[Tugindia] [Duvvuri Venu Gopal] Some ideas for Indian TeX

[Dr. Dinesh Karia]

> Here is a mail from Venu Gopal on Some ideas for Indian TeX, which I
> think deserves the attention of all the list members and their valued
> opinions.
>
> -- Radhakrishnan
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Date: 6 Oct 2002 05:06:56 -0000
> From: "Duvvuri Venu Gopal" <venugopal_duvvuri@rediffmail.com>
> To: cvr@tug.org
> Cc: velthuis@rc.rug.nl, lzk60@css.amdahl.com, pbpal@theory.saha.ernet.in,
>    amitabhtrehan@yahoo.co.in, raj@freedevelopers.co.in
> Subject: Re: Some ideas for Indian TeX
>
>
> Dear CVR
>
......TUG 2002 proceedings. After going through it I felt how much I missed.
(I think this should be published. May be Springer would be interested.) I
have a good rapport with Foundation (Cambridge Univ. Press) and
Springer-Verlag (Indian Office) If I am of any help, please let me know. In
fact, Hindustan Book Agency is also coming up with very nice books. One may
go for that also. Since this pertains to Scientific Typesetting, perhaps
NBHM (National Board for Higher Mathematics) could also be contacted.


> · There should be efforts to standardize the TeX for Indian
>   languages. I have seen DEVNAG of Velthuis and TELUGUTeX of Lakshmi
>   Mukkavalli.
I fully agree with this. In fact, before making hasty programmes, one must
have the full plan and well coordinated execution of the plan.

 Suggestion: We may adopt the scheme developed by
>   C-DOC for inputting Indian languages using English key board (in
>   iLEAP)

I am affraid perhaps this is yet not well accepted typing scheme! I may be
wrong but this is what I feel.




> · On the font naming ront also many variations appear. Devnag uses \dn
>   to start devnagari. The TeluguTeX uses different commands \tlcb for
>   normal \tlcnx for italic etc.

In fact, with the fonts of different kinds, one can go for different classes
for different languages and the commands MUST BE the existing one like
\emph{}, and all the standard words. So that while changing from one
language to the other, it will be simply the change of class file. Further,
for using more than two scripts in one documents, there should be packages
or better options.

> Weight of fonts (thickness etc.) are also different for different
scripts

Again uniformity is must.
> · Compatibility with LaTeX2e is also to be ensured.

This inevitable.



 There is also a need to form a small group of TeX Programmers to   achieve
above objects.

A natural point. But once somebody like CVR takes the lead, the team, I am
sure, would be formed.

 If all goes on well we can distribute IndicTeX.

So, let us begin with this name itself!!!

> Thanking you for patient reading

I will have to double thank as part of your mail is still there and I am
adding to it!!


Dinesh Karia