[Fsf-web] [Press Release] [Fwd: [Fsf-friends] Software Freedom Day.]

[Sayamindu Dasgupta]

-------- Forwarded Message --------
> From: Arun M <arun at gnu.org.in>
> Reply-To: Arun M <arun at gnu.org.in>, Principal Support List of
> FSF-India <fsf-friends at mm.gnu.org.in>
> To: Principal Support List of FSF-India <fsf-friends at mm.gnu.org.in>,
> fsf-press at gnu.org.in
> Subject: [Fsf-friends] Software Freedom Day.
> Date: Wed, 5 Oct 2005 15:02:13 +0530
> 
> 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.
> 
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