Elections2014/Nominations/Q&A

As part of the 2014 Wikimedia India Chapter EC Election process this is the page for discussion with EC Election Candidates.

Read the questions already asked, before adding your questions by pressing on the New question button on the right. When a new window pops up, type a summary of your question on the subject line, elaborate the same in the body of the text box before saving the page. Please add your wiki signature after your question and add  membership number in brackets. The question will be added as a new section to this page. Add this page to your watch list and check back to participate in the discussion. Any candidate can respond to any question.

The suggested timeline for adding questions is Nov 10, 2014 and the discussions is Nov 15, 2014


 * Candidates have time to respond to existing questions till Nov 15, 2014


 * We have have 13 candidates in the Final Slate.
 * See Profiles at a Glance

= Questions to all candidates =

Candidate view of Chapter priorities and EC first year goals
a) What would be your view of top 5 priorities for the chapter if you get elected? b) What in you view should be the goals for the new EC for the first year? c) How would you be able to help the EC accomplish those? (please provide specific thoughts than generic responses) Arunram 08:18, 31 October 2014 (IST)(INDI-003)

Dr. Abhiraj Suryawanshi's Response and followups
Top 5 priorities :
 * 1) Implementation of proposed roadmap for Wikimedia work in India http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:WikiProject_India/Condensed_proposed_roadmap_for_Wikimedia_work_in_India
 * 2) Various programs to promote and develop medical content on Wikimedia projects. http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wiki_Project_Med#Projects
 * 3) National as well as regional level meet-ups/conferences for better collaboration amongst Wikipedians.
 * 4) Formation of 'Special Advisory Board' consisting of Senior Wikimedians for guidance.
 * 5) Special focus on distributing Wikipedia to rural India through offline Wikipedia project. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Wikipedia_CD_Selection


 * Above said 5 priorities will be on my agenda to be completed within 1st year of tenure with the cooperation & guidance of WMF, fellow Chapter EC Members and Community.

Dr. Ekbal Bappukunju's Response and followups
1. There are large number of persons interested in Wiki activities all over India in different states. I would make an earnest effort all of them to be connected and will try to bring everybody to the main stream of wiki activities 2. The local language in put from different states will have to be increased further. Would visit different states and assess the status of wiki activities in different states 3. Language computing efforts are equally important and should go along with wiki activities. There are different agencies working on language computing both central and state government controlled and voluntary agencies. Would contact these various agencies and would encourage language computing 4. Financial sustainability of wikimedia in India is important shall mobilise funds from various sources without conflict of interest. 5. Shall fight for internet freedom and protection of privacy

Dr. Mahesh Mangalat's Response and followups
As a person who joined Wikipedia to edit and create articles both in English and Malayalam, focus of my activities has always been to create quality content with regard to Kerala. I have been constantly trying to get involvement of research scholars and post graduate students in Wikipedia to write articles on their area of specialization. I felt is that is the best way to enhance the quality of Malayalam Wikipedia from its laymen character. I feel that boasting on the number of articles and page depth would be a joke when the articles in Wikipedia is not useful for an High school student who write their projects and assignments.

With this objective I have worked since 2006, and have been successful in introducing Wikipedia as a subject in the Malayalam curriculum of all universities in Kerala. It has to be extended to all subjects and to all universities in India. Quality of the content has to be enhanced so that students at higher education stream would find Wikipedia a useful reference. I believe that my experience and credential would help me further this cause. I look forward in this election that people who really love Wikipedia would appreciate my intentions.


 * --mangalat

Hiran Venugopalan's Response and followups
Apologies for the slight delay in answering. As a new member who joined in this year, it took me some time to go through WMIN Organisational pages, mailing list archives and proposals in meta to learn and understand the organisational context in depth, challenges and path WMIN took in last two years.

