Osama Manzar is the Founder-Director of Digital Empowerment Foundation and Chair of Manthan and mBillionth Awards. He is member, advisory board, at Alliance for Affordable Internet and has co-authored NetCh@kra–15 Years of Internet in India and Internet Economy of India. He tweets @osamamanzar. Manzar’s complete bio can be read here.
Osama Manzar travels by road through the coasts of Chirala in Andhra Pradesh and makes visits to several digital interventions of Digital Empowerment Foundation that are making a difference in the lives of weavers, village folks and fishermen of Chirala. Here is the diary…
DetailsArif was from a very small but highly populated village called Tain. The village is a part of one of the most underdeveloped areas in India called Mewat. Just 65 kilometres from Delhi, development unfortunately failed to reach the region.
DetailsEvery human being is an ensemble of multiple pieces of unique information and data points, almost like a machine. The human civilisation has always attempted to discover itself, and the ‘machine’ like tendencies and processes that make up an individual.
DetailsIf one would recall the times when features phones were new, wireless Internet a rarity and text messages chargeable, there would still be somebody or the other who would share a long prayerful message.
DetailsSocial stigma, cultural differences, linguistic diversity, traditional practices, localised community believes & practices — all of them are hallmarks of India. In the middle of deep social & traditional practices…
DetailsThe digital revolution, especially the rise and pervasiveness of mobiles and smart phones powered by apps, have given new meaning to communication across ethnic and linguistic diversity .
Details“I used to attend Award functions organised by Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) where innovators from across the world participated. There I came across Magsaysay Award winner Mahabir Pun from Nepal who worked in the field of connectivity.
DetailsWhile some women are overcoming social barriers with the help of the internet, others are finding economic opportunities and a platform for their views
DetailsIn such a scenario where the entire world is online, where the oral community and the “literate” community have equal opportunities, will traditional literacy and script still matter? I wonder.
DetailsAs more people adopt digital tools and get online to harness opportunities the Internet has to offer, they become vulnerable to the vices of the Internet
DetailsWhen a mobile becomes a part of your life, and it starts acting as a necessity, it is important that we, the people who made it relevant, do not become its slaves.
DetailsThis game makes you exploit the spirit of competitiveness and evoke the urge to be popular on social media by exploring the world of fake news generation,
DetailsMere availability of digital tools and Internet connectivity alone does not make a village smart. Rather, it is the integration and optimum utilisation of these resources for social, ecological and economic impact that truly makes a smart village.
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