Tech Chorus

The topic was Free Software Movement and GNU/Linux operating system.

It was a long drive to Reva Institute, 40 kilometers from home. I reached the venue in time thanks to the moderate traffic. The third floor was already filled. I had to go to the fourth floor to listen to the speech. The auditorium stage can be viewed from both third and fourth floor. The floor had two elevated blocks, one above the other. There were no chairs on the fourth floor. The floor was a bit dusty. Approximately five hundred people attended the event.

The talk was usual as you would expect. RMS started off, explaining the meaning of free software. The four freedoms. Then he talked about the history of the free software movement, FSF, GNU, Linux, Emacs. Even though I am quite familiar with the topics, it was interesting to hear them from the horse's mouth.

RMS proceeded and made his case why you should not use proprietary software. Notable examples he presented were Skype and Microsoft Windows. He did mention about back doors of Windows and how the software owner takes control of the user's computer. He also mentioned the perils of Amazon Swindle.

From a few days, I was wondering what RMS had to say about GNU/Linux other than asking people to call it GNU/Linux or GNU+Linux instead of Linux. To my surprise there was nothing I hadn't already heard of on this topic. Naturally, the flow went to open source and distros. RMS recalled that someone called him father of open source. He said it was saying Mahatma Gandhi as father of BJP.

As usual, RMS recommended the distros BLAG, gNewSense, Ututo among others.

The man is humorous. He performed the part of the Saint IGNUcius. He wore the robe and the hat and delivered the saint talk. Everyone in the audience had a good laugh, enjoying the performance.

Before concluding his speech, he answered few questions. The questions were sent to him prior to the speech. He read the questions from the paper he held in his had and answered them one by one. People sitting in the front row of third floor had an opportunity to ask questions to which RMS answered rather fast.

The mike and speakers were not good enough. After the fans were turned off, the voice was better. The speakers squeaked a few times interrupting the speech for a few seconds, few times.

At the end of the speech, the GNU was auctioned to help raise funds for gnu.org.in. The bidding closed at Rs. 5500, approximately 118 US dollars. GNU stickers were sold. I bought a sheet of stickers thus contributing a tiny amount to FSF India.

Renuka Prasad, presumably one of the organizers, invited me and few others to lunch with RMS. At the lunch room, I had the honour of meeting few noteworthy people. The lunch and the gossip was rather quick.

My views on the talk

It is hard not to like RMS and his views. His work on free software truly deserves accolades. The principal of Reva Institutes, said he hoped that RMS will be considered for Nobel Prize. I am with him on this.

Thinking practically, it is not easy to get people to call it GNU/Linux instead of Linux. The man himself said, GNU not being credited wasn't a big issue. Similarly, using the distros he recommends is not entirely practical either. A free software activist can go to this extent. Not an ordinary mortal me.

What do you think?