Top Five Priorities :
 * Strengthening Organisational Management : WMIN is improving its organisational capacities in last few years slowly and steadily . Now it reached at a point that need operational efficiency with managerial and legal capacities and standard compliance. Self sustainability and organisation strengthening to ensure a level playing field with other Indian WMF funded projects is a top priority. This includes income tax non profit status compliance(12A) and Donation tax exemption (80G).
 * Improve Work Flow Mechanism : One major thing I would like to propose to new EC and implement is a better and improved work flow mechanism within WMIN and Indian free knowledge community. Instead of being a grant distribution organisation which takes credits of community work, WMIN has to work along with communities and contributors as a skill sharing and support structure. Improving organisational learning practices from community efforts and initiatives and to document and spread the knowledge in reusable formats and guidelines is a top priority.
 * Target the next billion : Internet and mobile penetration is growing very fast in Indian subcontinent . Indian language support in mobile devices is also improving. There must be efforts to tap this opportunity  to ensure they will get opportunity to access free knowledge resources. Targeting and identifying potential new contributor categories and ensuring content growth in specialised topics relevant to India and in Indian languages is also a priority
 * Branding and WMIN’s Brand positioning : As a designer with expertise and experience on branding, brand positioning and campaign strategy planing, I can suggest WMIN to establish a effective strategy and brand positioning with community participation which will help WMIN to be more visible, more popular and gain attention.
 * Networking and Partnerships: The chapter needs to design a strategy to build knowledge partnerships and networks with potential institutions with a focus on content creation and donations.
 * --Hfactor 20:49, 9 November 2014 (IST)

Karthik Nadar's Response and followups
In my opion, the EC must work on strong governance for atleast next one year which will make its base strong and can make way to grow in a sustainable way. Thus, following will be the top 5 priorities:


 * 1) 12A and 80G tax exemptions
 * 2) Creation of Advisory Committee for the Chapter who will focus on just to see if the Chapter is doing all good: Advisory committee shall be a mixture of people from various backgrounds like legal and so on
 * 3) Frequent Communication with Community members and with the Wikimedia Foundation which will enhance the trust towards the chapter
 * 4) Enhancing the benefits which we provide to the members
 * 5) Raising more funds locally (donations from local individuals and organisations) rather then been dependent on a single organisatiion; i.e. WMF
 * 6) (Additionally) Let the community grow and come back to its natural strength post which Chapter and the community and focus on more adventurous things for the Wikimedia movement in India

The mentioned above things on one side will give enough time for the chapter to grow in terms of legal and financial support to sustain and on the other hand, it will help the community to focus and become more active on itself which is more need for the day. -- ♪Karthik♫ ♪Nadar♫ 00:05, 1 November 2014 (IST)

Netha Hussain's Response and followups

 * 1) Revival of special interest groups (SIG) and Wikimedia user groups to increase Indian participation in the Wikimedia movement.
 * 2) Focus on initiatives that aim at increasing the diversity of participation in Wikimedia movement. Boost gender gap and LGBTIQA initiatives.
 * 3) Creating institutional partnerships, especially with educational institutes and museums to launch GLAM projects and Education programs.
 * 4) Creating a Grants Advisory Committee (GAC) constituting the past EC members and/or veteran Wikimedians to advice the present EC about fund dissemination.
 * 5) Program evaluation and research to gauge the participation of Indian editors on Wikimedia from time to time and device strategies for editor engagement based on the findings from the evaluation report.  --Netha Hussain 23:02, 4 November 2014 (IST)

Nikhil Kawale's Response and followups
A. Top 5 priorities:
 * 1) Empowerment : Actualizing the potential of the editors. Empowering innovation and creativity.
 * 2) Accountability : Empowerment combined with accountability to provide impetus to performance and improve effectiveness.
 * 3) Ethical Citizenship : To set exemplary standards of ethical behavior both internally and outside the organization.
 * 4) Sustainability : To create a bridge between budding editors and the experienced ones.
 * 5) Clarify the organization's value proposition : The value proposition is its reason for existence. To add value to Wikipedia. TO become self-sufficient.

B. Goals of EC in first year:
 * 1) Financial stability.
 * 2) Corporate Governance restructuring.
 * 3) Short term goals to achieve Value of organization.
 * 4) Frequent inter-community meetups tobuild relationship between various communities.
 * 5) Frequent training and development Camps.

C. My Technical and managerial capabilities can be of utility.

Nikhil.kawale 21:34, 15 November 2014 (IST)

Priyanka Tiwari's Response and followups
A) Top five priorities:

1. Work flow reinforcement and community build up - Building new organizations at various levels will strengthen the working, making it more manageable and reachable to every large and grass root level.

