kinshuk sunilit aint no, dessert if therez no caek

CC Salons are global, informal events focused on building a community of artists, developers, and creators of all kinds around Creative Commons licenses, standards, and technology. The first event took place in San Francisco in 2006 with the idea to replicate in other locations internationally. Since then salons have sprung up in cities around Whether you’re familiar with Creative Commons or are brand new to the concepts behind it, we encourage you to check out a salon near you.

Come and be a part of Delhi’s First Creative Common Salon on February 28th at Sarai, CSDS. The event’s objective is to start the social collective of artists, developers and creators around the Creative Commons Licenses and standards.

Schedule

1.30 PM : Organiser’s Note + Introduction + Open House
2.00 PM : Playback of Wireside Chat with Lawrence Lessig
(Playback of 45 minutes chat given by Mr. Lessig on February 25th 2010 with an additional 30 minutes of Q&A session)
3.30 PM : Focussed Sessions on Software Freedom, Creative Commons and Licenses
5.00 PM : Open House + Networking Sessions
6.00 PM : Roadmap for future CC Salons Delhi.
6.30 PM : Concluding Note

Expected Participations

A lot of content creators and thought leaders such as artists and conceptualizers are expected to participate at Creative Commons Salon Delhi. Also, an important chunk of the audience will be developers and from the technical domain.

Contact

Kinshuk Sunil (+91 99100 24895)
Mohak Prince (+91 98686 69175)

Updated Event Details: http://wiki.creativecommons.org/Delhi_Salon

I am leaving for Chandigarh today. To attend OSScamp Chandigarh October 2009 – a culmination of a month’s work. A platform to promote open source in the state of Punjab. The first of its kind in the state. Exhiliration, Relief, Worries, Issues. I feel all of this. And a lot more.

In recent times, in the aftermath of the September camp at Delhi – a couple of individuals stood up, who did not agree with the way OSScamps was being done. They were worried about it all being a psuedo-marketing effort by my company. They were worried about lack of ownership and transparency in the organisation of events. Most of all, they were worried about the lack of open source software in the camp. And that having a camp was, apparently,  important than open source. Or the fact that ‘dont focus on open source, talk about free software‘. And a lot of smearing, as well.

I respect people who have an opinion, and who stand up for it. Most of the criticism was welcome. What was unnerving was the way it was put. The ‘my way or highway‘ way of speaking never went well with me. Constructive criticism takes us all forward, but negative criticism doesnt do much good. I see it around me. Always.

I do not understand this sub-culture amongst the FOSS pseudo-elites in India (as far as I have encountered) – the ego tussle of being worshipped and treated like god. Their words and wishes be held fast as if some writing on the stone. Never quite understood: why people expect that, why other appease them. In my simple existence, I only understand man’s effort and his proving his worth with that.

For the last 3 years, I have been working with FOSS – contributing, being a part of it, pushing it with all my personal might, making attempts and efforts of organising camps. It has involved a lot of pushing around. Running around. It was not easy, it was not simple. And I did all I could. In retrospect, now, I see a shift as more people take up the mantle as well. I see friends and acquaintances, who stand up and begin new efforts. OSScamps, in my opinion, has done well as a platform. The effort that was put by me, my colleagues and friends, so many people in the community – everyone’s efforts, gave OSScamp a direction and a focus; and it always stayed true to that.

There has been another shift – from developers to students. Students will drive FOSS forward. Developers have a vested interest in technology; Students, apart from wanting good placements, have a lot of spare time, passion and enthusiasm. I see their enthusiasm in all FOSS events I have participated at. They are the main drivers of FOSS today and an even bigger catalyst tomorrow. They form a major chunk of all efforts required by a community initiative. They lead. They work. They play.

When the said negative cirticism took place, I got the opportunity to gauge the community – the concerns and issues. I used the opportunity to evaluate, where we stand today and where we are headed. No one had agreed with the individuals who were disgruntled with OSScamps. Everyone came forward to protect the way of the community – we are different, we don’t deny it. The plain fact is that we dont do, nor do we want to do that, which everyone does. We have a faith and a belief and we work on it. Aspirations and Dreams. We try to achieve. I feel a lot of people in the community will agree with what I speak. I hope.

I am leaving for Chandigarh today. To attend OSScamp Chandigarh October 2009 – a culmination of a month’s work. A platform to promote open source in the state of Punjab. The first of its kind in the state. Exhiliration, Relief, Worries, Issues. I feel all of this. I know that the community in India encourages OSScamps as a platform to promote FOSS. I understand that the community wants to make the best of the event, take a step forward. The aftermath of OSScamp Delhi September 2009 was a good opportunity to disprove some myths and clear away a lot of confusion about the events and the community. Now we walk with a clearer focus. Knowing that, where I am going today, I will be accepted and encouraged as one of the brothers in arms. Amen.

Still Alive.
Got loads of good news. Loads of wannabe good news. And loads of hectic schedule.

Will update sometime soon.
Looking forward to meeting you at OSScamp Chandigarh and other community events.

Yesterday, I was invited to the Nokia Music Store India launch event – the Nokia Music Bootcamp. I have written about it here. I went to the event with fellow bloggers Honeytech, Praval, Gaurav Mishra, Sachin Khosla, and Abhijeet Mukherjee. Also met Sayantan Pal and Priyanka Sachar at the event. The event was a splendid experience, what with Nokia doing a new service launch, but more about the music band – advaita, that performed at the event. Advaita is coming up with their new album – grounded in space, and has made some amazing music. Their way of blending rock and folk is very new and fresh and the music feels soothing.Look up these guys, they are amazing.

What was more about the evening was the company of these bloggers – makes you realise how much more there is to learn and yet their friendly demeanour keeps you at ease. Abhijeet and I have had a small stint as co-bloggers during my authorship at the Make Use Of Directory. Meeting him was an old wish that finally came true. After all that I had heard about Honeytech, meeting him was a very different exeprience – energetic, wise, and young. And his affection for good music.

I look forward to meeting these guys and a many more bloggers and community people across the nation. Just realised there is so much more to learn :)

I guess, learning is a constant process, it keeps going on.

Mid-Day did an interview with me on one of the community Initiatives I am working on – Indie Game Development, India, Community. The interview is included below:

Gaming is no more a waste of time, it’s serious business. and even if it isn’t, who cares? Living by this law are the members of a freshly formed community DiningCamps. Its founder Kinshuk explains the highs of the game

Not many understand that online or console games develop intelligence, skills and decision-making power.

Especially, IT administrators give video-gamers a hard time because they consider gaming applications as a wastage of space, conducive to viruses and obviously and impedence to Internet speed.

They realise that these very geeks are probably much smarter and creative than you. Here comes a group of game developers who not only want to shed all the myths about gaming, but also give it a corporate twist.

Over to Kinshuk.

Read full interview on Mid-Day website. OR read the scan below (click on image to full view the article)