<html xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:st1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 11 (filtered medium)">
<o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="PlaceType"/>
<o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="PlaceName"/>
<o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="country-region"/>
<o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="place"/>
<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#default#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]-->
<style>
<!--
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
p
{mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:Arial;
color:navy;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
</head>
<body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=blue>
<div class=Section1>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>
<u>A Glimpse into The FSF Conference - CUSAT</u></span></font><u><font size=2
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></u></p>
<p style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in'><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>I am a
fresher – in all aspects – into FSF. I feel my pulse mount when I
see monopoly, the reason that leads me down here. I was back to my campus
(CUSAT) last weekend when I came to know about this conference and had the honor
of being a delegate for the last two days. But what I witnessed finally had to
be mentioned about, at least to serve my mindset.</span></font><font size=2
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in'><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>A Temple
of Education – one like CUSAT – esteemed to be one among the best
in the state has been affronted by some recent series of atrocious incidents </span></font><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>happened
during the Free Software National Conference<font color=navy><span
style='color:navy'> </span></font><font color=black><span style='color:black'>-
labeling the students and teachers of this prestigious institution as erratic
and irresponsible, questioning their integrity and devotion. It has been raised
by some 'former students' and some so-called revolutionaries who love to be
addressed as the 'proprietors of free software movement, supported by a few
intellects. </span></font></span></font><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in'><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>I, as an
alumni and a witness to the roll of incidents take it as my obligation to
comment on it. The SFI and the CUSAT University Union is being blamed in
the light of the recent incidents that took place. But the fact that it was SFI
who first invited</span></font><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font><font
size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'> Richard Stallman <i><span style='font-style:italic'>(Prophet
of FSF)</span></i> to preside over the </span></font><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>Students Parliament which held on
2004 in Trivandrum and tha<font color=black><span style='color:black'>t it was
the CUSAT University Union who made the platform for him in CUSAT is being
deliberately kept under cover. The tradition of CUSAT B.Tech Students - has
been put down! There was a time when they retorted the monopoly of the big
players when the American Dictator was screeching <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">Iraq</st1:country-region></st1:place> with bombs - with pure
rejection of sponsorships from big-names like Pepsi & Coke and moved into
the court raising fund from among them to accomplish their Culturals &
Sports.</span></font></span></font><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in'><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Let’s
get into the nerves of this Novell Whim. Only two days before the conference
started did the organizing committee get the sponsorship from Novell - the
reason why Novell's name was omitted from the official website of the conference.
Organizing committee is at an obvious burden for not letting themselves know
who is pouring in such a huge amount – lack of </span></font><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>commonsense,
I must say!!! But its beating around the bush, let me hit on the nail - the
fact that Novell's stall appeared in the exhibition only on Saturday morning
while the exhibition actually started on Thursday, is the ultimate proof that
sponsorship from Novell was confirmed only on Thursday or Friday. It is
intriguing that even after knowing this one of the program committee members
himself is raising the issue that Novell's name was purposefully omitted from
the conference website. This has to be thought off amply. </span></font><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>I understand the passion the free
software activists had while protesting against Novell, an outflow of grave
anti-dominion feel. But this was not the way, especially considering that the
protest against Novell was lead by a member of the program committee –
there should've been some morale. 'NOVELL' was the next important thing after
the conference from Saturday, considering the gargantuan 20x30 backdrop hung in
the main stage. I must say, being humble enough to proclaim that I possess some
basic common-sense that it is next to unbelievable that among the 15 – 20
people behind the BOYCOTT NOVELL MOVEMENT, not even one of them saw this
banner. I remember Mr. Arkky (the cameraman in the exhibition hall) who send a
mail about this, and many others retorting about this '<i><span
style='font-style:italic'>UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT'</span></i> but present in the
inauguration ceremony. As per the hierarchy of incidents, the fact that Novell
had a hand in sponsorship was realized too late by them, too difficult for me
to accept considering the above facts, and even if they knew it early, instead
of resorting to cheap publicity methods and making a mess of things they
should've shown the sense of making it clear with other committee members like
Anil and Deepak who have made their points clear through blogs and mails
before. But they fled with their say-sos and made the innocents from <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">MEC & TCR</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Engg</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">College</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>
partners of their crime – conspiring how to make a huge mess out of the
whole thing. Some<b><span style='font-weight:bold'> ALUMNI</span></b> did
approach the organizers but not to gather support for BOYCOTT NOVELL movement,
but to escape the hands of the volunteers for the chaos caused by these so
called revolutionaries. Novell put up their stall only after giving the
sponsorship cash to the organizers. I won’t be able to digest the
reason – even if I get one – why one among the program committee
member himself lead this anarchy!!!!!!!.</span></font><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in'><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Why I
call it a beautiful drama, I'll speak about later - but after this drama of
incidents I had a casual chat with the organizers of the Novell stall. They
actually thanked the protestors – how wonderful – as the whole
incidents boosted up their publicity. People who knew nothing about Novell now
know everything about it – the very purpose of stalls & publicity.
