|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Background of Setting Free You
can download and use the Basic edition of BornoSoft Accent (previous name:
BornoSoft Bangla2000) without registration.
This edition has been made free for all Bangla users by the sole
endeavor of Ashfaque Swapan of Berkley, California. Ashfaque
Swapan is a connoisseur Bangla-lover who, during his student life, had
published a few Bangla books translated from English. He realized the present pitiful situation
of Bangla in regards to its use on computers. He also understood the reason behind such a situation. It would not be irrelevant here to mention
that not even 5% of the Bangla-speaking computer users are able to write
Bangla using this machine. (Read an article on
this topic.) After more than two
decades following the beginning of use of computers in Immediately
after using BornoSoft Accent, which has been developed on a set of easy rules
based on consistent logics – Ashfaque Swapan, like many others, realized the
fact that Bangla keyboarding could not have been made simpler. But he knew that many interested Bangla
users have purchased and tried one or more Bangla software but have failed to
be benefited from them. As a result,
they have lost faith in any Bangla software to such an extent that they are
now reluctant to try any more. He,
therefore, in an intention to increase the use of Bangla on computers, started
to think about making the BornoSoft product free for all and asked BornoSoft
about the possibility of the same. But why would BornoSoft make it free? Any software has a substantial development cost, especially if developed in the North America. Moreover, its designer and developer worked on it around the clock for the last three years, leaving behind his own profession. Despite any profit, the loan amount of the founder of BornoSoft has increased with time. BornoSoft therefore could not agree with Swapan’s proposal on making its product free. It can only be set free at the cost of its development expenses. The undertaker wanted to substantiate the possibility of raising funds. On the other side, well-wishers of the founder of BornoSoft always wanted him (the founder of BornoSoft) to pull himself out from the project of Bangla on computers. From the very beginning of the BornoSoft founder’s involvement in the Bangla software project, his friends and family have wanted him to get back to his own profession, giving up his project, which in their eyes was meaningless and a wastage of time. Three long years have passed since his heart and soul involvement, but nothing has been achieved so far. If the software could be set free, the founder’s effort to widen the use of Bangla on computers might then go a long way forward and the founder of BornoSoft might return to his profession. They suggested BornoSoft to agree on any amount to set it free. Finally,
however, BornoSoft agreed to set free one of its products at one-fourth the
cost of its development expenses as it might help increase the use of Bangla
on computers. Ashfaque Swapan solely
took up a project named Digital
Bangla Project under a non-profit organization – the International Institute of Bengal
Basin with active cooperation of Dr. Rashbihari Ghosh. He (Swapan), basically only by himself,
started the painstaking work of raising funds for this project. Of
the targeted amount of $30,000.00, about $10,000.00 were actually
raised. The majority of the funds
came from the families and friends of Ashfaque Swapan and from Ashfaque Swapan
himself. Those who have contributed
to the cause of this project have certainly made the difference among the
fellow Bangla speakers. In their
honor, a list of these contributors has been added to the free edition
program. |
|
|
|
|
Home ^ sa†F mYap ^ Ÿkn ba„la ^ AYakesÆF puió»ka ^ FAQ ^ Tour |
|
