Reseña del libro "Idrf: Let The Facts Speak (en Inglés)"
IDRF, the India Development and Relief Fund is a Maryland, USA based charitable organization focused on self-development of the most needy in India. The fund had supported exceptional work after the Orissa cyclone of 2000, and the Bhuj earthquake of 2001, in addition to its sustained service through decades, as the main source of support for over 200 organizations ranging from orphanages and leprosy patient shelters, to One Teacher schools, hospitals and farmers' cooperatives. In 2002, this fund came under a massive attack plotted by a well-funded political cabal, coordinated with several unscrupulous media entities. Several academics jumped on the bandwagon, misusing institutional affiliations and pompous titles in lieu of diligence and common sense to claim credibility. Tens of thousands of the most needy in India, whose one hope of self-development was the work funded through IDRF, faced starvation - a fact that appeared not to bother these pompous entities and journalists. The blatantly political attack was intended to discredit India's government and destroy relations with the USA at a time when the strategic partnership of democracies was coming into full bloom. It was a frightening time: the attackers succeeded temporarily in bullying major corporations into suspending donations to IDRF, and seemed poised to enlist powerful political support in the US as well. We - diverse individuals mostly unaware of each other's existence until this outrage woke us up - decided to form a team and fight for the truth. Our response, informed by a massive popular upwelling of outrage against this atrocity, was to investigate thoroughly, and then report the facts. We were inspired by a virtual army of dedicated and often anonymous volunteers who showed what good, honest research could accomplish. Our experience validated the ancient advice: "Truth Alone Shall Triumph", but also showed why that requires a determined effort. Over a decade later, the IDRF continues to thrive and grow, now with stellar ratings from numerous rating agencies. As for the attackers, well, let's just say that Karma is real, and so are the consequences of not doing one's homework before claiming to have done 'meticulous research'. Many people worldwide read of their antics and well-deserved exposure, and found them highly amusing: in some cases government agencies investigated as well and were not so amused. This book, unchanged from 2003, documents the facts. We hope that this will guide and encourage those like us, who find themselves wondering how to counter such massive attacks by powerful and unscrupulous entities and their pompous but unthinking cheering squads.
