlpo.att.com
Date: Mon, 7 Mar 94 15:55 CST
To: Biswanath Halder
Subject: Kashmir
Dear Biswanath:
I would like to thank you for starting this new Indian network,
with such excellent objectives and goals. Your initiatives to
improve literacy, helping orphans, IIT students information, etc.
are some good examples of the work you are doing towards multi-
front progress of our country - India. With the technological
advances that are taking place in India, very soon India will be
one of the Super Powers of this world. One of the main components
of a super power is, that is, people have to be very resourceful,
united and morally excellent. That are some of the same factors
that made United States of America a Super Power. If some of these
things fall apart, slowly, it can decline in it's leadership in
every front.
In response to your letter of March 3, 1994 about Kashmir:
Lately I have been following news about Kashmir, through Indian
news papers published in USA, some Indian magazines, net-news,
talking to Kashmiris, American media, etc. Last summer, I happened
to watch a video and attend a speech by a US journalist who visited
Kashmir in early 1993, stayed there for a couple of months.
Some of the things written in India Today, in American media and
what Kashmiris say have a very close correlation of what I heard in
that speech and saw in the video. There is horrible persecution of
the Kashmiri Muslims is going on, like, rapes by the Indian
security forces, arrests without any trial, killing of innocent
people, children and women, burning of houses, severe torture, some
of these things what you see in the current Bosnia. The Kashmiris
are slowly getting cut-off from India, have a feeling that they are
no longer part of India. They are developing tremendous hatred for
India. They feel they are being neglected, severely persecuted, and
tortured. They treat Indian forces as "Occupation Forces". This
is a very bad state of affairs. It's bad for India and for people
of Kashmir.
They are trying to attend each and every Human Rights convention,
make their case publicized, bringing awareness, reaching every
nation. If this problem is not dealt with properly, not given
enough thought from all angles, not just by Indian authorities,
even by each one of us, who is a true patriot of India, it may
bring a very bad name to our country, jeopardize the fast economic
growth, public relations, and even India may fall behind lot of
other neighboring countries in most of these areas. No matter how
many letters we write to President Clinton or other heads of state,
it may not help. This is a problem we all Indians should give due
consideration. Not only just Kashmir, in general, the Muslims
minority feels very discriminated, treatment wise, economically,
educationally, particularly after the Babri Masjid incident. They
feel, their way of life is being challenged, they are secluded.
This is not a good feeling for the significant 120 million Muslims
minority of India, particularly when India is poised to take a lead
as one of the major powers of the globe.
My suggestion is:
1. Debate this issue more in the network, understand the
problem, offer thoughts for solution.
2. Write more letters to our own heads of Indian government to
create an atmosphere of dialogue, instead of an atmosphere
of hatred and vengeance.
3. Provide hope and confidence among all minorities.
Otherwise, India has to spend lot of it's resources towards the
Kashmir kind of problems in the years to come. It does not need a
Pakistan or a China to break our country. We have seen Assam,
Punjab, and Kashmir, and if the politicians handle the same way,
may God forbid, there may be more problems in other parts or old
problems might resurface.
I am a practicing Muslim, and I have many friends who are Hindus.
I never had any problem practicing my religion in India, or mixing
with my Hindu friends. For the past 10 years, the general
environment has been deteriorating very fast.
If persecution is the treatment, then, I feel, we are truly serving
the purpose of those who want to divide our country.
As you mentioned, ours is a multi-racial, multi-religious society.
It's more diverse than America. There can be division due to
languages or religions or castes. Unless our leaders learn on how
to keep everybody united, geographically India may be one country,
but politically there may be many nations within India.
Mohammed A Khuddus
================================================================================
Date: Sun, 20 Mar 94 11:11:24 EST
From: Vimal Solanki
To: pj-ain@cs.stanford.edu
Subject: A posting to AIN
Hello Panel of Judges,
I am a member of AIN.
Name : Vimal Solanki
Add: ANS
100 Clearbrook Road
Elmsford, NY 10523
Ph : (914)789-5305
Email: vimal@ans.net
I would like to circulate following message regarding a
serious problem that all Permanent Residents of US (aka Green Card
Holders are facing) who mary outside of US are facing. Their spouses
have to wait close to 3 years to immigrate to US and during this
period Indian resident spouse is not even allowed to visit US !! There
are over 25000 Indians affected by this problem.
The goal of the posting is to spread awareness about PSR's
(Professional for Spouse Reunification) effort to resolve the problem.
There are thousands of Indians affected by this problem who are not
aware of PSR's existense. PSR needs more volunteers to support the
campaign.
I think there have been posting about Senate Bill S.618 on AIN
previously and I believe there was also a signature campaign. This
posting should replace S.618 related posting as this one gives a
bigger picture on how to resolve the problem, generating support S.618
is one part of PSR's effort.
PSR has been fighting for this problem for past 2.5 years
without any resolution yet. There were Senate and House bills last
years also but due to lack of engough support, they did not pass. We
really need good political support to make this happen. Can AIN help
PSR in any way ?
Thanks,
- Vimal
================================================================================
Date: Fri, 25 Mar 94 15:43:55 PST
From: HARSH ZADOO 25-Mar-1994 1640
To: halder@cs.umb.edu
Subject: Mr. Halder, pl. help in getting the attached wide publicity.
We need to get these notes sent to senators and congress-persons
immediately. Thx.