2. Awareness - The valuable contribution comes from editors. So, encompassing their requirement and their creative ideas in the form of various range of small or large scaled projects will prove vital.

3. Bridging virtual and real world - Focusing on members through various training programs will increase their participation and contribution virtually. Also, the experienced editors will directly share their knowledge with the new budding ones.

4. Accessibility and Prioritizing local languages editing - working in diversity will make us more open source. Since we have a diverse range of languages, prioritizing every language editing through various induction programs will strengthen and preserve our community.

5. Platform to spread new ideas - SIGs can prove as the platform to declare the new ideas and take them into action.

B) Goals of EC in first year:

- Training programs to increase contribution from different communities.

- Rebuilding the work flow to provide smooth functioning.

- Provide platform for various communities strengthening.

- Financial dependency.

- Redesigning the relationship management with the editors.

C) Helping EC in accomplishing the goals:

- Awareness programs set up.

- Management of SIGs and projects.

- Technical contribution.

Priyankabtiwari 23:51, 15 November 2014 (IST)

Sanket Oswal's Response and followups
1. My first aim would be to make our Wikimedia India Chapter Financially Independent. We should not let money be an obstacle in supporting the Community. One way this can be done by using the tag "Not for Profit" to our advantage.

2.The chapter should follow the Proposed Roadmap as discussed at the India Community Consultation 2014 held in Bangalore.

3. Organize Regional Meetups and help in organizing projects in different regions of the country. These projects would catalyze the growth of editors in these regions.

4. Revitalize the SIG. These SIGs should be the epicenter for these regional meetups.

5.We will have to continue to rely on Grants from the Foundation till the time our chapter will be able to generate its own internal income. Till such time, We will need a Committee which can advise the EC on Applying on Grants and fund dissemination.

Sanket Oswal 20:53, 15 November 2014 (IST)

Sibi Kanagaraj's Response and followups
<> <>
 * Top 5 priorities
 * Focus on Gender Gap activities.
 * Talking with government officials and newspapers and getting archives in CC compliant license.
 * Building the spirit of community and trying to organise inter as well as intra community meet ups ( Not on large scale ) in regular intervals.
 * Bridging various sister movements like Free Knowledge, Free Culture movements to join hands with WMIN.
 * To make WMIN financially autonomous on the longer run.
 * Goals for the First year
 * Helping EC in accomplishing the goals

a) What would be your view of top 5 priorities for the chapter if you get elected?
Establish the institutional strength of 'Wikimedia Chapter' as a self-sustained self-driven self-reliant organization that can actively drive its mission (to empower the masses of India through availability of open and free knowledge).

To this effect, I would consider the following five as the first and topmost priorities for the chapter to consider:

1. To be self-sustained and self-reliant as an Indian Society, it is necessary to be completely compliant to the relevant Indian law. At present, to be completely compliant with the existing law in such a way as to take all advantages and merits of a 'not for profit' society, the Chapter needs to overcome a few more technical hurdles. While these hurdles are not too complex in themselves, the procedures to accomplish this feat are cumbersome and tiring. Therefore, the Chapter should expend as much of its energy as possible to ensure compliance to regulatory status such as Section 12A and similar beneficial status.

2. To be self-sustained and self-reliant financially, the Chapter needs to ensure regular inflow of revenues as well as its effective utilization. While initially the chapter may rely on monitory support from external agencies such as WMF etc., it should be our mid-term objective to raise the funds locally in a responsible and accountable manner. Efforts should be spared to see how we may attract more local donations and contributions both in cash and kind. As an individual Chapter member, my ultimate and perhaps greedy dream is 'for the chapter to evolve as an entity that can even financially support' (and wield its influence!) global organizations such as WMF!

In the meanwhile, as the picture is not very rosy, we still need to depend upon regular financial assistance from WMF etc. Being a potential super population that can contribute and enrich the WMF project contents, I believe that India earnestly deserve such aid from WMF. The Chapter needs to become the primary instrument to carry on the huge responsibility of coordinating and managing such philanthropic transactions. That immediately reflects in our having to take the burden of preparing complete and transparent documentation, defining systematic operating practices and delivering punctual and accurate reports to all concerned stakeholders.

