Swatantara Software

Involvement with the Free Software movement has been one of the nicest things that has happened in 2008. Meeting some people who are passionate about making knowledge a commodity that is FREE and to be shared, rather than as a commodity to be reserved, reserved, sold and made money from. This is a refreshing thing in life!

Take Mr.Balakrishnan for instance. He is the Branch Manager of Indian Bank in Devarshola; posted from Ernakulam to this tiny place. He does banking only as a profession, whereas Teaching Free Software is his passion. Does not leave one opportunity to teach others something about free software. "Teaching Free software is my hobby", he says. Ambitiously, I have set a target for myself to learn Python programming for the next one year - after getting inspired by him.

Mr. Vimal Joseph of an organisation called SPACE from Kerala kickstarted this process of shifting to free software a few months ago. And, the first thing Mr.Balakrishnan wanted was to start an informal group of people to promote Free software in Gudalur. Thus was born GUSS - Gudalur Users of Swatantra Software. "Swantantra" means Free in Malayalam. Again, Free is Free as in Freedom, and not Free as in Free Bear !

As true evangelists, it is not enough if we become belivers, but we must show the path to others as well ! We need to convert people. So, GUSS is organising a seminar cum demonstration of Linux. Here is the invitation :


Click on the image above to open an enlarged version in a new window.


Click on the image above to open an enlarged version in a new window.

As my contribution to the movement, I got the opportunity to design this invitation. Of course, using a Free software called Inkscape. How do you like it ?

As mentioned in the invitation, all are welcome ! On Sunday. At 10.00 AM. At the Just Change office near Kotharavayal village ...