Balendu Sharma Dadhich

Balendu Sharma Dadhich

Balendu Sharma Dadhich (Hindi: बालेन्दु शर्मा दाधीच) is an Indian technology activist[1] and editor.[2] He is a noted proponent of free and open source software [3] and inclusive digital technologies. He is also known as a developer of software and web services to promote use of such technologies among Indian language users.[4]

He maintains that a large population in the developing world and third-world countries including India still face an unfortunate situation of 'knowledge and technology deprivation due to their linguistic backgrounds' which goes against the basic principle of Internet and technology being a free, open and inclusive medium of information, communication and technological empowerment. This situation must not be allowed to continue as technological breakthroughs and advancements are meaningless unless they touch the lives of universal humanity. He observes that digital technologies must be made genuinely accessible to all in order to empower the powerless and marginalized sections of society and help the process of an inclusive socio-economic development. Everyone, including governments, tech industry and individuals can play a role in this process.

Dadhich uses his websites, portals, research, lectures, writings, events and TV appearances to promote use of Indian languages in digital space. His research and thoughts on ‘Unicode and Indian languages’ are well received. Balendu Sharma Dadhich sees Unicode as a part of the process of globalization as it has contributed in making digital technologies universally accessible beyond geographical and linguistic boundaries.

He has received Delhi government's Knowledge Technology Award [5] for his social contributions through the use of technology. He is founder of localisationlabs.com (a website dedicated to promotion of Unicode and localisation);[6] editor of Hindi portal prabhasakshi.com;[7] and a member of important Indian government committees.

His free software include an Indian language word processor 'Madhyam', InScript based typing tutor 'Sparsh', easy Hindi text input system 'Virtual Hindi Typewriter', a zipping utility with Hindi Interface named 'Hindizip', Unicode enabled image editing program 'Chhaya', web service 'Sanshodhak' and Hindi text format converter 'Sateek'. He is also working to promote ebook culture in Hindi as he believes that technology can play an important role in reviving interest in literature and creative writing.

[8]

References

  1. ↑ Citation on Microsoft website: http://www.microsoft.com/india/mvp/indiamvp.aspx
  2. ↑ Website run by Balendu to promote Unicode and localisation: http://www.localisationlabs.com/
  3. ↑ Note on free and open source software developed by Balendu Sharma Dadhich: http://www.techtree.com/techtree/jsp/article.jsp?article_id=70859&cat_id=580
  4. ↑ Wikipedia entry for Madhyam, a software by Balendu Sharma Dadhich: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madhyam
  5. ↑ News about Knowledge Technology Award: http://www.newkerala.com/news/fullnews-106136.html
  6. ↑ Website run by Balendu to promote Unicode and localisation: http://www.localisationlabs.com/
  7. ↑ Hindi news portal Prabhasakshi: http://www.prabhasakshi.com/
  8. ↑ Reference on Hindi wikipedia: http://hi.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AC%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%81_%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE_%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%9A