3. To be self-sustained and self-driven, the chapter needs to ensure wide and active participation by all like-minded individuals and institutions from India, predominantly those who offer their valuable services to missions like Wikimedia projects, Creative Commons and other open source / open knowledge ventures both globally and nationally. A strong and continuous team of altruistic, pragmatic and capable leaders should emerge from such participation. This ideal participation is best ensured by attracting and absorbing chapter memberships from all geographic zones of India and from all language communities. The membership to Wikimedia India should become a credential of high value and privilege that is developed by the very culture of the members themselves.

Having stated thus, the membership eligibility should be much more well-defined than how it is expressed now. There should be objective measures to be based upon while considering a potential applicant to be a member of the chapters. Those measures could be one's active and documented contributions to the open knowledge projects, predominantly Wikimedia programs.

4. The Chapter's visibility among many circles needs to be greatly enhanced. This includes the individual Wikimedia contributors from India, the language communities at large, local and international media, Central and state governments, institutions and academics, corporates, fellow-chapters and above all, the common masses of India. Wikimedia Chapter should strive to become a noticeable entity in all such circles. To this cause, we must seek all means to propagate the existence and growth of the Chapter.

5. Finally, all the above objectives should result in the actual and ultimate goal of the organization, that is to flourish and enhance the resources, contents and accessibility of all kinds of open and free knowledge. The chapter should ensure that every minute and Rupee it spent results in equally or better worth of educational, informative and useful content on Wikipedia, its sister projects and other similar missions. Chapter shall devise or re-define its methodologies to accomplish this and to the extend possible, also help other agencies to achieve the same.

b) What in you view should be the goals for the new EC for the first year?
As to effect the target objectives detailed above on a fast track scale,

1. Get the Chapter qualified and certified as a Not-for-profit charitable society. (Section 12A or equivalent institutional entity). This should happen within the next six months.

2. Get the procedures and tasks straight in order to qualify for financial and other assistance from WMF and its components such as FDC, GAC etc. Ensure compliance by fulfilling all pending documentations, declaring feasible and result-oriented plan and financial outlay and defining clear methods to abide by, execute and deliver them.

3. Review and redefine membership eligibility, membership application procedure and membership sustenance regulations. If needed, introduce viable amendments to the institutional documents.

4. Review and redefine the roles, interaction methods and responsibility matrices of Chapter's EC, staff, SIG and members among themselves and towards the other stakeholders both within and outside the chapter.

5. Review and redefine the productive exercises chapter can do to help develop and sustain a whole set of vibrant communities from all parts and circles of India.

c) How would you be able to help the EC accomplish those? (please provide specific thoughts than generic responses)
1. As a current EC member, I have had the opportunity to go through all the difficulties and hurdles faced by the Chapter as of now. The experience has considerably helped me to analyse and develop better strategies to face the obstacles. If I am elected as an EC member again, I am confident enough to pro-actively pursue and assist the team of the new EC with clarity in thought and vision. 2. I believe that the long many years of my experience as a corporate and project professional and also as a senior contributor, administrator and mentor at the Wikipedia+ missions are important resources that the EC can vest upon.

3. A significant number of contacts and relations that are developed during the previous years by myself (at WMF, WMIN members, Indian Wikimedia communities, Government and institutional agencies and media) can be directly counted as useful resources for the EC.

4. My technical and managerial capabilities can be of high utility to the chapter in its day to day administration.

5. I am fully convinced that to be an EC member is not an easy and rosy opportunity. Rather than being a comfortable and reputable position of luxury, an EC member needs to spare significant time, mental and physical labor and consistent and self-less dedication with no personal gains or returns. Being well aware of this scenario will help me to always think realistically and pragmatically during the course of my being an EC member, if elected.

Thank you! INDI-173  വിശ്വപ്രഭ ViswaPrabha Talk 16:57, 7 November 2014 (IST)

Yohann Varun Thomas's Response and followups
1. Concentration on Increasing Volunteer base in India with a vision of having a Homogeneous Representation from all regions.

2. Increasing the visibility of Wikimedia India on the Global stage by having Regular National as well as regional meetups.

