Professional engineering students at MES College of Engineering organised a
workshop "Mukti - liberate, enlighten, inspire", as part of celebrations of
Software Freedom Day organised by the Free Software enthusiasts at the
institution on 07 Oct 2005. Arun M and Anivar Aravind of FSF-India spoke and
demonstrated the potential and enormous computing flexibility of Free
Software.
The event witnessed the FS Students' Chapter at MES College of Engineering
releasing over 350 Compact Disks of 'Ubuntu', a distribution of GNU Operating
System derived from Debian GNU Linux. "Ubuntu" is an ancient African word,
meaning "humanity to others". Ubuntu also means "I am what I am because of who
we all are". The Ubuntu Linux distribution brings the spirit of Ubuntu to the
software world.
A primary goal of the Ubuntu Foundation is to ensure that a high quality
distribution of free and open source software is available free of charge,
throughout the world. "Free software is produced by expert volunteers who make
their time and work freely available - our goal is to ensure that anybody in
the world can make the best use of that work, at no charge." claims Ubuntu
Community Relations, Netherlands based group that promotes Ubuntu.
Ubuntu Foundation has made public commitments that Ubuntu will always be freely
available, without the need for royalties or licence payments of any kind. "We
include only free and unencumbered applications, ensuring that users have the
ability to share and modify their software."
As part of the 'bootstrapping process' of initiating the Free Software learning
curve within the professional student community, the FS Students Chapter
conducted parallel technical sessions at beginner, intermediary and expert
levels within the institution, prior to the workshop.
Anivar Aravind, Co-ordinator, FSF-India demonstrated a session on "Compiling
Linux Kernel in a GNU system". The session focussed on compiling Linux Kernel
in a GNU System to optimise the kernel for the present hardware configuration.
Arun M, Secretary, FSF India spoke on "Freedom Matters" as part of FSF
Movement's advocacy on the subject. The session explained the larger goals of
Free Software Foundation of India. Discussions for funding viable software
projects that would be of benefit to the Small and Medium enterprises or to the
local community followed the Workshop.
Dr M Achuthan, former Professor at IIT Bombay, earlier inaugurated the event.
-------------------------------------
Cheers,
CK Raju
----------------------------------------------------------------
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Software Freedom Day Celebration calls for the decolonisation
of Indian minds from Proprietary Software.
Commemerating the 136th birth anniversary of Mahatma FSF India
AP Chapter celebrated the Software Freedom Day. As a part of
the worldwide activity to celebrate freedom in software
development, Free Software Foundation of India has organised a
seminar on "Free Software and India". The seminar aimed at
spreading the spirit of Free Software among young minds at
Engineering collges throughout the state.
Kiran Chandra, Convenor FSF India, A.P. chapter presided over
the event. Prof. D.N. Reddy, Pricipal, Osmania University
College of Engineering was the chief guest. Arun, Secretary of
FSF India and Dr.Ravi Kumar, Director of Geodata Division,
Geographical Survey of India were the other speakers. There
was a technical session on "Power of GNU/Linux" with the aim
of showing Free Software alternatives to proprietory software
that we use everyday. Prof. Reddy noted that the availability
of source code in Free Software has a potential to greatly
impact the learning of technology in engineering colleges. He
also listed the four primary freedoms that are the objective
of Free Software in letting the user use, modify and
redistribute software in any way desired. Arun noted the
similarity between the East India companies set up by foreign
countries long back and the current proprietary software
companies that are a threat to our freedom. He described the
proprietary software model as people keeping knowledge to
themselves and building walls around themselves which hinders
the advancement of science and technology in a knowledge
society. Dr. Ravikumar told us how GRASS, a Free Software
Geographical Information System, is creating a revolution at
the Geographical Survey of India. It is zero costs and much
superior alternative to proprietary GIS system that they were
using earlier. He also mentioned that GIS software can be used
as a key to solving problems and regulating the production of
various crops in the
A Software Freedom Campaign rally started at 9:35 AM from the
University of Hyderabad, Gachibowli and touched the premier
institutions like IIIT,JNTU and reached OU College of
Engineering at 11.30 AM. The Freedom Campaign Flag was
received by two children stating that the Freedom Campaign
will continue as and long there is life existing on earth. The
Freedom Campaign rally was led by M.Naveen the core member of
FSF AP.
An Oath was taken up by the one thousand participants. The
pledged to take forward the freedom campaign and shall strive
for a world with clear stream of reason breaking the narrow
domestic walls that curtail this freedom. The pledge was taken
from Rabindranath Tagores greatest work Geetanjali.
Stalls were arranged for the participants, and they were
demonstrated Free Software that could replace the currently
being used proprietary software. Seven stalls covering common
learning tools used by engineering students were setup. They
include compilers like GCC,G++ integrated development
environments like KDevelop, Anjuta, Eclipse , 3D modelling and
animation tools like blender, installation of GNU/Linux
operating system etc.
