From: Sayamindu Dasgupta unmadindu@Softhome.net To: "Nagarjuna G." nagarjun@hbcse.tifr.res.in Cc: FN fred@bytesforall.org, fsf-friends@gnu.org.in, fsf-wg@gnu.org.in Date: 22 Feb 2003 11:46:06 +0530

On Fri, 2003-02-21 at 13:17, Nagarjuna G. wrote:

This event doesn't recognize the free software movement at all. They didn't invite any free software speaker, nor did they use the term anywhere. If the hackers of Bangalore are alert possibly a note could be distributed to the participants about the free software position. This kind of events are likely to grow more in number. This I feel is a parasitic activity, feeding on free software movement without any acknolwedgement. We should write release a press note on this.

Nagarjuna

I agree here. We are finding less and less reference to Free Software each day. This is a very dangerous situation, as people tend to forget the underlying passion that has sustained the movement - the passion for Freedom. Unless something is done fast, I see India going the Mexico way. -sdg-

-- Sayamindu Dasgupta [ http://www.peacefulaction.org/sayamindu/ ]

hi, the main cause of lesser references to the FSF probably lies in market economics, check out any IT market survey and the hot ticket there is Linux. what is happening is that the cult brand effect is diluting the philosphy behind the entire GNU/Linux initiative. And a focal of the FSF should be to relocate this philosophical inertia. Come to think of it, people are interested in getting their work done, fast and efficiently. But what is the harm if efficiency and effectiveness is married with a little bit of altruism. the issue that 'information and knowledge is required to be free' needs to be addressed. Not fanatic evangalism, but reasoned approach to the issue can help bring the idea and the philosophy to the forefront. The passion for freedom is one of the basic urges of man, each man tends to be free. and when he finds that his freedom is in shackles, his aims thwarted, he braves all odds to overcome the crisis. the passionate espousal of the freedom keeps FSF vibrant and it is time that some tweaking is done to it. regards sankarshan

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