3. Aim at young editors. Have Partnerships with Universities & Colleges.

4.Setting up of an Advisory board. This board will consist of Senior Members of the Chapter which will help guide the Executive Committee while making important decisions.

5.To create a Sustainable atmosphere for editors acting as a bridge between Budding editors and the Experience ones.

Yohannvt 20:27, 15 November 2014 (IST)

Yogesh Khandke's Response and followups
Yogesh Khandke 19:11, 31 October 2014 (IST)
 * 1) Increase the number of Indian Wikipedia editors.
 * 2) Action: Target one college per week/ and thus do outreach activities in 104 colleges in the two year term.
 * 3) Strive to make the chapter financially independent of WMF:
 * 4) Action: Raise funds locally; solicit for funds from Indian corporate donors.
 * 5) Strive to increase chapter membership.
 * 6) Action: Create college/city/ state branches of WIC.  Activity performed in tandem with (1) above.
 * 7) Action: Rejuvenate meet ups and arrange for colleges/ libraries/ other such institutions to allow their premises.
 * 8) Improve editing skills
 * 9) Action: Arrange workshops for editors.
 * 10) Lobby to have government owned intellectual property to be available in public domain.
 * 11) Action: I had raised the matter with the president of Marathi Vishvakosh Mandal, Dr. Wad, being a Chapter member would give me a better locus standi, would encourage other EC members to do the same in their area of interest/ influence.

Bias and perceived racial discrimination

 * 1) How will you deal with the perception that Western editors do not allow Indians to freely edit at Wikipedia by forming cabals?
 * 2) How will you deal with the perception that references of Indian origin are considered as poorer than sources of non-Indian origin?
 * 3) What steps will you take on EC ameliorate the feeling that racism is practiced against Indian editors and that they are discriminated against?

Yogesh Khandke 10:56, 4 November 2014 (IST) ( Membership ID: INDI - 217 )

Dr. Abhiraj Suryawanshi's Response and followups
..To be updated..

Dr. Ekbal Bappukunju's Response and followups
x

Dr. Mahesh Mangalat's Response and followups
..To be updated..

Hiran Venugopalan's Response and followups
..To be updated..

Karthik Nadar's Response and followups
..To be updated..

Netha Hussain's Response and followups
..To be updated..

Nikhil Kawale's Response and followups
..To be updated..

Priyanka Tiwari's Response and followups
..To be updated..

Sanket Oswal's Response and followups
..To be updated..

Sibi Kanagaraj's Response and followups
A generic response. The questions are to be dealt within the wikipedia community (Editing) and not the wikimedia community (Organisational)

Bring up a page where these kind of complaints are reviewd as per Wiki Guidelines. I am against the concept of sweeping words like "western editors", "Indians". Given the nature of the perception, it has to be dealt within the wiki and not in Organisation to Organisation basis. Wiki Librarians have to be developed. Ex. There is an experience in Hebrew Wikipedia that a librarians page is created. The editors ask for sources of information to reference them. The librarians act as virtual librarians, who provide the inputs and references. Logical extension of Question 1. So, the answer is logical extension of Answer 1 : Strengthen the community.
 * How will you deal with the perception that Western editors do not allow Indians to freely edit at Wikipedia by forming cabals?
 * Correct me if I am wrong, I read that it is your opinion that the chapter has no role to play? Yogesh Khandke 10:58, 5 November 2014 (IST)
 * How will you deal with the perception that references of Indian origin are considered as poorer than sources of non-Indian origin?
 * The perception is that Times of India is considered a poorer source than the Guardian even on an Indian subject, how does your reply address that issue? Yogesh Khandke 10:58, 5 November 2014 (IST)
 * What steps will you take on EC ameliorate the feeling that racism is practiced against Indian editors and that they are discriminated against?

