hi,
We would like to take guidance from fsf-i on this . We consider fsf-i and important organisation which can guide us...
We cant go to fsug for guidance as it is a mailing list only . FSUG is nice meeting point , but its not a organisation. Its not the only group working on things related to free software..in blr..I request fsf-i to consider this people with their own names as a possitive thing..rather than a divisive thing...let a thousand flowers of freedom bloom...
For example slumdweller folks are not fsug , though some of us are in fsug ..there are others from aidindia.org , ambedkar youth in the local area ..who are not of fsug..and also it has two aspects : free software + marginalised community empowerment...
When we want to do a program we call our selves 'volunteers for free software, karnatka ' [ with fsug and slumdweller banners and with due credit to others particpating ]. Does FSF-I consider this to be in the right spirit. This is basically to ensure a neutral name...and not one overarching name .if u feel its not right ..please suggest your views on this..we will work under your guidance...
Should any free software activity in karantaka happen in the name of FSUG. It is also very clear that fsug is not an organisation..
What about other folks like Kannada bloggers , aidindia who want to work with us..when we do joint programmes..
I see from the statement of fsf-i that anybody is free to form their own group and work for free software in bangalore, karnataka. FSF-I will guide them.
thanks senthil
Dear Senthil,
FSUG was created as a platform/banner to bring together free software activists in Banglore. It is upto the local community to decide on whether they want to convert it into a legal entity or not. Many users group around India are not legal entity.
We cant go to fsug for guidance as it is a mailing list only . FSUG is nice meeting point , but its not a organisation. Its not the only group working on things related to free software..in blr..I request fsf-i to consider this people with their own names as a possitive thing..rather than a divisive thing...let a thousand flowers of freedom bloom...
Sure I think I had written that in earlier mail also.
However we are working on a guideline for this. When it is one or two group we can work with our understanding of their working. When it is more organisations it is difficult to do recognise them with out proper guidelines.
For example slumdweller folks are not fsug , though some of us are in fsug ..there are others from aidindia.org , ambedkar youth in the local area ..who are not of fsug..and also it has two aspects : free software + marginalised community empowerment...
Organisations like Aid are not setup for promoting free software. I am sure these organisations should be willing to come under FSUG banner to promote free software.
When we want to do a program we call our selves 'volunteers for free software, karnatka ' [ with fsug and slumdweller banners and with due credit to others particpating ]. Does FSF-I consider this to be in the right spirit. This is basically to ensure a neutral name...and not one overarching name .if u feel its not right ..please suggest your views on this..we will work under your guidance...
FSUG is a banner we have already created. Why do we need another banner ? If you can put your argument for the new banner I think then we can respond to that. At the moment I am not able to understand the need for a new banner.
Should any free software activity in karantaka happen in the name of FSUG. It is also very clear that fsug is not an organisation..
We would love to see more activity under FSUG banner because we initiated it with that purpose in mind.
What about other folks like Kannada bloggers , aidindia who want to work with us..when we do joint programmes..
Work with whom ?
I see from the statement of fsf-i that anybody is free to form their own group and work for free software in bangalore, karnataka. FSF-I will guide them.
Sure, if they wants us to. Every one is free to organise on themselves.
Just a recap
1. FSUG is a banner to bring free software activists in Banglore(slowly Karnataka) together 2. Those who are working for it can think about making into into a legal entity. 3. Any number of organisations can come up to promote free software. However dont duplicate the efforts as far as possible. Too many fragmentation is not going to help. 4. Endorsement of FSF India to the organisations will be based on guideline which created by FSF India Board.
I hope this clarifies.
Arun M
- Any number of organisations can come up to promote free
software. However dont duplicate the efforts as far as possible. Too many fragmentation is not going to help.
However people can have their small little groups..for the sake of ideology, comfort and ownership..like space,swecha right...thats not fragmentation...
- Any number of organisations can come up to promote free
software. However dont duplicate the efforts as far as possible. Too many fragmentation is not going to help.
However people can have their small little groups..for the sake of ideology, comfort and ownership..like space,swecha right...thats not fragmentation...
Fragmentation on ideology, comfort, ownership etc may not be a good thing. They dont re
However it is better to work seperately than not working or fighting inside.
Coming to SPACE, Swecha etc, those are initiatives created with some specific purpose. Eg: SPACE was setup by Kerala State IT Mission, under government of kerala to provide support to government on free software adoption. ie to provide more practical assistance. They thought FSF India will do it but it was not willing to take it up.
Swecha was created with the agenda of localising GNU/Linux in Telugu and develop Telugu language technologies.
