[Imc-india] national site vs cities, regions??

[Boud Roukema]

Someone pointed out:

> Just a thought. I am not so sure that the naming indymedia_india is a 
> good idea. To frame indymedia within a national territory logic may not 
> work in its favour. People could be encouraged to start smaller 
> indymedia networks under various names (of initiatives, localities, 
> cities etc) and that can form an extended network. Given the history of 
> nationalism and a repressive state alongwith very deep hierarchical 
> organizational principles amongst activist groups, an appellation that 
> frames the national may not make for the best spread of the initiative.

Definitely agree!  This is up to the grass-roots people who get
together to decide!  Several relevant June posts are:

http://lists.indymedia.org/mailman/public/new-imc/2001-June/000402.html
http://lists.indymedia.org/mailman/public/new-imc/2001-June/000453.html
http://lists.indymedia.org/mailman/public/new-imc/2001-June/000420.html
http://lists.indymedia.org/mailman/public/new-imc/2001-June/000382.html

It depends on how many people, in what locations, are willing and really 
ready to start up, and what they feel comfortable with.

Given that no properly (in people terms) functioning Indian site
exists so far, the short term thing would be to use
india.indymedia.org as an initial site, with plans to break off into
more local sites later.

Here's Hugh's statement on having a very explicit statement in the
"about us" in order to make it clear that creation of new local sites
would be strongly encouraged:

http://lists.indymedia.org/mailman/public/new-imc/2001-June/000420.html

> I'm glad to see jay's suggestion that an imc-india would not preclude
> regional or city sites. But would potential organisers of such sites 
> *realise* that? Maybe the possibility should be explicit in the "about us"
> statement of such sites.

Of course, since Indymedia wants people to meet physically, there
would presumably be at least 2 or 3 big cities where people first
meet - Mumbai, Delhi, Calcutta? Unless Indymembers are willing to
travel to the different cities for each face-to-face (monthly?) 
meeting, it might be natural to create 2 or 3 city sites simultaneously.

If there are enough committed people, why not?