CleanupBot II at 22:49, 13 August 2023

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{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2018}}
{{short description|Foundation promoting Free Software movement}}
{{redirect|FSFI|the Fédération Sportive Féminine Internationale|International Women's Sports Federation}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Free Software Foundation India
| image = Fsfi-logo.svg
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| abbreviation = FSFI
| motto = ''Free Software, Free Society''
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| formation = {{start date and age|df=yes|paren=yes|2001|07|20}}
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| type = [[Charitable organization]]
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| headquarters = [[Kerala]], [[India]]
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| region_served = [[India]]
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| affiliations = FSF* network <ref>https://www.fsfla.org/ikiwiki/about/constitution.en.html</ref>
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| website = {{url|https://fsf.org.in/}}
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The '''Free Software Foundation of India''' ('''FSFI''') is the Indian sister organisation to the US-based [[Free Software Foundation]]. It was founded in [[Thiruvananthapuram]] (Trivandrum) (the capital of [[Kerala]]) in 2001<ref>[http://noticias.hipatia.info/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=1495&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0 FSF-I inaugurated in Thiruvananthapuram by Dr. Richard M. Stallman]{{dead link|date=October 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> as a [[Non Profit Organization|non-profit Company]].<ref>[http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/8675 The What, Why and When of Free Software in India]</ref> The FSFI advocates to promote the use and development of [[free software in India]]. This includes educating people about [[free software]], including how it can help the [[economy of India|economy]] of a developing country like [[India]]. FSF India regards [[non-free software]] as not a solution, but a problem to be solved. Free software is sometimes locally called [[Alternative terms for free software|swatantra software]] in India.

In 2003, after meeting with FSF founder [[Richard Stallman]], the President of India [[Abdul Kalam|Dr. Abdul Kalam]]<ref>[http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=04/02/01/2054254 Stallman Goes to India]</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20040216002739/http://www.hindu.com/2004/02/01/stories/2004020104231000.htm Kalam, Stallman discuss open source software]</ref> urged Indian computer scientists and professionals to use [[Free software|free]] and [[open-source software]]<ref>[http://it.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=04/07/02/182243 Indian President Advises Open Source Approach]</ref> in research and development.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20040805122346/http://www.hindu.com/2004/07/02/stories/2004070200991300.htm Opt for open source codes for better software security: Kalam]</ref>

==Logo==
The left side of the FSF India logo resembles the famed [[Ashoka Chakra]], that also appears on the [[Flag of India|Indian national flag]], while its right half is a depiction of a [[compact disc]]. The combination of both [[symbols]] is intended to draw attention to the similarity between political freedom and [[free software]], the latter of which the [[Free Software Foundation|FSF]] promotes.

The [[Ashoka Chakra]], in addition to being a long-standing [[Hindu]] symbol of [[time]], also resembles [[Spinning_wheel#Charkha|Charkha]] of [[India's Freedom Struggle]] and thus in the current context, may symbolize the [[Indian independence movement]] which resulted in India's freedom from [[United Kingdom|British]] occupation.

==See also==

* [[Free Software Foundation]]
* [[Free Software Foundation Europe]]
* [[Free Software Movement of India]]
* [[Free Software Movement]]
* [[Richard Stallman]]
* [[Abdul Kalam]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20190927223309/http://fsf.org.in/ Free Software Foundation of India]
* [http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/8675 A LinuxJournal interview with FSF-India team members]
* [http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=04/02/01/2054254 Slashdot] and [https://web.archive.org/web/20040216002739/http://www.hindu.com/2004/02/01/stories/2004020104231000.htm Hindu] articles (dated 2002) regarding Stallman's visit to India.
* [http://it.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=04/07/02/182243 Slashdot] and [https://web.archive.org/web/20040805122346/http://www.hindu.com/2004/07/02/stories/2004070200991300.htm Hindu] articles (dated 2002) regarding Dr. Kalam's endorsement of free software.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070928011128/http://blue-gnu.biz/content/fsf_india_039_s_impact_far_reaching A Blue-GNU interview: FSF India's Impact Far-Reaching]
{{Free Software Foundation}}
{{FLOSS}}
{{GNU}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Free Software Foundation Of India}}
[[Category:Free Software Foundation]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Thiruvananthapuram]]
[[Category:Software industry in India]]
[[Category:Information technology organisations based in India]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 2001]]
[[Category:2001 establishments in Kerala]]

Free Software Foundation of India - Revision history

CleanupBot II at 22:49, 13 August 2023