This seminar was attended by one thousand engineering college
students from all over the state. FSF AP core members co-
ordinated the activity and GNU/Linux Osmania University
Campus Club.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Baishampayan Ghose <b.ghose(a)gnu.org.in>
Date: Oct 4, 2005 1:58 PM
Subject: [Fsf-web] FSF-India IRC Meet Tomorrow
To: FSF-India Web Page Developers List <fsf-web(a)mm.gnu.org.in>
Hello GNUHeads!
This is to inform you all of the date and agenda of the first ever IRC
meet of FSF-India web developers, admins & the working group. The date
/ time and the agenda is as follows --
Date - Wed Oct 5, 2005
Time - 16:30 - 19:30 Hrs.
Place - #gnu-india on irc.freenode.net
Agenda -
o Moving to Drupal
- Issues
- Sharing responsibilities
- Moving the content
- Timeline
- Integrating the fellow registration system
- Integrating the Volunteer & Business DBs
o Merchandise
- Decide on what we are going to make
- Who's going to do it
- Timeline
o A new private mailing list for the admins
- Viability
o Other project ideas
The actual meet might not be 3 hours long, if we all come at the right
time, we will finish within an hour or so, I have kept the time
flexible so that people can drop in their own time. This is done only
because this is the first meet, and it will not be the case for the
next meets.
Also, please make sure you all come to the meet. A consensus is
necessary to get the things going. If anybody has problems, please
speak up now!
Have a nice day all,
Regards,
BG
--
Baishampayan Ghose
Free Software Foundation of India
b.ghose at gnu.org.in
_______________________________________________
Fsf-web mailing list
Fsf-web(a)mm.gnu.org.in
http://mm.gnu.org.in/mailman/listinfo/fsf-web
Anivar Aravind
--
__ __
gnu /noo/ n. Ox like antelope; (abbr.) /gnoo/ n.
(recursive acronym) Gnu's Not Unix.
Can we share this vision in India? FN
Track 4: linking Free Software and non-profits
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=1693586
GOA, India -- The Philippines is moving fast ahead in the task of
building bridges between non-profits and Free and Open Source Software
(FOSS). LinuxWorld Philippines 2005, held in mid-September, is the
biggest and only nationwide Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) event
in that country.
In September 2005, APC member Foundation for Media Alternatives (FMA)
coordinated the civil society participation in the LinuxWorld
Philippines event, held at mid-month in Makati City, MetroManila.
LinuxWorld Philippines is the biggest and only Free and Open Source
Software (FOSS) event in the country.
This three-day event aims at showcasing and discussing GNU/Linux and
other free and open source solutions that the government, private
sector, academe and civil society may tap for various purposes, Al
Alegre and Nina Somera of FMA said.
"The good news is that we have been successful in convincing -- the
organizers Media G8Way, the top publisher of ICT publications here,
affiliated with the IDG group, http://www.mediag8way.com/events -- to
have a separate track for public interest and policy concerns. This
would be aside from the usual event tracks: business applications,
technical and systems, workshops," FMA organisers told APC News while
updating us on the event.
The Public Interest and Advocacy track consisted of sessions that
tackled the policy issues around FOSS (which is also called FLOSS, or
Free/Libre and Open Source Software); the use of FOSS in different
sectors such as education, health, and environment; and the implications
of FOSS on gender and intellectual property regimes.
Similarly, it looked at FOSS-based tools which non-profits can deploy
for advocacy, secure online communications; FOSS migration cases and
many more.
FMA's participation in Linux World is basically a follow up to its
ongoing Policy, Praxis and Public Interest forum series. Framing FOSS as
a development imperative, FMA organized a forum on the political and
social implications on FOSS in last year's conference, then called the
Philippine Open Source Conference.
FMA also organized one of the first FOSS training-workshops for NGOs
last November.
Track 4, focussing on Public Interest and Advocacy, was organised at the
Dusit Hotel Makati from September 14-16. It was aimed at the people who
want to go beyond business applications or technical competency.
Aiming to get the traditional GNU/Linux and FOSS crowd interested in
public policy and advocacy, it also targets a potential new emerging
constituency -- the nonprofit/NGO crowd, who are into GNU/Linux and FOSS
for its social and political implications. Organizers extended to NGOs
(non-government organizations) and government personnel a discounted
rate, to encourage their full participation.
Key sessions at this event looked at FOSS@PH (The State of GNU/Linux and
Free/Open Source Software (FOSS) in the Philippines). It then looked at
FOSS(a)GOV.PH (GNU/Linux and FOSS in government, featuring interesting
cases, highlighting learnings from current initiatives, and pinpointing
challenges faced by FOSS advocates in government).
The aim was to look at government in different levels -- national
agencies, local governments, government corporations, and the enabling
institutions such as CICT/NCC Commission on ICT- National Computer
Center); and e-government applications using FOSS.
FOSS(a)EDU.PH was a session focussing on FOSS in education, as its name
suggests. This session targetted covering different aspects of the
Philippine educational ecosystem: basic public education & private
education including curriculum development, teacher training; nonformal
education; FOSS migration experiences within schools; use of FOSS in
education and learning technologies.
