Politics, Culture and Software

Whether, how and when localisation of computer software to Indian languages is accomplished, and for whom, are obviously crucial factors in determining whether the information age widens the gaps that currently exist in India - and everywhere else - between rich and poor, powerful and powerless. If English were to remain the only easily available Indian language for computer use and if we make the reasonable assumption that access to computers (and to computer-based electronic communications) is empowering, then 95 per cent of the Indian people who do not know good enough English for computer use will automatically be disempowered. Existing gaps will grow.