Suraj spake:
All of this means the politicians get to launder lesser money and that means smaller scope for their corruption to flourish. Corruption and the race for power needs to be eliminated without which the benefits of free software would only be a threat to them (the politicians) and hence they would seek quicker ways to eliminate us. More quicker and more desperate than proprietary software giants.
Eliminate? Free Software is irreversible, there won't be me... there won't be you but Free Software is here to stay. _That_ is the power of the movement.
Let us look at things this way... You are Bill Gates from M$ and there are people out there who happily peddle CDs and make software without much financial incentive and things like IP in mind. And moreover you wouldn't know where to attack! All that we do is legal! _That_ is the power of the movement.
We don't market our software, we just put them on the board for others to use as-is. We have more than friendly people who support users old and new. _That_ is the power of the movement.
In India, people are just starting to get aware of what Free Software and GNU/Linux is. Till a couple of years ago the average college grad. didn't know what GNU/Linux is. Today I see people writing TCP/IP suites for processors with diverse architectures. _That_ is the power of the movement.
And how we should bell the Indian Government is another issue that needs serious thinking and strategy. But I'll keep that as another issue. Moral of the story: Things aren't bad as they look. In fact, you and I are just at the cusp of a new wave of happenings.
What do I suggest? Stay the course. You've helped us a lot, and I'll need you even more on the FM board in a few days from now.
Best wishes,
Amol Hatwar.