Laptop warriors

[Update: Varna gets a similar legal notice from IIPM. They have upped the claim from 125 crores to 175 crores. Sure, their net-worth increased by 50 crores in the last 3 days.]

Move over Mediaah! Big money sleazeballs claims second victim of Indian blogosphere. When I first read the legal notice served by IIPM to Gaurav Sabnis, I didn't think much about it. What do you make of a notice which starts with:

"Warning: This email has been judicially notarized (holymoly) and has been tagged to validate receipt and response(!oo!)"

Moreover, the legal notice has a subject line:

"False articles released by you on IIPM on blogspot.com (reference blogger.com)"

[fine print for the parentheses-challenged: holymoly is an original unword coined by this blogspot domain (reference blogger.com) in response to email being judicially notarized, and "!oo!" is an emoticon for eyes popping out while LOLing]

So, as Gaurav says, after reading it, I went back to watching stupid cable TV. But then, something serious happens and you begin to wonder, "huh!, tomorrow it could be me". In the wake of recent controversy Gaurav has resigned from IBM. I totally applaud Gaurav's courage to stand by his statements. A rare celestial event it is.

In short, here's the story:
Rashmi, editor of JAM Mag, wrote an article debunking several of IIPM's claims, Gaurav linked to those articles and expanded on them. IIPM shot back with legal notices to Gaurav, and played pressure tactics by threatening to burn laptops in front of IBM's Delhi offices. Yes, burn laptops!! Many comments, slander and defamation have flown under many blogs, especially this post by Rashmi, and you can read all about the continuing developments at Desipundit.

I will just add three points:
a) I wish Gaurav stuck to his job, especially considering that his line managers at IBM were with him, and watch how those dramebaaz, bunch of jokers from IIPM Students Union would've burnt laptops in full public view. But deep down, if I put myself in his shoes, I think I too would've done the same. It's not easy to take decisions in a day, when the outcome of those decisions may affect others. So people, be easy on him.
b) Like many others, I didn't know or cared much about IIPM earlier. Sure, I knew they were a pvt. mgmt. institute, and I had glossed over their full-page ads, but nothing beyond that. However with this fracas, they've just ensured that no one in my (and at last count 300+ bloggers) friends and relatives circle will ever join them.
c) More than just blogging or commenting about it, I wish collectively we could do more to help Gaurav, Rashmi(JAM) out in this particular case, and in general indemnifying bloggers from future lawsuits and defend our freedom of speech.

Once again, Godspeed to Rashmi and Gaurav.