Mahiti imparts Free and Open Source Software Training to Tibetans

Monday, 28 January 2008, 11:40 a.m.

Participants listen to an IT professional, taking the class during a four-day computer workshop held at the Department of Information and International Relations from 22 – 25 January 2008

Dharamshala: A four-day
workshop on the implementation of ‘Free and Open Source Software’
(FOSS) provided by information technology professionals from Mahiti, a
Bangalore-based non-governmental organisation, concluded Friday at
Lhakpa Tsering Memorial Hall of the Department of Information and
International Relations (DIIR).

The software training – organised in coordination with the Tibetan
Computer Resource Centre (TCRC) – a branch section of DIIR. The centre
aims to harness information technology to provide a medium of
communication between the CTA and the Tibetan communities and rest of
the world.

Participants, including officials from various departments of
the Central Tibetan Administration and Tibetan non governmental
organisations attended the FOSS training. They learned basics of
browser, window security, visual tools, software equivalent to page
maker such as scribe, ink scape, CMS-Plone, audio visual tools, audio
editing tools, video editing tools, music composing tools, basic
concepts of FOSS, fire-fox extension for web developers.

Mr Thubten Samphel, secretary for Information of the Department of Information and International Relatiions (centre) presents souvenir to an Indian participant

While speaking on the concluding day, information secretary of DIIR, Mr
Thubten Samphel expressed gratitude and appreciation for the organisers
for imparting computer and information technological skills to
Tibetans.

Recounting that the relation between India and Tibet, which
dates back to more than 1300 years, when Tibetans send their best and
brightest students to India to take Buddhism and learn the wisdom of
ancient India back to Tibet, the secretary told the organisers: “We
hope this should be the beginning of a binding and meaningful
partership.”

“Since we are on the threshold of the age of internet, we feel
that India and its people with their technological prowess and savvy
are the right person for the Tibetan students to get your knowledge.”
Mr Samphel added.

Participants and organising team poses for a group photo on the concluding day

He further said: “In the course of our partnership, we
hope you will give us chance to consult you on the issues such as
internet security, hackers, which are of concern for the Central
Tibetan Administration and various Tibetan NGOs who use the power of
internet to outreach the real situation in Tibet.”

Terming the information technology as a god send for
downtrodden people, who have a message and grievances, he said:
“Internet has provided for the Tibetans, who base their struggle on
non-violence to outreach our concerns and our sense of injustice to the
wider world.”

The chief executive officer of Mahiti, Mr Sri lauded the
support given by TCRC and TCV school for their cooperation in
organising the workshop. He was upbeat in expressing that the four-day
workshop, which is the fourth in series, has been very valuable
experience for them and would form the basis for their for their
program to be held in northeast.