================================================================================
Date: Tue, 19 Apr 1994 08:21:33 -0400
From: Subu Rama
To: akgoel@plg.waterloo.ca, halder@cs.umb.edu
Subject: Baby Names
Hi:
Thanks for your effort. However, where did you get these names from ?
Yalamanchili ? Yarlagadda ? These are LAST names. (For Telugus, to be
specific) Looks like you picked up names from Usenet !
I was expecting a little unconventional name list.
If the child is going to live in India, there's no problem with these names.
However, if he/she were to stay here in the U.S. or Canada, short names
would do much better.
Subrahmanyam is listed in five different ways !
Subu Rama
sr@inri.com
================================================================================
Date: Tue, 10 May 94 18:09:49 -0700
From: Arjun Kapur
To: bbd-win@cs.Stanford.EDU, pj-win@cs.Stanford.EDU
Subject: AIN faq request
Hello,
I just received the following query:
Date: Tue, 10 May 1994 19:57:30 +0600
From: saptho@mozart.ee.umn.edu (Saptho Nair)
I and many others would like to know what items we can take
back to India when we visit, like for a month or so. Do you
AIN people have any idea??
Specifically,
(1) what items are duty free? how much of each?
(2) How much duty is charged for
a) electronics
b) toys
c) gold
d) household appliances
If you have some info, please post it on the newsgroups.
Thanks.
-Saptho Nair
We don't have any information about this at our ftp site. I think it
would be a good idea to compile this information and put it at the ftp
site.
Is there anyone who knows the answers to these questions, or a
reliable source that has the answers?
I am willing to compile the information I get, so that we can put it
at the ftp site. My main difficulty is gathering the information.
Can any of the other panel judges or bulletin board posters help me
on this?
Thanks,
Arjun Kapur
================================================================================
Date: Thu, 26 May 94 19:24:11 EDT
From: madhu@cmmacs.ernet.in
To: vigyan!halder
Madhukara B S
70/1 East Park Road
Malleswaram
Bangalore -560 003
India
Internet : MADHU@CMMACS.ERNET.IN
To
Director/Chairman,
Asian Indian Network,
Dear sir/madam,
I have an undergraduate degree in Engineering (Computer Science and Engg, 1991)
from University of Mysore with an excellent academic record. I wish to
continue my studies in Computer Science leading to a PhD degree.
I request you to send me the email address of universities in USA, Canada and
Australia. This will help me in contacting them and collect more information.
Thanking You
In anticipation of early reply
Yours Sincerely
Madhukara B S
================================================================================
To: bhalder
Subject: A suggestion
Date: Tue, 31 May 94 09:51:46 EDT
From: ahs@unx.dec.com
Hi, I see that you have quite a bit of information on WIN. I would like
to suggest to you to set up a WWW site for WIN. I think this would be a good
idea and first site for Indian Info.
Ashish Shah
================================================================================
From: vish.kohli@sdrc.com (Vish Kohli)
Subject: "News article about imm. restrictions proposed to become law" (fwd)
To: halder@cs.umb.edu
Date: Mon, 13 Jun 1994 11:02:55 -0500 (EDT)
Dear Biswanath Halder,
The following news item has caused serious concern among many Indians
about their future. And time seems to be running out fast. This seems to
be the time that Indians in the US really need the Worldwide Indian Network.
Please respond with your comments.
Thanks,
Vishwajit
================================================================================
From: krishna@ramanujan.chem.nyu.edu (M. V. Ramakrishna)
To: akgoel%plg.uwaterloo.ca@nyu.edu
Date: Sat, 18 Jun 1994 20:11:36 -0400
Dear A K Goel,
Could you kindly include the following lawyers name in you listing
Indian-Lawyers. Thanks.
S. Gayathrinath
299 Broadway, Suite 603
New York, NY 10007-1901
Tel NO: 212-791-4210
FAX: 212-571-7405
This is the cheapest and the best lawyer in New York.... Ram
================================================================================
Date: Tue, 26 Jul 94 07:58:24 WST
From: anoop@ee.uwa.edu.au (Anoop Malaviya)
To: bhalder
Subject: XXXX
Dear Mr. Halder,
I received your rather strickly format bound protocols for being
a member on your network. I fail to understand the need for such rigidity.
For personal reasons, I would not comply with your requirements
for complete disclosures of identity, address etc. (Even US Govt. does not
require that). Here is my proposal:
1. E-mail address: anoop@ee.uwa.au
2. Statement of issue:
Rwanada is facing biggest human tragedy since partition of British India
into Republic of India and Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Despite of our
sufferings in 1947 due quite similiar reasons, India and Indians abroad
have shown apathy.
3. Proposed Action:
3.1 Organise an appeal for funds and volunteers.
3.2 Organise a volunteer group to rehabilitate sufferring population
================================================================================
Date: Thu, 18 Aug 94 15:48:54 LCL
From: Ruth Charles
Subject: Family Reunification Bill
To: "Mr. Biswanath Halder"
I tried to access the "Family-R" file through ftp and was not able.
Could you send to me directly any information that you have? I do
have a copy of the bill but am interested in how this bill was started,
how Senator Riegel's office became involved and information on how
Indians here in the US are affected by these policies. I am doing my
doctoral work on immigrant women here in the US and am interested in
policies like these which make the transition even more difficult.
Thank you for your help.--Ruth Charles, Maxwell School, Syracuse
University.
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P.S. If you receive duplicate copies of this file, please send
an e-mail to win@neu.edu.
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