Two points:
1. Of course there is a digital divide. In a country where about 70% of the people are illiterate (forget the government stats) and 78% of the people live on less than Rs 20 a day, 47% of children are malnourished and maternal anaemia is 75% it will be surprising if it is otherwise. What the digital revolution helps is in enabling those who do want to mobilise for the poor.

2. Arm-chair activists: Of course… but not really. The blogosphere helps to dispel the notion of the ’silent majority’ accepting everything quietly. It adds voice, not nearly enough, but enough to rattle the fundos (on all sides of the political spectrum). So I am not likely to be apologetic about being an arm-chair critic. I dont buy the politician-babu argument that I must get elected/into the bureaucracy before I can comment. What do they want me to do come out onto the streets?!

3. Language is an issue, but not only for the internet. Technology amplifies existing reality… if a person is a good writer, it helps us become better; a good hunter with technology becomes even more productive, and it helps us make millions of mistakes per second! Where there is already high levels of literacy (for instance Malayalam) discussions do take place in the language of choice. It is rather shortsighted to blame the internet for everything (or to think that it can be the modern day magic bullet for everything!) We cannot wait for everything to be in order to start something.

(That makes it three points, and now the internet with cruel efficiency will let the world know I cant count!)

best wishes,

Edwin