“Ecoport is openly denying Prof.Wilson’s great philosophy of knowledge sharing.” Pankaj Oudhia in interview.

“Ecoport is openly denying Prof.Wilson’s great philosophy of knowledge sharing.” Pankaj Oudhia in interview.

Famous Agriculture Scientist Pankaj Oudhia talking about his decision to withdraw academic contributions from Ecoport.

Q. Please tell us about your contributions in Ecoport.
Pankaj Oudhia: I have contributed over 33,000 pictures, over 2500 e-articles, over 80,000 interactive tables, Hundreds of glossary terms, hundreds of references and tens of plant and animal entities to Ecoport in three years. I have spent hundreds of hours to upload it, initially from cyber cafe and then by my own computer with high speed broadband. According to Ecoport supervisor Mr.Tonie Putter in his presentation in recent world conference on Conservation Agriculture, New Delhi, I have contributed over 650,000 pages in Ecoport.

Q. Amazing!!! No one contributes with such generosity. Why you are requesting for “Withdraw”?
Pankaj Oudhia: Ecoport claims that it is knowledge sharing database. When I started contributions in Ecoport they were allowing search engines. Ecoport pages were visible through search engines. Suddenly in the name of technical difficulties they have blocked search engine crawlers with promise to solve this issue within months. But it is more than two years from now Ecoport is not allowing search engines. I feel that my contributions are “locked”. I write for common people not for people selected by Ecoport. Dr. Nelson Mandela and Prof.E.O.Wilson are patrons of Ecoport. I feel that Ecoport is openly denying Prof.Wilson’s great philosophy of knowledge sharing.

Q. What is the response of Ecoport?
Pankaj Oudhia: I have written to Ecoport many times with no response. Finally I decided to stop contributions one year back. Meanwhile readers around the world complained through messages that due to Ecoport policies my contributions are not reaching to them. They suggested me to “Withdraw” the contributions and publish it in place where it can reach to common people. I realized that present Ecoport model of knowledge sharing is not for world community but to get benefit in their own business.

In response of my recent mail Ecoport supervisor Mr. Tonie Putter has written that they are planning to allow search engines in near future and it is in their own interest. This is typical answer I am getting from Ecoport from two years. I am concerned with world community’s interest not the interest of Ecoport.

Q. If Ecoport refuses to return the contributions, how you will proceed?
Pankaj Oudhia: I am confident that Ecoport will respect my request and help in “Withdraw.” In case of their denial I am planning to raise the voice against this malpractice through international forum.

Q. Do you have any problem of misbehaving from Ecoport team?
Pankaj Oudhia: Please don’t ask this. I was treated as “unpaid slave” in the name of Ecoport rules and norms. It is very painful side. But I tolerated all odd comments in order to share knowledge to common people.

I have kept the emails sent by them time to time as proof.

Q. After” Withdraw” what are your plans to do with the material?
Pankaj Oudhia: I am in process of making CGBD database online. I have prepared this database by my own expenses. This database will be available for everyone. Another option is to give pictures and materials to Wikipedia like database available for everyone.

Q. How you uploaded over 33,000 pictures in Ecoport?
Pankaj Oudhia: Initially I sent pictures as email attachment but later finding it difficult I sent it through post in form of CDs and DVDs. Ecoport asked for full size pictures i.e. 3 to 4 MB per picture. After receiving the pictures they were resizing it in small pictures for database. Last year when I requested Ecoport supervisor to return my original CDs and DVDs they ignored my request. I am much worried about its misuse.

Later when I started contributions in Discoverlife I learnt the process of resizing. Ecoport never told me about easy method of resizing. It seems that there intention is to get full size pictures from me. I am still waiting for their reply.

Q. What is your response to Ecoport supervisor’s recent mail? Here is mail:

“Rubbish!

All your information is openly accessible. No information or access to any
information is 'denied'.

On the other hand YOUR authoring access to EcoPort is herewith suspended
until further notice - until you can behave in a responsible way that does
not denigrate or threaten the service or its community.

Tonie Putter”

Pankaj Oudhia: Let me explain the lie of this gentleman by giving one example. Please visit to this link and type “Oudhia” in contributor name, by setting “contain”

http://ecoport.org/ep?SearchType=displayMenu&menu=Resources

Press the search button, you will find this link

500 interactive tables found

http://ecoport.org/ep?SearchType=interactiveTableList&Contributor=oudhia&ContributorWild=CO

I have contributed over 80,000 Interactive Tables but Ecoport is showing only 500. Most of the tables (plus 75,000) related to Type II Diabetes report are not visible through search. Now please read his mail again and decide who is telling lie. Ecoport is not allowing common people to reach my contributions.

Now come to second point saying “YOUR authoring access to EcoPort is herewith suspended.” He knows very well that I have stopped using this authoring access from one year. Hence there is no meaning of any suspension. But please note the gesture and see how Ecoport “behaves” with star contributor (“Star contributor” name was used by Mr. Tonie Putter in one mail).

Q. Are you still trying to avoid this conflict?
Pankaj Oudhia: On September 24th, 2009 I sent message to Mr.Tonie Putter that by giving “concrete assurance” of making my contributions available through search engines still Ecoport can avoid this conflict. But he replied

“I will not succumb to your threats and ultimatums.

I fully expect you to behave like an adolescent and set out to do as
much damage as you can.

There is mo system in the world that could have enabled and empowered
you as did EcoPort. Yet you still, ignorantly, equate EcoPort and
wikipedia.

Go ahead throw your childish tantrum in public. Be proud of the damage
you are setting out to do.


Sent from Tonie's iPhone”

You can note his “tone.” I have stopped further correspondences. This ‘attitude’ has forced me to put this issue in front of world community.

I am simply saying that my contributions should reach to common people for whom I have contributed. If Ecoport is not in position to do so, please return my contributions back. Nothing else.

Q. Why you are not writing directly to FAO and other organization sponsoring Ecoport? You can also write directly to Prof. E.O.Wilson?
Pankaj Oudhia: I am in process of sending letters. Also writing to Prof.Wilson. Ecoport knows that I am from remote part of the world and may not do much to raise voice against the giant organization but I will do my best so that shared knowledge can reach to common people.

Q. You have wasted three golden years of your life for Ecoport. Worked day and night and put much from your own pocket. How you are feeling now to see the bad attitude of Ecoport?
Pankaj Oudhia: It is very shocking and sad time of my life. But I have to remain strong and confident. I will not allow Ecoport to “enjoy” from my contributions. I have shared knowledge for noble cause. Today when I am telling about the bad treatment given by Ecoport to world community I am feeling light. I am confident that people around the world will come in support of me and force the Ecoport like organizations to respect the people ready to “give.”


Please wait for second part of this interview.

Quotes displayed in Ecoport but Quotes Ecoport is not following.

"Knowledge is effective action in the domain of existence. Knowledge shared is knowledge doubled.

— Maturana & Varela (1992)"