'Boycott Novell' posters were pasted in many stalls forcefully. Banners
welcoming the delegates put up on behalf of the various associations like
Cochin University Employees Association and Cochin University Teachers
Association etc had no escape... Dr Bhasi, a highly honored faculty of CUSAT,
when trying to obstruct the chaos that ensued in the exhibition hall was probed
about his authority in the matter. It is demeaning to note that a former
student stooped to such low levels as to ask such a respected man to
remove the posters himself. I do take this as an opportunity to express my
heartfelt regret at such an action. Even the University Security Officer, Mr.
Suresh Babu – an extremely student friendly officer, was assaulted by
questions about his authority and was asked to show his identity card –
how appalling for him, for us. Volunteers, pushing away their exam pressures
going on throughout this month did an awesome job to make the whole program a
grant success – their dedication and commitment to the principles of such
a movement being the driving force. Unfortunately they too weren't spared. The
'former students' who did witness a variant of such an atrocity during Culturals
and Sports can have a better understanding, I suppose. </span></font><font
size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in'><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Ah, the
drama version alias the one-man-show! Organizers asked the posters to be
removed triggering the one-man-show exponentially. I came across numerous mails/blogs/messages
that a mob of 20 was protesting. But this one big man was being recorded by the
rest in their respective hi-technology cell phones – and the man was
happy and on fire. 20 minutes </span></font><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>after this incident – pics
& movies in various angles were posted online – the very proof to the
above fact. Before attempting any intentional-publicity-claim, informing the
media<font color=black><span style='color:black'> is a dirty trick played so
often by many such small 'organizations'. He knew it, the <b><i><span
style='font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>samurai</span></i></b>, and now we know
it, watching his moves n movies in the videos recorded. Allies arrived flying
for rescue aid in 20 minutes after the show-off started – now that makes
me suspicious (just me or even you?). A 'press conference' threat raised by
this gentleman incase the poster is not removed before the arrival of CM proves
his/their intention to the core line. The University Registrar made a polite
request, but then he had his own standards of replying dirty – and so he
was asked to stepped off (instead of being slapped off).</span></font></span></font><font
size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in'><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Glimpsing
through the Conference Organizers let me put my view in this regard. Free
Software has to be FREE as the name says – no possessor in terms of the
giants in this arena, no patent and nobody enjoys cumulative accounts. People
who have been earning money couching idly in their bedroom cushions are scared
when CPM, who has a massive and valiant history of struggle against capitalism
and monopoly, is promoting free software. CPM is supporting a fetus in this
arena of Software World and must be supported by all. If the people who messed
and the people who organized happen to be the same, I truly believe you have
affronted your own organization and give your heart and soul to your cause next
time and better keep things at your home within your walls!</span></font><font
size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial'>Criticizers... I do understand that
growth and criticism seems to be parallel but they meet only after realizing
that the blogs and mails you use for complimentary, to criticize but actually
has to be colossally appreciated, has the tinge and scent of the sweat, pain
and blood of these organizers.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>Regards,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>Naveen <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>
From: <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Anivar Aravind</span></b> <<a
href="mailto:anivar.aravind@gmail.com">anivar.aravind@gmail.com</a>><br>
Date: Tue, Nov 18, 2008 at 5:51 PM<br>
Subject: [FSUG-Bangalore] My Blog post on National Conference & Boycott
Novell Protest<br>
To: Principal Support List of FSF-India <<a
href="mailto:fsf-friends@mm.gnu.org.in">fsf-friends@mm.gnu.org.in</a>>, Free
Software Users Group - Bangalore <<a
href="mailto:fsug-bangalore@mm.gnu.org.in">fsug-bangalore@mm.gnu.org.in</a>>,
Free Software User Group Thrissur- Discussion list <<a
href="mailto:discuss@lists.fsugtsr.org">discuss@lists.fsugtsr.org</a>><br>
<br>
<br>
I blogged about the national Conference & Boycott Novell Protest<br>
<br>
<a
href="http://anivar.movingrepublic.org/2008/national-free-software-conference-boycott-novell-turn-outs"
target="_blank">http://anivar.movingrepublic.org/2008/national-free-software-conference-boycott-novell-turn-outs</a><br>
<br>
If you are any more questions to me. Leave a comment on the post . I<br>
will update the FAQ<br>
<br>
Anivar<br>
<font color="#888888"><span style='color:#888888'><br>
--<br>
I am always happy when I am Protesting: Richard M. Stallman<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
FSUG-Bangalore mailing list<br>
<a href="mailto:FSUG-Bangalore@mm.gnu.org.in">FSUG-Bangalore@mm.gnu.org.in</a><br>
<a href="http://mm.gnu.org.in/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fsug-bangalore"
target="_blank">http://mm.gnu.org.in/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fsug-bangalore</a></span></font><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>
<table><tr><td bgcolor=#ffffff><font color=#000000>*********************************************************************************************************************************************************************<br>
"This message and any attachments are solely for the intended recipient and may contain Birlasoft confidential or privileged information. If you are not the intended recipient,any disclosure,copying, use, or distribution of the information included in this message and any attachments is <br>
prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us by reply e-mail at (administrator@birlasoft.com) and permanently delete this message and any attachments. Thank you."<br>
*********************************************************************************************************************************************************************<br>
</font></td></tr></table>