Viswanathan Prabhakaran's Response and followups
1. How will you deal with the perception that Western editors do not allow Indians to freely edit at Wikipedia by forming cabals?
 * To be strictly sensible, I believe, this question is not relevant here as Wikimedia India Chapter is not directly related or responsible for the content, its development or reliability of any Wikimedia projects. However, if any of the Wikimedia (or any other open/free knowledge community) member from India feels that there has been an unfair treatment or practice towards him/her from other community members or non-contributing parties (both from India as well as outside), Wikimedia India Chapter, purely on its subjective and objective discretion, may assist them in bringing his/her concern and complaint to the notice of agencies who actually can redress the issue. (Such agencies could be the Wikimedia community themselves, their talk pages or WMF as a body with its own limitations and privileges or even a Governmental, legal, media or corporate ).  However, this may also depend upon the factor that whether the Chapter, as an intervening body, shares the same perception of such users.

2. How will you deal with the perception that references of Indian origin are considered as poorer than sources of non-Indian origin?
 * Please read the answer above to the same effect.

3. What steps will you take on EC ameliorate the feeling that racism is practiced against Indian editors and that they are discriminated against?
 * Please read the answer above to the same effect.

Thank you! INDI-173  വിശ്വപ്രഭ ViswaPrabha Talk 17:15, 7 November 2014 (IST)

Yohann Varun Thomas's Response and followups
..To be updated..

Yogesh Khandke's Response and followups
Since I've asked the question, I am recusing myself from answering it. Yogesh Khandke 11:06, 4 November 2014 (IST)
 * I would request you to answer the questions yourself too, as the questions are equally relevant to you too, as a candidate. You may kindly observe that any one among us candidates can potentially pose an important question by oneself, that may have a significantly counter-productive answer from oneself and thus preemptively avoid or escape a situation of having to answer, had that question came from another party.
 * Hence please do not take the liberty of recusing yourself. Thank you  വിശ്വപ്രഭ ViswaPrabha Talk 14:47, 7 November 2014 (IST)

Chapter activities and the law
What is your position regarding activities that are illegal for example:
 * 1) Those coming under the preview of Section 377 of the IPC
 * 2) images that may be illegal.

Yogesh Khandke 07:48, 6 November 2014 (IST) WIC Membership No INDI-217

Dr. Abhiraj Suryawanshi's Response and followups
..To be updated..

Dr. Ekbal Bappukunju's Response and followups
This needs detailed examination. I shall take a position in such issues so as to protect freedom of expression and protection of privacy. The Indian laws that can be applied to such situations need a closer look considering newer developments and possibilities in IT and internet related activities

Dr. Mahesh Mangalat's Response and followups
..To be updated..

Hiran Venugopalan's Response and followups
..To be updated..

Karthik Nadar's Response and followups
EC, members and the broad community should never indulge in illegal activity, and if found within the broad community, it should be EC's responsibility to handle it. The answer is general because the concept of illegal activity is never ending. -- ♪Karthik♫ ♪Nadar♫ 12:19, 11 November 2014 (IST)

Netha Hussain's Response and followups
..To be updated..

Nikhil Kawale's Response and followups
..To be updated..

Priyanka Tiwari's Response and followups
..To be updated..

Sanket Oswal's Response and followups
..To be updated..

Sibi Kanagaraj's Response and followups

 * My stand on illegal activities
 * When I was young, I went to a circus .While I was enjoying the show performed by lions , lioness , tiger and tigress , a clown was constantly interuptting the show by borrowing feathers from others and keeping it in his hat . Without minding this I was enjoying the show , suddenly , a small kid who was sitting nearby stole a pop corn from my bucket . I was outraged by this illegal activity of a single pop corn being stolen . I wanted to put him before law for this illegal,cognizable offense of theft.
 * While I was growing up, I saw my friend who was exactly 17 years and 364 3/4 days coming alone to watch a U/A rated movie .A law abiding citizen like me was outraged by his illegal activity. My eyes became red with anger . My nerves were starting to bulge . The lightning struck the theatre . The BGM was on . Fully pumped up , I wanted to put him behind the bar for illegal activity.
 * Even yesterday, the bike I was riding just crossed the zebra line by .000001 mm. I wanted to go to the cop and get myself arrested for this illegal activity . What a lovely citizen I am (Pat on my back) and I cant bear single illegal activity in my vicinty

