ABVA writes to IDRC, Canada re. Siddharth Dube's book 'No One Else'

To,

International Development Research Centre,

Canada

Sir/Madam,

I am writing to you on behalf of AIDS Bhedbhav Virodhi Andolan (ABVA), a non-funded, non-party organization working on the issue of fighting discrimination against those affected by HIV/AIDS and those targeted as the high risk groups. Canada’s International Development Research Centre had given a research grant on poverty in India to Mr. Siddharth Dube which helped him in his research on his book ‘No One Else’ published by HarperCollins Publishers India in 2015. The said book contains aberrations pertaining to ABVA’s work. It also attempts to hijack ABVA’s work in the name of Siddhartha Gautam who was a member of ABVA for a brief period; and violates intellectual property rights of ABVA. Your organization along with the author and publisher of the said book bears the moral, ethical and legal responsibility of hijacking a non-funded group’s work for commercial purposes. Your organization also failed to exercise due-diligence into the credentials of the author, Mr. Siddharth Dube before funding him.

A copy of an email dated 26 January, 2016 and legal notice dated 29 February, 2016 sent to Mr. Dube in this regard are attached herewith for your perusal and necessary action. These are also available at ABVA’s blog at:

1.             http://aidsbhedbhavvirodhiandolan.blogspot.in/2016/01/abvas-email-to-siddharth-dube-on-his.html

2.             http://aidsbhedbhavvirodhiandolan.blogspot.in/2016/02/legal-notice-to-siddharth-dube-author.html

Dr. P.S. Sahni

Member, AIDS Bhedbhav Virodhi Andolan