I think although Dinesh tried to answer some of the issues I put forward, I haven't got anything to justify publishers or libraries including those of centrel universities like Jawaharlal Nehru University, not providing EBooks to disabled, even though the books are available to non-disabled students. and although there are sites like questia.com even those are expensive, and books are not available in portable formats, and you need net connection to read them, as only online reading is possible. if you need academic Ebooks, from publishers like sage or routledge, their sites charge you very high indeed. and if you are buying books, you have to put in additional unpaied labour of scanning them. so being at the wrong end of all these discrimination, I don't see any moral obligation to submit to discriminating laws. what Gandhi asked was not to submit to immoral laws, not using means that are based on arms. in scanning and distributing scanned book, there is no use of arms.
On 10/9/09, Asudani, Rajesh <rajeshasud...@rbi.org.in> wrote: > > So dinesh, > You are essentially saying that: > 1. We should do our book related transactions through organizations of and > for blind like NAB which can provide e text and daisy books to legally > disabled persons on request. > 2. refrain from publicly ask for books or post their availability > notifications in fora of blind/disabled like AI Bookbole as it would entail > their destruction sooner or later, and may make a book available to a > non-disabled person. > > > Now, here, what even such organizations are doing is nothing but violation > of copyrights, till the law is amended at least. > Making a fundamental right an exclusively institutionalized and secretive > act, in my opinion, is cowardly and oversubmissive. > I truly appreciate bookbole for their courage and openness. > World, according to me, operates on extremely surfacical grounds and > superfluous way. > Authors and publishers are not at all going to feel the need for making the > materials accessible until they feel a pinch in their pockets by mass > distributions of their copyrighted works amongst the disabled. > Anyway piracy is not highly uncommon even for general masses, so heavens > are not going to fall if a few deserving disabled benefit. > Besides, my earlier argument about widening the reach of books to > individuals who otherwise would never have got a chance to appreciate them, > remains to be answered by anybody. > Besides, there is no justification of copyright or non-availability about > educational books in accessible format to all. > UNCRPD talks of access to cultural material and IPR not being a barrier to > it. > So, what are books but manifestations of cultural conscious? > Exclusively Institutionalizing a basic need and right for the fear that its > open manifestation would entail legal proceedings does not appeal to me. > There was a time when living of blind/disabled and their pursuits of > activity in general community were regarded dangerous and taxing resources > too much. So, they were institutionalized as individuals fit for living only > in institutions. > What is wrong in that? > Now, it is felt that books etc. should be provided secretly to disabled by > their institutions as we are here for profit earnings and if we concede to > demands of few persons with disabilities it would be too expensive and why > bother about inferior minorities? > > So let the business of publishing flourish unabated without being open to > widen its prospects of catering to wider but different audience, and let the > disabled crave for even the basic of their needs and rights by forming > organizations who do the same illegal thing but secretly. > Let us bring it out in the open and strongly demand that right to read is > the part and parcel of freedom of speech and expression and its illegitimate > denial constitutes gross violation of our fundamental rights. Adequate > safeguards can be envisaged once the right is recognized and accessibility > is taken into account. > We have been cowards all these years, fearing even to distribute even > educational and informational content. > Tagore had said: > > "Let my country awaken into heaven, > where every one holds their head high, > Where knowledge is free.. > > And let me add: Accessible." > > Lending names may not lend credibility to any cause, but it is more than > sufficient if one person, say, Rajesh Asudani, thinks in a particular way. > I am not bound by dead past and great names. > And, yes, I am not willing to tolerate any comparisons of blind community > to blood-thirsty acts, the person concerned has not withdrawn it still. > I am pained as a person who is blind and who is willing to openly advocate > rights of persons with disabilities and who is willing to put up a fight > with so called intellectuals who would not budge until their monetary > interests are impinged upon. > The fact that by sharing a book amongst disabled, it may be available to a > non-disabled person, is a bi-product and side effect and a necessary evil, > which can be prevented by recognizing our most fundamental freedom of > expression. > I am maddened when I see blind children simply at the mercy of readers or > writers and groping for material to study. > Any law is a pittance before a helpless human being who requires the rights > to lead a meaningful life. > > > > > Rajesh Asudani > > Assistant General Manager (PPS), > Reserve Bank of India > Nagpur > 09420397185 > O: 0712 2806676 > Res: 0712 2591349 > Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?" > John Milton > > > ________________________________ > Notice: This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and > intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are > addressed. 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