In another forum a hot discussion is going on about compensation to writers and editors.
This has some relevance to ikOlam too. That is why I am offering some of my own thoughts
for wahtever they are worth. Many Indians settled abroad (and some in India too) have
started websites, blogs, discussion groups in order to give expression to their love for
Indian culture, arts and literature. The peole and/or their spouses have all a day job
to pay their bills. In their spare time (they don't have any, they forego their sleep,
their quality time with their family and their own recreational interests), they devote
their time, money (time is also money) and energy to this activity. The contributors
to these forums or groups are also amateurs in the sense that this is not their main
activity. But in the work these peole carry out, they are in no way inferior to the
so-called professionals. There is no profit motive at all in this. In fact, these
people spend their own money toward this effort. This only demonstrates their love to
their chosen field. It is only this love and optimism that brought forth sites like
ikOlam, rasikapriya (for classical music), indianscreen (for old hindi songs),
oldtelugusongs (for vintage telugu film music, see my article on AM Raja), project
ghantasala (devoted to the songs of ghantasala) and many many more. From their daily
pains, we all gain a smile and a little bit of sunshine is added to our lives. Let us
salute them and help them. Regards! - mOhana
Your post was a big surprise to us mOhanaji! What you've said is so true (about our lifestyle, you have written as if you have seen us day in and day out! :)
Yes, there are no profits per say, but we are happy with the intangible benefits that we get out of running this site. Today because of ikolam, we are in touch with beautiful people from all over (people with beautiful minds and beautiful hearts, that is the way we've seen and talked about our ikolam members at our dinner table for the past 2 yrs). Our members further our knowledge and understanding about various subjects (not just rangolis) on a daily basis. An year ago from now, I did not get to communicate with you, all of our madams and friends. It has been a fun ride so far, and all of our members have made it so!
Your words of support are morale-boosting, and your post is so motivating. Thank you so much. :)
Some people think in the same lines, some people express the same as Mr.Rao.
Let's first thank the revolution in communication!
I remember the good old days(just over 10 yrs) when my fist son was studying in Bits, Pilani, we would never be able to get him over phone even to wish him on his birthday! A handwritten letter would reach him in 7 days! Just before he finished his studies there, the internet facility came to existance! No PC at home. My husband will get the mails printed from his office and we used to preserve them as treasure! More thrilled we were when he went to US and started sending mails about his day to day experiences!
Now all are available online all the time!
Jaya you are so right... Thanks to the revolution in communication...
In 1996 my dad registered for a phone with Chennai Telephones (having a telephone connection at home was a luxury those days) and we had to wait for more than 6 to 8 months to get the connection... but the sad part was that my dad died before the phone was installed at home and the irony was that his name was printed in the telephone directory after he died. Mum always used to feel so sad each time the phone rang thereafter. Now every single person at home has a mobile phone - Luxury or Necessity??..
JKM what better way is there to connect other than the internet these days. Would you believe I am finding long lost friends now because of different websites - on Orkut I found a friend I lost touch with 18 years ago.. On Facebook I found my schoolmate who I had lost contact with about 20 years ago - she now happens to be in Australia and I am in the process of contacting yet another schoolmate I lost touch with 37 years ago..
Would you believe it, actually on ikolam itself I found two friends Jaya's sis-in-law (the other Jaya) who was my bus friend in 1978, and Lakshmi (actually her husband Raghu was my office contact and I have spoken to Lakshmi over the phone many times when I was working too) who I am in touch with after 5 years...
So I should say thanks to the owners of Orkut, Facebook and ikolam for connecting me with long lost friends and hope to find more on other websites too...