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I have received an apology from the newspaper, printed today. Now I would like to get an apology from Mr. Bora and perhaps some compensation for the fee he received for the piece. We shall see what is forthcoming.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Plagarism
It was brought to my attention that I had been plagarized recently. I ran the gamut from flattered to angry throughout the day yesterday. The Ahmedabad Mirror, a subsidiary of Times of India, printed (online) an article I wrote and posted here on April 15, 2008 about making films without a budget. I had written this piece, at the request of a friend, for the Ahmedabad Film Festival. Apparently, someone directly involved with the festival, one Shiladitya Bora, took the piece and submitted it under his name.
I have received an apology from the newspaper, printed today. Now I would like to get an apology from Mr. Bora and perhaps some compensation for the fee he received for the piece. We shall see what is forthcoming.
I have received an apology from the newspaper, printed today. Now I would like to get an apology from Mr. Bora and perhaps some compensation for the fee he received for the piece. We shall see what is forthcoming.
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12 comments:
Dear Susan,
I am extremely apologetic that such a thing happened and it was purely unintentional.
Ahmedabad Mirror requested me for an article and I found this one in our pool of articles for the festival's use.
I felt this one will make an inspiring read.
I was totally unaware of the fact that it was originally written by you until one of my colleagues pointed it out to me. But by the time I realised it got too late. It was already published by the newspaper.
It was a mistake and my sincere apologies to you and the readers that such a thing happened and there was no intention of deceiving people involved.
Also I have not received any kind of fee from the newspaper for the same. It was an honorary work.
Shiladitya,
Don't you think this apology is a little lame? You may not have known it was mine, but you definitely knew it wasn't yours. Does this mean that plagiarizing is okay as long as you don't get caught? I think you can do a little better than this, na.
I second Susan's comments. It seems Mr. Bora you have completely neglected the actual issue, which is that without a doubt, you took someone else's work to claim as your own. Given that this was a friend or acquaintance of yours, you are now feeling the need to apologize, but had it been another random person it would've been ok?
I would ask you if you've contributed to other articles for other publications? If so, who exactly wrote those pieces?
Claiming you did not receive is one thing, then you say it was an "honorary" work, what part of stealing someone else's work contained any bit of honor? The fact is, I'm pretty sure you knew it came from Susan, was she not credited with the article for the festival? If so, then I'm certain her name would've been with her article.
The entire situation seems incredibly lame as Susan described and honestly could've been one that was easily avoided.
Dear Mr. Bora,
I think it’s always an important thing to acknowledge our mistakes or misdeeds and own up to them. This is how we learn and grow.
I hope that you learn from this situation and never again try to pass off another’s work as your own. I think that you knew what you were doing and now you are extremely sorry that you were caught. You could have prevented this entire situation just by giving Susan the proper credit for her writing. Whether you were paid for the article is not really the issue at hand.
No one would have begrudged you for wanting to pass on an ‘inspiring read.’ But now, due to your actions, your integrity will always be questioned. I hope it was worth it.
Reading this "apology" makes me (being a writer myself) extremly furious...
You picked one article out of a pool and gave it to a newspaper claiming it was your own work... What kind of a work attitude is this... And how often have you done things like this, before you got caught?
If you are not able to write something yourself or to lable other peoples work in your "pool" correct and give credit to those who deserve it, you should seriously consider a change of profession...
Your action and your really weak excuse seem to be a sign of a low work ethic...
looks like Mr. Bora can read better than he can write...
i think it's time for you to look for something that you can actually do other than writing Mr. Bora...
I am upset that the first thing that happens after Susan's visit to India is this. How embarassing (but sadly, not surprising). There are laws against this sort of thing in India, you know, and people in the West take plagiarism extremely seriously. It doesn't matter who the original author of the article was, just that you knew it wasn't you, yet you turned it in to be published, to a famous newspaper no less!
[3:188] Those who boast about their works, and wish to be praised for something they have not really done, should not think that they can evade the retribution. They have incurred a painful retribution. ( from God's scripture)
Mr Bora , better you stop such eveil works!
Mazhar Khan.
Mr Bora your attempt at an apology is rather pathetic to say the least. The fact is you used Susan's work and passed it on as your own. If indeed you acquired the article 'from a pool' Common courtesy dictates you mention the original writer. You had no intention of deceiving people? you moron. You knew the article wasn't written by you!!
I don't think apology is printed in the correct manner and the stated facts in the apology are far from the truth. I think you must go legal way against the news paper Susan. I believe just printing apology is not enough. Just saying that we are not aware of it shows that Editor is running away from his responsibilities. I strongly advocate Legal Procedure. I think you should also ask for financial compensation.
And Shiladitya... I hope the people who submitted films to you will not be betrayed like Susan... Hope you are not submitting those films under your name in the festivals world over... You have lost total trust from my side and I tell you... You have lost a friend like me forever.
Erica... if you remember you have also given me two articles for the same thing... You are lucky that you are not plagiarized as yet. Be careful and keep your eyes open... ;)
"I am extremely apologetic that such a thing happened and it was purely unintentional."
extremely apologetic that such a thing happened. not that you "committed"/did such a thing.
purely unintentional ? were you stoned while u were submitting the article ?
"Ahmedabad Mirror requested me for an article and I found this one in our pool of articles for the festival's use."
found it in your "pool of articles" for the "festival use" ?
i am sure you didn't FIND it, you were out searching for articles to plagiarize. The article was published in the brochure with Susan's credits in the title. How convenient it is to "FIND" an "inspiring" article, remove its title and credits and submit it under your name? to a newspaper ? ( if it's for the FESTIVAL USE ? )
"I felt this one will make an inspiring read."
I bet it translates to :" i felt this author lives far away in Oklahoma and might never really get to know i plagarised, most other articles are by local authors and i might be cautght.
"I was totally unaware of the fact that it was originally written by you until one of my colleagues pointed it out to me. But by the time I realised it got too late. It was already published by the newspaper."
you want us to believe that story ?
I spoke with Pooja ( the girl who compiled the articles for the festival brochure ) and she said each article had it's authors name in the title itself.
Shiladitya, have some guts to say " i am sorry i plagiarized" it's that simple.
Mr Shiladitya
your apology seems to be as dramatic as indian bollywood villian confess.....
hope u WILL NOT searched out apology article or say pool of article for this apology use....
and might this been an satisfying read....
and it is real shame of ending the ur comment with fee involved.. is it apology or saying that i have not got single penny to share with anybody.....
its better u stop accepting request for an article in newspapers, atleast some other will be saved henceforth.....
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