Free Software meet credits 100 person committee
By Pulkit Sharma

The Open Source movement has ensured that quality software is available free to tens of millions of people who cannot afford expensive commercial products.  It has resulted in a more unified and connected world.  Even more idealistic is the Free Software movement which believes in free software for all.

While some followers/believers of Open Source may charge reasonable rates to install and support their high quality products whose source code is open, the Free Software movement is a more idealistic version of the same beliefs. The vast majority of open source programmers volunteer their time and energies. If believers of the Free Software movements had their way, the world would not be paying for most of its software.  Whatever their differences, the Open Source and Free Software are united against technology giants like Microsoft which charge huge premiums for their operating systems and software.

Needless to say, the Open Source and Free Software movements have millions of admirers.

The Indian Free Software movement held its National Conference in Karnataka on March 21-21, 2010.  On its website, the National Free Software conference lists what it describes as ‘free’ software

* the freedom to use the software for any purpose,
* the freedom to change the software to suit your needs,
* the freedom to share the software with your friends and neighbors, and
* the freedom to share the changes you make.
*Every subsequent recipient of the modified or unmodified software must also be guaranteed all four freedoms without dilution.

But the Free Software Movement has realized that whatever its own beliefs, it has to work closely with technology giants which earn tens of billions of dollars a year selling goods and services.  And these commercial giants do not really believe in free software. The Free Software Movement conference sponsors included Novell, Yahoo, HP and Amazon.  Its organization committee included people from IBM and Wipro.

Being a broad church, the Free Software Movement has publicly listed its 100 person strong Conference Committee. This is in sharp contrast to conferences organized by NASSCOM, Intel, Google, Microsoft and others where the official website only lists about 20-30 of the key organizers. 

The committee which organized the Free Software Movement conference in Bangalore in March, 2010 had the following people.

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Chief Patron:
Prof. G.S. Shivarudrappa, Rashtra Kavi

Patrons:
Shri. Chennaveera Kanavi, Kannada Poet
Shri. Baraguru Ramachandrappa, Kannada writer and Cinema Director
Dr. G. Ramakrishna, Editor, Hosatu
Prof. MH Krishnaiah, President, Kannada Sahitya Academy
Shri. Indudhar Honnapur, Editor, Samvaada

Chairman:
Kiran Chandra

Co-Chair:
Prof. Rahul De, IIM
Anjan Banarjee, IT Consultant
Umashankar, IAS
Asst. Prof. Shankar Venkatagiri, IIM

Vice-Chairmen:
Dr. Chatterjee, Scientist, Indian Institute of Astrophysics
Ambrose Pinto, Principal, St. Joseph College
Ms. Rama Padmanabh
RKVS Raman, CDAC
Suresh Kodoor, CEO, Trizile Technology Services India Pvt Ltd.
MG Krishnan, Registrar, Bangalore University
Basavaraj Gurikar, President, Primary School Teachers Association
Yathiraj, President, Junior College Principals Association
Prof. Muralidhar, Director, CS dept. , Bangalore University
Prof. Hanumanthappa, Bangalore University.
Triveni, Director, CS dept., UVCE
E. Basavaraju, Bharatiya Gyan Vijnan Samiti
Venakata Jagana, IBM
Guru, AID
Guru Murthy, IT for Change
Vasantraj, Writer and Publisher, Chinthana
Shri. Shyamsundar Bidarkundi, Bendre Trust, Dharwad.
Balbir singh, IBM

General Convener:
Jaykumar

Convener:
Surendra N

Joint Convenors:
Balaji, Sun Microsystems
Karthik, Tech Mahindra
Senthil, Cisco
Nidhin,Accenture
Lakshmi, General Secretary, Women’s Organisation
Rajashekar Murthy, Secretary, Youth Organization
Naveen, President, Student Organization
Ananth Naik, Student Organization
Bharatraj, President, Youth Organization
Chandan, LIC
Shenoy, Canara Bank,
Lingaraju,
Prasad
Surendra, Samudaya

Core Members:
Nirmal HTMT
Raghavendra, MRO Tech
Prabodh, CMRIT
Abhilash, Fidelity Financial services
Haynes, Elina Networks
Justin, Elina Networks
Krishnakumar, Honeywell
Vikram, Christ University
Naveen Mudunnuru, Pronto Networks
Vishal, NHCE
Ranjan, NHCE
Roopesh, Cyberholdings
Rameez
Rasinesh, Wipro, UK
Naveen NJ, Birla Soft
Unni PS, Cognizant Technologies
Sowjanya, Mindtree
Utsav, Wipro
Rakesh Manpade, FSMK Volunteer
Safeer, Yahoo
Kiran, Cognizant Technologies
Shyam, Research Assistant, MP Birla Institute
Sajith KP, Nettigritty
Nitheesh, Tejas Networks
Shajid, ARM
Likhith, Saint Gobain
Rakesh M, SAP Labs
Brajesh, Oracle
Narayana, ISoft
Ravishanker, CSC
Sarasu
Mani
Sreejith
Venkatesh
Raje Urs
Shashidhar

Event Advisers:
Kiran Chandra, Chairman, Swecha, Andhrapradesh
Prabir Purkayasta, Delhi Science Forum
Joseph Thomas, Convener, Democratic Alliance for Knowledge Forum, Kerala
Nandini Mukharjee, West Bengal
Siddhartha, Convener, Free Software Foundation, Tamil Nadu
Dr. M Sasikumar, Director (Corporate R&D), CDAC

Literary and Cultural Advisers:
Nagabharana, Cinema Director
Lahari Velu,
Dr. Vijayamma, Kannada writer,
Prof. Narahalli Balasubramanya, Writer
Prof. S.G Siddaramaiah, Former President, Kannada Pustaka Pradhikara

Media Advisors:
R. Poornima, Editor, Udayavani
NAM Ismail, Sampada Foundation
L. Subramani, Deccan Herald

Sub Committees:
1. Transport and Accommodation
Convener: Chandan
Co-conveners: Unni & Ravishankar

2. Cultural and Literary
Convener: Ravi, Samudaya
Co-convener: Naveen Mudanuru & Lingaraju

3. Stall & Exhibition
Convener: Balaji
co-convener: Krishnakumar & Shenoy

4. Finance
Convener: Anjan Banarjee,
Co-conveners:Nidhin, Surendra & Senthil

5. Venue and Program Committees
Chairman: Prof. Gopinath,
Co-conveners:Karthik, Senthil & Raghavendra

6. Media and Publicity (including branding)
Convener: Vasant Raj,
Co-convener: Haynes & Rameez

7. Souvenir
Convener: Shyam
Co-Convener: Naveen. NJ and Jaykumar

8. Volunteer
Convener: Nidhin
Co-conveners: Prabhod & Navin Mudunuru

9. Food
Convener: Rajashekar Murthy
Co-convener: Nirmal & Rameez
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