Relevance
Sorry if the answer was irrelevant, so was the question. What does an "illegal activity" as defined by the asker's example and a perception related to that have to do with judging my/fellow candidates' candidature for EC of WMIN ?
 * Do you mean that as a chapter functionary you will ignore laws? Yogesh Khandke 07:31, 7 November 2014 (IST)
 * Though it could be your perception, I never meant that way .  I meant that , when I am contesting for WMIN EC , I am contesting in capacity as a WMIN member abiding the bye-law . When it comes to question of ignoring laws , in the specific context of WMIN EC election , I dont know a WMIN EC member can do . The opinions on laws , legal-illegal continuum are personal opinions .But ,  I assure the members that , I will work with my fullest potential if elected as an EC member without any personal prejudice comining in the way of organisational or collective decision . --Commons sibi 14:00, 7 November 2014 (IST)
 * The question is not related to your candidature, but your prospective role as a EC member, you have linked to an article about 8 laws, what is the purpose of drawing such an analogy? Yogesh Khandke 17:40, 7 November 2014 (IST)
 * The analogy was drawn to kindly bring to attention that, there are something which an EC member can do and there are some which an EC member cannot . --Commons sibi 09:12, 8 November 2014 (IST)
 * Can you kindly be more specific please, regarding how you would deal with compliance to Indian law in your role as a Chapter EC member, considering your apparent professed discomfort as manifest above; your anecdotes, your analogies... Yogesh Khandke 10:07, 8 November 2014 (IST)
 * I dont think I have manifested any discomfort in compliance to law . Might be your perception though . My analogies were pointed to the fact that Indian law is not single entity .It has various components imbibed in it, like Labour law , Family law , Company law , constitutional law etc . --Commons sibi 21:16, 10 November 2014 (IST)
 * How is that relevant? Yogesh Khandke 21:33, 15 November 2014 (IST)

Viswanathan Prabhakaran's Response and followups
..To be updated..

Yohann Varun Thomas's Response and followups
..To be updated..

Yogesh Khandke's Response and followups
Since I've asked the question, I am recusing myself from answering it. Yogesh Khandke 07:48, 6 November 2014 (IST)
 * I would request you to answer the questions yourself too, as the questions are equally relevant to you too, as a candidate. You may kindly observe that any one among us candidates can potentially pose an important question by oneself, that may have a significantly counter-productive answer from oneself and thus preemptively avoid or escape a situation of having to answer, had that question came from another party.


 * Hence please do not take the liberty of recusing yourself. Thank you  വിശ്വപ്രഭ ViswaPrabha Talk 14:47, 7 November 2014 (IST)
 * There is no liberty taken, I object to this accusation, if a question is asked civilly I will answer it, no need to take liberty with civility. Yogesh Khandke 17:21, 7 November 2014 (IST)

Sockpuppetry
Have you ever been accused of / proven of sockpuppetry in Wikipedia .? If so, please provide the link of Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations page. This would help members to asses the candidature and the genuineness of a candidate. Membership ID : INDI - 405

Dr. Abhiraj Suryawanshi's Response and followups
..To be updated..

Dr. Ekbal Bappukunju's Response and followups
No never

Dr. Mahesh Mangalat's Response and followups
I have never been accused of sockpuppetry in Wikipedia.


 * mangalat

Hiran Venugopalan's Response and followups
..To be updated..

Karthik Nadar's Response and followups

 * NO
 * 1) Not applicable. -- ♪Karthik♫ ♪Nadar♫ 12:16, 11 November 2014 (IST)

Netha Hussain's Response and followups
I have not been accused of sockpuppetry in any Wikimedia project. --Netha Hussain 15:17, 7 November 2014 (IST)

Nikhil Kawale's Response and followups
..To be updated..

Priyanka Tiwari's Response and followups
..To be updated..

Sanket Oswal's Response and followups
No

Sanket Oswal 20:55, 15 November 2014 (IST)

Sibi Kanagaraj's Response and followups
I do not hide under the recuse clause. I have not been accused of sock puppetry .--Commons sibi 23:34, 6 November 2014 (IST)

Viswanathan Prabhakaran's Response and followups

 * 1) . Have you ever been accused of / proven of sockpuppetry in Wikipedia .? No
 * 2) . If so, please provide the link of Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations page. :Not applicable
 * INDI-173  വിശ്വപ്രഭ ViswaPrabha <font color="purple" size="1">Talk 15:12, 7 November 2014 (IST)

Yohann Varun Thomas's Response and followups
I have never been involved in sockpuppetry and will never do so in the future.

