Free Software Movement of India

Free Software Movement of India

Free Software is the future, Future is ours
Abbreviation FSMI
Formation March 21, 2010 (2010-03-21)
Type Coalition of Organisations
Purpose To take free software and its ideology to all computer users and to all sections of society.
Region served
Indian Union
President
 Joseph Thomas (ATPS, Kochi)
Main organ
 General Council
Website http://www.fsmi.in/

Free Software Movement of India (FSMI) is a national coalition of various regional and sectoral free software movements operating in different parts of India. The formation of FSMI was announced in the valedictory function of the National Free Software Conference - 2010 held in Bangalore during 20–21 March 2010.[1] FSMI is a pan Indian level initiative to propagate the ideology of free software and to popularize the usage of the free software. One of the declared aims of the movement is to take Free Software and its ideological implications to computer users “across the digital divide”, to under-privileged sections of society.[2][3]

Free Software movements in different states such as Swecha (Andhra Pradesh & Telangana), Free Software Movement of Karnataka (FSMK), Democratic Alliance for Knowledge Freedom (DAKF)(Kerala), Free Software Foundation, Tamil Nadu (FSFTN) (Tamil Nadu) and FSMWB (West Bengal) are partnering with the coalition. Sectoral movements such as Knowledge Commons, Academics Initiative, OSGEO India and the National Consultative Committee of Computer Teachers (NCCCTA) joined the national coalition at the very initial stage itself.

FSMI differentiates itself from other organisations, forums or user groups in the free software domain by the method of movement building which is primarily grass root and mass movement.[4][5]

Governance

The founding conference of FSMI elected a General Council having 69 members, an Executive Committee with 28 members and the following office bearers:

Objectives

FSMI is a pan Indian level initiative to propagate the ideology of free software and to popularize the usage of the free software.[2][6] One of the declared aims of the movement is to take Free Software and its ideological implications to computer users “across the digital divide”, to under-privileged sections of society.[2][3]

Activities

Controversy

A report in the Malayalam daily Mathrubhumi stated that the new organisation was under the tutelage of certain political parties and that it had driven a wedge in the free software movement in India by sidetracking the Free Software Foundation of India (FSFI).[14] The report in Mathrubhumi was criticized by FSMI in another newspaper for not upholding basic journalistic ethics and code of conduct of contacting the FSMI leadership before making allegations.[15] A rejoinder to the report has been published by FSMI.[16] FSFI and organizations part of FSMI such as FSMK have worked together on many aspects and will continue to collaborate on an issue basis. The Mathrubhumi article stated that the general secretary of FSMI, Kiran Chandra was a representative of Novell while the FSFI website showed that he is on the Board of Directors.[17] Contradicting the Mathrubhumi report, FSMI follows a policy similar to FSFI of accepting funding from corporations while not endorsing them.[18]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "National Free Software Coalition Formed". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 22 March 2010. Retrieved 5 April 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 "Free Software Movement has arrived on the National Scene!". Retrieved 23 March 2010.
  3. 1 2 "സ്വതന്ത്ര സോഫ്റ്റ് വെയര്‍ പ്രസ്ഥാനം ഉയരങ്ങളിലേക്ക്". www.deshabhimani.com (in Malayalam). zero width joiner character in |title= at position 25 (help)
  4. ↑ "Freedom movement". Frontline. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
  5. ↑ "Broad front". Retrieved 21 April 2010.
  6. ↑ Deepa Kurup (22 March 2010). "National Free Software coalition formed". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
  7. ↑ Hindu, The. "News Paper". www.thehindu.com. Kasturi and Sons.
  8. ↑ Mukunth, Vasudevan; Srivas, Anuj (10 May 2013). "AICTE rescinds Microsoft Office 365 mandate". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  9. ↑ viwanathsai. "Free Software activists against changes to patent norms". The Hindu Business Line. India. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Airtel 3G Script Injection" (Press release). June 11, 2015.
  11. ↑ http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/curbs-on-web-freedom-police-scuttle-anonymous-protests/article3509520.ece
  12. ↑ "Dr A P J Abdul Kalam Inaugural Address". Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  13. ↑ Kurup, Deepa (22 December 2010). "News Report in Hindu". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  14. ↑ "സ്വതന്ത്ര സോഫ്റ്റ്‌വെയര്‍ പ്രസ്ഥാനത്തെ പിളര്‍ത്തി; സി.പി.എം. പിന്തുണയോടെ പുതിയ സംഘടന" (in Malayalam). Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 23 March 2010. zero width joiner character in |title= at position 25 (help)
  15. ↑ Thomas, Joseph. "സ്വതന്ത്ര സോഫ്റ്റ് വെയര്‍ പ്രസ്ഥാനം ഉയരങ്ങളിലേക്ക്" (in Malayalam). Deshabhimani. zero width joiner character in |title= at position 25 (help)
  16. ↑ "Mathrubumi fabricated report".
  17. ↑ "Kiran Chandra, director in FSF-I board".
  18. ↑ "List of current patrons of FSF". Retrieved 24 March 2010.
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