I am writing this post from CUSAT, as a delegate of National Conference on Free Software-2008.Novell Corp. is the official sponser of the conference.They also have a stall in the Exhibition hall.
Anivar, Hiran, Unni all were there for the protest against Novell for supporting Microsoft( and negatively supporting Free Software).On the same time, me, Aswin and Alex were arguing with guys from IT Department of CUSAT for displaying the video on COMPIZ FUSION using WINDOWS VISTA.
Hiran came to us and told me that we shall boycott novell and to put up the posters which they designed for the same.Then there came the people who supported Novell Corp. (I am really disappointed to say that there were students of CUSAT and the organising committe….)
Protest aroused to its height…..Anivar was man-handled by the police men and the security wing…he was sent out of the Exhibition hall. We too were there with him.
It would have been better to ask microsoft itself to put up a stall with Novell on the conference…Making Novell as the main sponser for a techncal event of national importance is another form of insulting community working for free software.This shows that CUSAT authorities have not considered the importance of free software and the dedication of community working behind that. We have specific reasons for saying this…” We saw Windows XP and Windows Vista in many stalls in exhibition hall…“
For more details and Photos,visit arky’s (RAKESH AMBATI) blog
http://playingwithsid.blogspot.com
Say no to Microsoft……Boycott Novell…!
[...] an FIR on the incident here , here and [...]
By: National “non-free” Software Conference @ CUSAT « a world of my own on November 16, 2008
at 7:56 pm
[...] Free Software Activist Man-Handled [...]
By: Boycott Novell » Even Microsoft Chooses Red Hat Over Novell’s SUSE on November 17, 2008
at 8:41 pm
I too am sorry for Anivar, ‘the spokesperson of free software movement’ being manhandled at the exhibition stall. But we cannot ignore the fact that an anti-democrat has crept in him. May be due to emotional upsurge. When he tresspassed upon the freedom of others they too reciprocated. This is what I could understand. Tresspassing the limits of democratic rights, pasting posters inside the private property of another as also manhandling was not correct. Both should have been avoided.
Then, the question of name of the conference. Both the names ‘National conference on free software’, the name given by the organisers as also Conference on NON-FREE SOFTWARE’ the name given by the supporters of Anivar ‘the spokeperson of free software movement’ are meaningful and reflect the content of the conference. Non-free software also were exhibited. Those who use non-free software also were present. We invited every body because the conference was meant for promoting the use of free software. Unless they come how can we interact with them. It was not a meeting of users of free software to chalk out their program. It was the meeting of all who used, started using in the past, start using now and will use in future. So we called every body. Some came. Many did not come as they were using non free software. The stand taken by Anivar, ‘the spokesperson of swathanthra software’ will only help to drive away those who wants to come to the fold of free software movement. How will those people be attracted to the movement with such a stand. Anivar has to review his fundamentalist stance as it helps the proponents of proprietary softwares including microsoft and Novell which he is opposing.What actually happened there was Novell getting more visibility than expected.
He should ponder over this issue in its depth. Atleast in Kerala, one of the major hurdles for the advancement of free software movement during the past 10 years is the fundamentalist positions taken by the self proclaimed spokespersons of swathanthra software, including FSF(I). They seems to be of the view that software was freed by them, that FSF liberated software all over the world, FSF(I) did it in India and Anivar Aravind did it in Kerala. They should know that software was free earlier. Most of them are free even today. But still mass of the people couldnot use them due to other deprivations. Socially owned Software was appropriated by few and declared them proprietary. The greateness of FSF lies in the fact that it formulated the legal frame work to prevent further appropriation of that created in social domain. FSF(I) is using its name and preventing the growth of free softwaremovement by its company form of structure. This company structure is helpful for the purpose FSF was formed, to sustain the legal frame work. But it is a hurdle for a massmovement. Atleast in India, FSF(I) is preventing the spread of the ideals of FSF and the free software movement.I hope Sri. Richard Stallman himself will be reviewing the FSF position on its support to FSF(I).
SMC is a very good collaborative effort. It has enriched Malayalam. Anivar is not alone in it. Anivar is a gentleman in many respects. Young. Better if he has a bit more historic sense and able to understand the crooked ones. My request to Anivar is to try not to be the tool in the hands of FSF(I). He has to shirk off the unwanted dependance due to his earlier employment with FSF(I).
By: Joseph Thomas on November 18, 2008
at 7:10 am
This should be a useful link:
http://mm.gnu.org.in/pipermail/fsf-friends/2008-November/005669.html
To be straight forward I dislike Mr. Joseph Thomas’s hypocrisy. I have not met him. I do not know him. Hypocrisy and word games are evident. Why do you people get spoilt? One life- be honest.
By: Madhu on November 23, 2008
at 9:35 pm