I wrote:
That seems to be true. This is a CPM event and the objective god only knows.
and
This would appear to be part of an attempt to float a parallel process to take over the Free Software movement in the country. While I too have no objection to anyone helping the Free Software movement in the country or even independently promoting Free Software (as many groups are already doing), what this group is doing is really sabotaging the whole movement itself by causing confusion among FS supporters. This is unethical and could even be illegal (using our logo without our permission). This is very unfortunate.
I am writing this mail since my earlier mail is being interpreted to mean that the CPI(M) is trying to sabotage the Free Software Movement in the country. That was not at all what I meant. Since I wrote it in a hurry as I am on the verge of leaving on a rather longish journey. I don't think a large party like the CPM would try to capture a small organisation like FSF India. But the convention has several known CPM leaders (such as Dr. Debesh Das) and CPM supporters (such as Sri N. Ram). So it would appear that the people who are doing this have a CPM background. Why they would want to create such a problem, god only knows. I am sure the top brass in the party would never knowingly permit such activities. I am sorry if I sounded otherwise.
Best
Just an update
The website of this chennai programme changed the name of Newly launching organisation as "Free Software Forum, Tamil Nadu"
Anyway it is good that they changed the name. But Still a lot of questions remains The event is suppose to start at 4 pm today , The event website still list the objective of the event as follows <quote> "The objective of the event will be the launch of the project for the development of a Tamil Version of the GNU/ Linux operating system. The launch will be made by the Mayor, M.Subramanian. The project will be developed by engineering students with able technical support from the IT professionals & professors, and infrastructural support by the entrepreneurs." <quote>
Let me bring some statistics
Gnome L10n page for Tamil lists Upcoming gnome 2.24 release is 88% translated which is enough for becoming Officially Supported Language in Gnome. http://l10n.gnome.org/languages/ta/gnome-2-24
KDE l10n page says lists 41% translated string in KDE 4.2 Trunk and 49% translated strings in KDE 4.1 . In KD4.1 Tamil was an officially supported Languages ( Only 5 languages in India qualified for this)
All Available distribution including gNewSense fully supports Tamil. Even Controversial BOSS GNU/Linux http://sankarshan.randomink.org/blog/2008/09/03/what-a-waste-of-talent-and-money/ Supports Tamil well
Many among localisation groups are well aware of Free Software Philosophy and bringing out Tamil Translations of RMS's essays. Yesterday they launched the the book titled "kattatra Menporul" as a part of Software Freedom Day Celebrations in Jaya Engineering College, Thirunindravur, Chennai.
Some developers associated with swathanthra malayalam computing is helping Tamil Free Software Community to develop Tamil Text to speech system based on dhvani
So My question is what is so special about this custom distribution? . It becomes a trend in india top distribute Custom CD's with some re branding for wastage of public money. Making custom CD's for getting some some govt projects will duplicate a lot of development efforts and resources when new version comes. The projects like Kairai GNU/Linux (Funded by CDIT, Kerala) , Bharatheya Open Office, Indic Firefox, Indix (all 3 By CDAC) etc went obsolete because they are not integrated with upstream and no body is going to use the old version because new versions are available upstream.
Bacause of above reason I request newly forming Free Software forum Tamilnadu to drop the Objective new distro and guide associated students and developers to work with existing Localisation groups and Developers to make it it more effective
Anivar Aravind Swathanthra Malayalam computing http://savannah.nongnu.org/projects/smc
On Sun, Sep 21, 2008 at 9:21 AM, Anivar Aravind anivar.aravind@gmail.comwrote:
So My question is what is so special about this custom distribution? .
Hi,
To my knowledge Organizers are mostly from Swecha Project, who have just or recently landed in Chennai for professional reasons.
I took efforts to contact them personally, and once they came to know about our work and activities, they are willing to contribute and work together. I can write more later.
An attempt to contact the Organisers of the event and get their feedback should have eased things :-) Will write more later.
Dear Ramadoss,
To my knowledge Organizers are mostly from Swecha Project, who have just or recently landed in Chennai for professional reasons.
An attempt to contact the Organisers of the event and get their feedback should have eased things :-) Will write more later.
Thanks for the information. We had sent the mail and yet to get a reply.
regards, arun.
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Anivar Aravind -
Arun M -
Sri Ramadoss M -
V. Sasi Kumar