Profile

Entrepreneur.

Wikipedian, Free software, GNU/Linux, Photography enthusiast.

• Adores his mother tongue, the Kannada language.
• has contributed as a developer to Evolution project.
• is a sysop and bureaucrat on Kannada Wikipedia, and brought it up as an active editor for a long time starting from its initial version in September 2004.
• In 2005, he started Sampada, a community of Kannada speaking people. Sampada is now a well-known initiative and one of the largest portals in Kannada on the Internet.
• he started Krushi Sampada, an on-line magazine dedicated to Agriculture.
• has served as a member in the Chapters commitee of Wikimedia Foundation.
• is one of the founding members of Wikimedia India.
• has served as secretary of Wikimedia India.
• has helped coordinating efforts surrounding GNU/Linux Habba. Three editions of GNU/Linux Habba (GNU/Linux Festivals) were organized in various cities/towns of the state throwing light on how to use local language (specifically Kannada) on GNU/Linux.
• has also coordinated efforts surrounding Nira Nischinte - set of events that were intended towards creating awareness about sustainable water management and using social networks, blogs and technology to spread awareness.
• helped create the Kannada Water Portal.

Presently:

• Founder, Director - Saaranga Media.
• Co-founder, Director - Saaranga Infotech.

Among the several other events he has helped organize are Kannada Wikipedia meet-ups and several other initiatives surrounding Wikipedia.

Interests

Free Software, GNU/Linux, Cartooning, Web based development, Drupal, Photography, Kannada language, Typography, Environmental issues, Management of Natural resources.

Citations in Press and Media

English
(list being built - incomplete as yet)

• "Kannada on your Computer, the easy way" - The Hindu, 15th April, 2008.
• Local language, global issues - Times of India, Sunday April 6, 2008.
• Font Hopes: Kannada Bloggers meet - Bangalore Mirror, March 17, 2008
• "Log out of Microsoft tie-up, say open software Advocates" - The Hindu, October 12, 2007

• "Chalk a blog" - Deccan Herald, June 10, 2007
• "Just drop by for a chat" - The Hindu, Nov 1, 2006.
  
• "Topics about Kannada, Karnataka on-line" - The Hindu, April 06, 2006
• "In our tongue" - The Hindu, March 30, 2006
•  

Kannada

• ವಿಜಯ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ - ಗ್ನು/ಲಿನಕ್ಸ್ ಹಬ್ಬ ಕುರಿತ ಲೇಖನದಲ್ಲಿ - ೨೫ ಏಪ್ರಿಲ್, ೨೦೦೮
• ಬ್ಲಾಗಾಯಣ - ಸಂಡೇ ಟೈಮ್ಸ್ ಕನ್ನಡ - ೨೩, ಮಾರ್ಚ್ ೨೦೦೮
• ಅಂತರ್ಜಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಮೈದೆಳೆಯುತ್ತಿರುವ ಜೀವಜಾಲ - ಪ್ರಜಾವಾಣಿ, ಮಾರ್ಚ್ ೧೭, ೨೦೦೮
• (ಪಟ್ಟಿ ಅಪೂರ್ಣ)

Television

• Interviewed for Kasturi Kannada Channel for the program "Jagruti" for two separate episodes relating to "Free Software (free as in freedom) and Kannada", "e-governance in Kannada". It was telecast in December 2007.
•  

Radio

• Interviewed on Navilugari, Mysore Akashvani (24th April, 2007)
• Interviewed on Mangalore Akashvani (1st September, 2009)

"Throughout the centuries there were men who took first steps down new roads armed with nothing but their own vision" - Ayn Rand