Swecha and SPACE are not fragmentation based on ideology, comfort or ownership. Objectives were clearly different, structure is also different. However promotion of free software is part of the agenda of both the initiative.
Fragmentation on ideology, comfort, ownership etc may not be a good thing. They dont re
However it is better to work seperately than not working or fighting inside.
Yes...however there are sometimes group dynamics ..a band of friends might feel more comfortable together.. May have differences with the approach or lack of understanding of others..then its good to ensure their comfort zones and ensure they work for the cause..they are not offical spokespeople of free software in india..that will be fsf-i. in fact I do see there are mutliple groups in different places..based on their comfort zones alone...and its of help to the movement.
Sure I think I had written that in earlier mail also.
However we are working on a guideline for this. When it is one or two group we can work with our understanding of their working. When it is more organisations it is difficult to do recognise them with out proper guidelines.
Yes that will be very good..if we fit in the rules fsf-I recognises , guides otherwise we are out..
Organisations like Aid are not setup for promoting free software. I am sure these organisations should be willing to come under FSUG banner to promote free software.
Yes many of them whom its possible to bring into fsug we do bring in..from other orgns...some ieee folks..aid folks have joined the list I guess..however during some events...joint banners are necessary..as they are doing work too...and it helps us bring them into free software as well..
Ambedkar youth for example..are no where near emails and computers..however they are important contributors to the local community picking up free software...but they would have their own identity.....fsug doesn't fit them..
its actually good to have fsug focus on free software - and some body with another name - focus us - on what they would like to..when especially they would like to combine free software with anything else [ empowerment , awareness , social consicousness and so on , dalit rights ] and fsf-I to recognise this...
Yes if somebody wants to focus on hard core free software alone - then they should work under fsf-I as much without fragmentation.
Ambedkar youth for example..are no where near emails and computers..however they are important contributors to the local community picking up free software...but they would have their own identity.....fsug doesn't fit them..
I can understand their interest in keeping their identity. But why are they not part of FSUG ? I feel they should be.
We organised software freedom day in Trivandrum as a joint program of SPACE, FSF India and Trivandrum GLUG. I belong to Trivandrum GLUG as much as I belong to FSF India.
its actually good to have fsug focus on free software - and some body with another name - focus us - on what they would like to..when especially they would like to combine free software with anything else [ empowerment , awareness , social consicousness and so on , dalit rights ] and fsf-I to recognise this...
I hope that you have seen my mail with story of Adivasi movement adopting free software.I got a chance to stay there and work with them for 2 days. The passion shown by them is amazing. There are no better advocates of free software. They started their own GLUG.
In SPACE I used to work with Fishermen in Trivandrum to empower them with free software. I know that Anivar worked for UNDP's network on free software to support people from Tsunami affected villages. If I remember correctly organisations of sexual minorities were involved in one of the campaigns of FSUG Banglore. All these shows that all of us are involved in one issue/campaign or other. We may not share same vision in everything. But there is something we share in common that is our philosophy of freedom of Knowledge. Let us work together on that, that will help us learn from each other, help us understand each other better, recognise each other better.
Yes if somebody wants to focus on hard core free software alone - then they should work under fsf-I as much without fragmentation.
What do you mean by 'hard core free software alone' ?
I can understand their interest in keeping their identity. But why are they not part of FSUG ? I feel they should be.
This is quite nice to hear..and shows the interest of fsf-I to be inclusive.
We organised software freedom day in Trivandrum as a joint program of SPACE, FSF India and Trivandrum GLUG. I belong to Trivandrum GLUG as much as I belong to FSF India.
I hope that you have seen my mail with story of Adivasi movement adopting free software.I got a chance to stay there and work with them for 2 days. The passion shown by them is amazing. There are no better advocates of free software. They started their own GLUG.
Yes . very nice.
In SPACE I used to work with Fishermen in Trivandrum to empower them with free software. I know that Anivar worked for UNDP's network on free software to support people from Tsunami affected villages. If I remember correctly organisations of sexual minorities were involved in one of the campaigns of FSUG Banglore. All these shows that all of us are involved in one issue/campaign or other. We may not share same vision in everything. But there is something we share in common that is our philosophy of freedom of Knowledge. Let us work together on that, that will help us learn from each other, help us understand each other better, recognise each other better.
If we can have this sort of a left - margininalised community - free software alliance - and fsf-I can consider It under one umbrella that's very nice..
What do you mean by 'hard core free software alone' ?
But I get the feeling many times in blr..atleast that its more of 'free software' and less of 'free society' especially because of the lack of political understanding .. Yes however with a position like this from fsf-I things will grow and change..
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Arun M -
Senthil Sundaram (sensunda)