AgnesOppen5 at 19:02, 26 March 2026

2026-03-26T19:02:51Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2019}}
The state of [[Kerala]], in [[India]] has had an active [[Free software movement|Free software community]] since early 1980s.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://swatantryam.blogspot.in/2007/08/story-of-free-software-in-kerala-india.html|title=Free as in Freedom: The Story of Free Software in Kerala, India|website=swatantryam.blogspot.in|date=31 August 2007 |access-date=2016-07-28}}</ref> The initial users were those who started using [[TeX]] in the city of [[Thiruvananthapuram]]. Subsequently Free software users groups were formed in some of the different cities like Thiruvananthapuram, [[Kochi]] and around engineering colleges<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/free-software-pioneer-richard-stallman-to-lecture-at-sjcet/article586239.ece|title=Free Software pioneer Richard Stallman to lecture at SJCET|date=2010-08-21|newspaper=The Hindu|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|access-date=2016-07-28}}</ref> in the state. The Free software community in Kerala was instrumental in creating a policy environment at the state government level that was biased towards Free software.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-info-tech/kerala-aims-to-become-open-source-software-destination/article1649293.ece|title=Kerala aims to become open source software destination|date=2007-02-12|access-date=2016-07-28}}</ref> The [[government of Kerala]] policy on Free software gives first preference to Free and Open Source software for its IT requirements.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/apcity/unpan002950.pdf|title=Kerala State IT Policy 2001|last=|first=|date=|website=UNPAN|publisher=|access-date=|archive-date=3 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103210627/http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/apcity/unpan002950.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> The state claims to be the only state in the world where IT education is imparted over a Free software operating system.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.academia.edu/10236947|title=IT@SCHOOL PROJECT OF KERALA – A LANDMARK IN ICT INITIATIVE IN GENERAL EDUCATION|access-date=2016-07-30|last1=Nath |first1=Prof Baiju K. }}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/money/2006/sep/02microsoft.htm|title=Kerala logs Microsoft out of schools|website=www.rediff.com|access-date=2016-07-30}}</ref>

== Government Policy on Free software ==
The IT Policy for the state of Kerala had acknowledged the relevance of Free software as early as 2001<ref name=":1" />

The 2001 IT policy states that,<blockquote>''The Government wishes to encourage the judicious use of open source/free software that complements/supplements proprietary software, to reduce the total cost of ownership of IT applications/solutions without compromising on the immediate and medium term value provided by the application. The Government welcomes research into the use of open/free software in the context of education, governance, and for general use at home, to make IT truly a part of the daily lives of the people of the State. The Government also encourages projects such as the Simputer that is low cost, based on open software, and attuned to the needs of the common man.''</blockquote>In 2007, [[government of Kerala]] released its ICT policy<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kerala.gov.in/documents/10180/46696/IT%20Policy%202007|title=Kerala State IT Policy 2007|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=|archive-date=23 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160223203233/http://kerala.gov.in/documents/10180/46696/IT%20Policy%202007|url-status=dead}}</ref> where one of its objectives was to mandate appropriate use of Free Software in all ICT initiatives.<blockquote>''The Government realizes that Free Software presents a unique opportunity in building a truly egalitarian knowledge society. The Government will take all efforts to develop Free Software and Free Knowledge and shall encourage and mandate the appropriate use of Free Software in all ICT initiatives.''</blockquote>

== Free software communities / mailing lists ==
There are two prominent free software mailing lists and communities around these mailing lists in Kerala. One is around the [[Free Software Users Group, Thiruvananthapuram]] and the other is the [[ILUG-Cochin|Indian Libre User Group, Kochi]]. The primary activities of the users groups were around offering support to Free software users and in running technology and awareness sessions for the public and in institutions<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/free-software-symbolises-freedom/article332594.ece|title=Free software symbolises freedom|date=2009-03-15|newspaper=The Hindu|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|access-date=2016-07-30}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/a-freedom-movement-gains-pace/article1249331.ece|title=A freedom movement gains pace|date=2008-05-01|newspaper=The Hindu|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|access-date=2016-07-30}}</ref> and running install fests.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/linux-install-fest-at-technopark/article1322461.ece|title=Linux Install Fest at Technopark|date=2008-08-24|newspaper=The Hindu|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|access-date=2016-07-30}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/freeing-software-for-users/article1412723.ece|title=Freeing software for users|date=2008-04-19|newspaper=The Hindu|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|access-date=2016-07-30}}</ref> There are also active Free software clubs in several Engineering colleges in the state like [[College of Engineering, Trivandrum]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Thiruvananthapuram/now-a-movement-for-open-hardware/article7466555.ece|title=Now, a movement for open hardware|date=2015-07-26|newspaper=The Hindu|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|access-date=2016-07-30}}</ref> [[St. Joseph's College of Engineering and Technology, Palai|St. Josephs College of Engineering and Technology, Pala]],<ref name=":0" /> [[MES College of Engineering|MES College of engineering Kuttippuram]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kozhikode/tathva22-at-nit-calicut-from-october-21/article66010705.ece|website=[[The Hindu]]|title=Richard Stallman, founder of Free Software Foundation, will present a lecture on the topic 'In today's computing, injustice is all around|date=14 October 2022 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> [[National Institute of Technology Calicut|National Institute of Technology, Kozhikode]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/fossmeet-begins-today/article5687686.ece|title=FOSSMeet begins today|date=2014-02-14|newspaper=The Hindu|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|access-date=2016-07-30}}</ref> L.B.S College of Engineering, Vidya Academy of Science and Technology, Thrissur, SCMS School of Engineering and Technology

== Free software initiatives in the state ==
Over the years several government entities in the state of Kerala switched / started significantly using Free software solutions in their operations. Some of the notable projects are listed below.

