Indian middle class goes Net-savvy

The Justice for Jessica campaign, the Priyadarshani Mattoo campaign, CNN-IBN's Citizen Journalists, a strong Right To Information campaign - India's middle class is up and running, running for reform, running for justice, running for long term change. This is a special series on the rise of middle class activism -- The Rise Of The Radical Middle Class.

Monday is International Computer's Day and in this special series, CNN-IBN looks at how the world wide web has truly made the world flat, helping thousands of Indian citizens to connect. Be they young, old, affluent or from the middle class, they all now have the power to push their cause - all in one click.

New Delhi: Amid stacks of dusty books and papers, Arun Mehta is busy working on his latest project - rural connectivity.

Tucked away in all the clutter is a CV that boasts of a B-tech from IIT, MS from the US and PhD from Germany.

But Arun's no corporate honcho. He quit his career with an MNC in the 90s to become an entrepreneur. And while his profile does not say it, he is the man who virtually kick-started online activism in India.

"VSNL blocked access to information relating to Internet telephony on the Net. Here was a Government body, which was trying to protect its monopoly for its commercial interests. If we value our fundamental rights we should fight for Article 19 of the Constitution," says he.

Asserting this right was no walk in the park. Arun, mobilised public opinion in the early 90s by setting India's very first mailing-list-operating under the country's very first virtual organisation: FREE - Forum for Right to Electronic Expression.

Since then Arun has taken VSNL to task many times to protect Government repression on the Internet. But at what cost?

"I did an MS in computers in US and could have become part of micro-computer revolution, at a time when Bill Gates and Steve Jobs were working out of their garage. It would have been easy to be envious of people who made millions of dollars abroad and have loads of money and influence. Yes, that was a sacrifice, but I am so happy with my work. I teach, I interact with the Government for better policies, I try and help the disabled develop computer skills and lead a better life," says he.

It's this kind of work that in many ways has led the way for many 20-something bloggers today, who are wielding the keyboard for a cause.

The world wide web has truly made the world flat, giving 38 million connected Indian citizens - be they from urban or rural areas, affluent or middle class. They all have the power to seek information, gather a database of like-minded people, get expert opinion, legal advice, video conference, blog and even petition online.

And Arun is not alone in his endeavour. He has Sarabjit Ray for company. However, Ray doesn't blog or petition.

For a man found time to stall the Delhi sealing drive, have CAS repealed in and get telecom operators regulated - all while raising his son - the Net has served quite another purpose.

"The Internet gives us insight into procedures and systems for Government departments that we are taking on. Earlier, we were shooting blind. Now it's all up on the Net. We know exactly how they are supposed to function, so we try and work within their system and that's much easier," says he.

Arm-chair activism there's enough of, but there are a handful who haven't gotten comfortable and who are using what the Net has to offer to take their cause forward.

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