Yohannvt 20:24, 15 November 2014 (IST)

Yogesh Khandke's Response and followups
I have been blocked and banned for various reasons including socking/ the socking matter being a little more objective was contested by me and the block was revoked as the allegation couldn't be substantiated. Presently I am banned from writing about Indian History and colonialism, the later for creating the Charles Dickens' Racism article, and the former for writing that the "Aryan Invasion/ Migration theory" is a disputed theory and for writing that Indian lower castes and upper castes are not genetically different but have developed from common ancestors as is demonstrated by modern genetic research results. Yogesh Khandke 07:33, 7 November 2014 (IST)


 * 1) Wild accusations that didn't pass scrutiny.
 * 2) Block revoked as unsubstantiated.
 * 3) These are not all, there are tens of such allegations, all wild and unsubstantiated, I really don't care so much as I don't sock, not my style. Yogesh Khandke 08:56, 7 November 2014 (IST)

Personal conduct

 * 1) I wish others to give their opinion on a candidate: Sibi, indulging in reprehensible personal attacks
 * 2) comparing recusing to hiding.
 * 3) equating accusation to guilt and using it as a measure of integrity.

Yogesh Khandke 08:41, 7 November 2014 (IST) (INDI- 217)
 * 1) Interestingly Sibi has been blocked for Copyright Violation, a criminal activity in real life.  Yogesh Khandke 10:21, 7 November 2014 (IST)

Dr. Abhiraj Suryawanshi's Response and followups
..To be updated..

Dr. Ekbal Bappukunju's Response and followups
I think all candidates are competent and committed Wikipedians

Dr. Mahesh Mangalat's Response and followups
..To be updated..

Hiran Venugopalan's Response and followups
..To be updated..

Karthik Nadar's Response and followups
..To be updated..

Netha Hussain's Response and followups
..To be updated..

Nikhil Kawale's Response and followups
..To be updated..

Priyanka Tiwari's Response and followups
..To be updated..

Sanket Oswal's Response and followups
..To be updated..

Sibi Kanagaraj's Response and followups
The fellow wikimedians can decide about my conduct. I have openly declared in my user page that I was blocked for Copyright violation and its subsequent revert .In fact, that would be the first one you would find about me if you wish to see my user page. Meaaning, that I take responsibilities for my mistake , acknowlege it ,   correct it and move forward with the learning curve.

In case the "hiding under recuse clause" was the issue which is taken as a personal attack ,I am sorry. My intention was to say that " Even the questioner is free to give his opinion and not to use the recuse clause unless a clear CoI exists". I should have used a better word than hide.

Moreover 2 questions asked by previous questioner are logical extention / paraphrased questions of an edit here and a  mail here meaning that they are not the questioner's questions, I feel that the questioner can answer the questions , if he wishes to. --Commons sibi 12:48, 7 November 2014 (IST)
 * It is not a matter of my wishes, if anyone asks I'll reply, in any case every thing is recorded in History, your/ my blocks/ bans and edits-. No wisdom in hiding/ no frankness in acknowledging. Yogesh Khandke 15:13, 7 November 2014 (IST)

Viswanathan Prabhakaran's Response and followups
..To be updated..

Yohann Varun Thomas's Response and followups
..To be updated..

Yogesh Khandke's Response and followups
Recused, as I cannot answer my own questions. Yogesh Khandke 08:41, 7 November 2014 (IST)
 * I would request you to answer the questions yourself too, as the questions are equally relevant to you too, as a candidate. You may kindly observe that any one among us candidates can potentially pose an important question by oneself, that may have a significantly counter-productive answer from oneself and thus preemptively avoid or escape a situation of having to answer, had that question came from another party.
 * Hence please do not take the liberty of recusing yourself. Thank you <font color="blue" size="2"> വിശ്വപ്രഭ <font size="3" color="green" face="Vivaldi">ViswaPrabha <font color="purple" size="1">Talk 14:47, 7 November 2014 (IST)
 * My bad. Sorry. I have described the conduct as reprehensible in the comment request, that makes a separate response redundant. Yogesh Khandke 17:42, 7 November 2014 (IST)