Speaking Out For Free Software In India

inode_buddha writes "We all know how RMS and Bill Gates toured India recently, with mostly mixed reviews. The reviews don't seem so mixed after reading this memo regarding the use of software in Indian schools... and it's interesting how quickly these people pick up on the business. IMHO, this letter ranks up there with the Peruvian Congressman's letter to Microsoft in clarity and impact. People worldwide are beginning to wake up, and this needs to be shouted from the (networked) hills... "

Comments

In related news... Bill Gates, Condom, India

[dagg]

Did you guys see this news article about Bill Gates being welcomed to India by a giant condom? No joke!!!

Bill Gates Welcomed by Huge Condom

Unrelated link: Sex Quiz.

Word of the Day

[IonSwitz]

"Swatantryam"

Quote:
7.4 We wish to clarify that by the term 'Free Software' used above, we are referring to 'freedom', as in 'swatantryam' - not 'soujanyam'

You may want to Save Private Ryan, but you'll Swat Ant Ryam.. ;-)

The great Satan

[Zemran]

I love the way they talk about said company without mentioning them by name, the devil is so well known he needs no name.

Free as in 'swatantryam'

[ukryule]

7.4 We wish to clarify that by the term 'Free Software' used above, we are referring to 'freedom', as in 'swatantryam' - not 'soujanyam'.

Damn ... I'm tempted to use that in my sig ... "Linux: because it's free as in swatantryam".
OK - maybe only people from one state in India will understand it, but it still sounds better than 'free as in beer/speech' :-)

bill gates : neighborhood drug dealer

[small_dick]

The first hit is always free.

Re:clarification

[flatt]

And nothing quite says "thank you" like a giant, 8-foot-tall condom.

Re:Most Important Point

[zcat_NZ]

".. the best way to prepare is to write programs, and to study great programs that other people have written. In my case, I went to the garbage cans at the Computer Science Center and I fished out listings of their operating system."

Hey, you'll never guess who this was from!!!

Re:It's interesting how quickly these people...

[BoBaBrain]

Like "Canada" or "France"?

Re:From the article

[mbogosian]

Cut me some slack - I wrote that at 2am. I'm almost coherent during daylight.

If you were in India, it would only be three in the afternoon. It's no wonder why they're smarter and have improved grammar!

"...it's interesting how quickly these people...

[anactofgod]

...pick up on the business."?

"These people"?

I agree. The sophistication of these savages is impressive. Who would have thought that they can look beyond the dazzling glass beads and intoxicating liquor that Gates and Co. are offering to realize the long term business and economic implications fully getting in bed with Microsoft.

These new "Super Indians" are going to be a lot harder to herd onto a reservation than the ones we had to deal with in the past. Why, they may even be almost as smart at the White Man, and just as cunning!

Bring out the phrenologists! We must study the size and shapes of their skulls!

...anactofgod...