FOSS(a)NGO.PH, on the other hand, looked at FOSS in non-governmental
organizations. It aimed at giving a report on the state of FOSS
initiatives in associative organizations, feature interesting cases and
experiments, highlight learnings from current initiatives, and pinpoint
particular challenges faced by FOSS advocates in civil society
organizations and NGOs. Civil society organizations using FOSS in
different development sectors (e.g., health, environment, media, rural
development, etc.) were asked to share experiences.
FOSS, GNU/Linux, and Gender was another session. Groups like the APC
member Womens' Hub and Isis International-Manila have drawn attention
for their work on this front.
Besides this, the organizers also worked to have a policy forum/dialogue
which looked at policy dilemmas and development imperatives, with the
participation of key ICT policymakers.
"This session will pose one of the most crucial (and controversial)
issues in FOSS advocacy in the Philippines. It aims to present an
overview of FOSS policy initiatives undertaken in different countries,
and its implications in terms of policy options for the Philippines. It
will put FOSS advocates in dialogue with policy makers to explore
possible recommendations. A multi-stakeholder panel (government, private
sector, civil society) will be convened," organizers announced prior to
the meet.
There was a wealth of angles from which this issue was looked out. One
can sense how deep the Philippines has ventured into the task of
building bridges between non-profits and FOSS simply by looking at the
issues being tackled there.
Legal issues in FOSS was another focus, looking at licenses and
licensing (OSI, GPL, FreeBSD); legality and enforceability of FOSS
(i.e., contract law, IP Code/TTA provisions, international precedents);
and some interesting cases (for example, the SCO Case).
Other sessions looked at FOSS for advocacy (introducing public interest
organizations to basic software tools to fulfill one of the basic
functions of development organizations); secure computing using FOSS
tools; and moving from open source to open content (alternatives to
'intellectual property' and the public domain).
There was also a focus on the FOSS business models for small, marginal
and medium enterprises; FOSS in the creative professions (writing for
GNU/Linux, and GNU/Linux for writers); adopting a GNU/Linux lifestyle;
nurturing and sustaining the Philippine FOSS ecosystem (understanding
what needs to be done to promote FOSS in a strategic and programmatic
way); and working on an action plan.
LinuxWorld Philippines site
Originator: --- (APCNews)
Date: 10/02/2005
Location: GOA, India
Contact: editor(a)apc.org
Category: Free Software
Source: APCNews
01-10-05
Hyderabad.
Invitation
Software Freedom Day and the Software Freedom Rally.
The program details are :
Motor Cycle Rally starting at Hyderabad Central University at 9:00 AM
Technical Session on Power of GNU/Linux 9:00 AM
Seminar on Free Software and India 11.00AM
Venue :OU College of Engineering.
Free Software Foundation of India is celebrating 'Software Freedom
day' on 2nd October 2005. As part of the celebration FSF India is
organising a half day seminar and exhibition at Osmania University
College of Engineering,Hydrabad, Andra Pradesh. The motor Cycle Rally
starts at Hyderabad Central University touches JNTU and will reach OU
College of Engineering.
Speakers in the Seminar :
Prof. D N Reddy
Principal OU College of Engg.
Dr. G.Ravi Kumar
Director, Geodata GSI.
M.Arun
Secretary FSF India.
Technical Session on Power of GNU/Linux 9:00 AM
Seminar on Free Software and India 11.00AM
Venue :OU College of Engineering.
Free Software Foundation of India is celebrating 'Software Freedom
day' on 2nd October 2005. As part of the celebration FSF India is
organising a half day seminar and exhibition at Osmania University
College of Engineering,Hydrabad, Andra Pradesh.
2nd October is birth anniversary of one of the greatest freedom
fighters of the world, Mahatma Gandhi. FSF India decided to celebrate
'Software Freedom day' on 2nd October as a tribute to Mahatma, and to
remind people that fight for freedom is never over.
Free Software Movement is leading freedom struggle in domain of
information technology. This movement is fight for the freedom of
knowledge and freedom to communicate. Right to share knowledge, and
right to communicate are as important as political freedom for which
Mahatma fought. Today we are carrying his fight to new frontiers.
Day by day more and more people are realising the importance of
software freedom. On this birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi Freedom
campaigners from different sections of the society will come together
to celebrate Software Freedom day and to pledge to defend freedom in
computing,following path shown by freedom fighters around world.
Exhibition arranged on the day will showcase commonly useful
freesoftwares like GCC,Kdevelop,Blender etc. Special focus of
exhibition will be how free software will help students.
About FSF India
The Free Software Foundation Of India is a non-profit organisation
committed to advocating, promoting and propagating the use and
development of swatantra software in India. Our goal is to ensure the
long term adoption of free software, and aim for the day when all
software will be free (swatantra). This includes educating people
about software freedom and convincing them that it is the freedom that
matters. We regard non-free proprietary software as a problem to be
solved, not as a solution to any problem.
Y.Kiran Chandra
Convenor
FSFIndia AP Chapter