=== KITE ===
In 2006, the state government decided to impart ICT education in public schools across the state using a customized Debian distribution called KITE GNU/Linux (previously known as IT@School GNU/Linux).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/it-practical-tests-on-open-platform/article1906612.ece|title=IT practical tests on 'open' platform|date=2007-09-07|newspaper=The Hindu|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|access-date=2016-07-31}}</ref> The [[KITE Kerala|KITE]] under Department of General Education, Government of Kerala implemented one of the largest deployments of GNU/Linux systems anywhere in the world.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /> Earlier technical support and training for the project was provided by SPACE and is currently being provided by KITE<ref>{{Cite book|title=The SAGE Handbook of Intellectual Property|last=Matthew David, Debora Halbert|publisher=SAGE|year=2014|isbn=9781473914391|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pHKACgAAQBAJ&dq=%22Society+for+promotion+of+alternative+computing+and+employment%22+SPACE+IT%40Scchool+project&pg=PT687|pages=|via=}}</ref>

=== ORUMA billing software by Kerala State Electricity Board ===
In 2008, the [[Kerala State Electricity Board]] moved to a Free software platform called [[ORUMA]] to run their billing operations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kseboa.org/kseb/oruma-free-software-based-billing-application-of-kseb-2809230.html|title=ORUMA - Free software based billing application of KSEB|last=|first=|date=|website=www.kseboa.org|publisher=|access-date=2016-07-31|archive-date=11 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160811041556/http://www.kseboa.org/kseb/oruma-free-software-based-billing-application-of-kseb-2809230.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://icfoss.in/doc/FOSS_Transition_Policy/FOSS%20experience.pdf|title=FOSS experience of KSEB|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=ICFOSS|access-date=}}</ref> The system was built with the help of an internal team at KSEB. Initial consultations and trainings were provided by SPACE.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.space-kerala.org/files/SPACE-Annual%20Report%202007-2008.pdf|title=SPACE Annual Report 2007-08|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=SPACE|access-date=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.firstpost.com/business/biztech/kerala-goes-open-source-in-it-education-1863743.html|title=Kerala Goes Open Source In IT Education - Firstpost|date=2007-12-13|language=en-US|access-date=2016-07-31}}</ref>

=== Kerala Khadi & Village Industries Board Free software migration ===
The [[Kerala Khadi & Village Industries Board|Kerala Khadi and Village Industries Board]] moved to a Free software platform<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/Industry/9TFfGIjiHk5YPxKmBOSs8O/Free-software-activism-no-longer-a-fringe-movement.html|title=Free software activism no longer a fringe movement - Livemint|website=www.livemint.com|access-date=2016-07-31}}</ref> built by [[Keltron]].

=== Public Works Department ===
The [[Kerala Public Works Department]] moved to a Free software platform built by [[Inapp|InApp Technologies]]<ref name=":2" />

=== Kerala Legislative Assembly Free software migration ===
In 2014 the [[Kerala Legislature|Kerala Legislative Assembly]] moved all of their IT operations into GNU/Linux based systems with the assistance of [[Zyxware Technologies]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/kerala-legislature-announces-smooth-transition-to-free-software/article6224551.ece|title=Kerala Legislature announces smooth transition to free software|last=Kurian|first=Vinson|date=2014-07-18|website=Hindu Business Line|publisher=|access-date=2016-07-31}}</ref>

== Organizations and not-for-profit agencies working in the Free software space ==

=== ICFOSS - International Center for Free and Open Source Software ===
[[ICFOSS]] is an autonomous agency set up by the Government of Kerala in 2011<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://keralaitnews.com/date/2011/02|title=2011 February|website=keralaitnews.com|access-date=2016-07-31}}</ref> with the mandate of popularizing [[Free and Open Source Software]] for universal use; consolidating the early FOSS work done in Kerala; and networking with different nations, communities and governments to collaboratively promote FOSS.

=== SPACE - Society for Promotion of Alternative Computing and Employment ===
SPACE is a not-for-profit society which has been working closely with the Government and several of the government departments and agencies in driving Free software adoption in them.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/software-sans-borders/article1430520.ece|title=Software sans borders|date=2008-12-04|newspaper=The Hindu|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|access-date=2016-07-31}}</ref> SPACE has been involved in policy formulation, consultation, training and technical support for projects like IT@School, ORUMA, Khadi Board migration etc.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article1342429.ece|title=A celebration of software freedom|date=2008-09-21|newspaper=The Hindu|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|access-date=2016-07-31}}</ref> The agency has also been running a center called INSIGHT which is actively pursuing taking Free software to the differently abled.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/new-software-tool-for-the-disabled/article2304394.ece|title=New software tool for the disabled|date=2011-07-29|newspaper=The Hindu|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|access-date=2016-07-31}}</ref>

=== SMC - Swathantra Malayalam Computing ===
[[Swathanthra Malayalam Computing|SMC]] is a Free software collective which works in the space of Indic language computing.<ref name="thehindu.com">{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/enhanced-android-keyboard-for-indian-languages-released/article7291192.ece|title=Enhanced Android keyboard for Indian languages released|date=2015-06-07|newspaper=The Hindu|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|access-date=2016-07-31}}</ref> SMC is the upstream maintainers for Malayalam fonts and tools<ref name="thehindu.com"/> for popular GNU/Linux based operating systems such as Fedora and Debian. They also maintain localizations for Free Software Desktops ([[GNOME]]/[[KDE Software Compilation|KDE]]) and applications such as [[Firefox]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/firefox-malayalam-version-fully-loaded/article829718.ece|title=Firefox Malayalam version fully loaded|date=2010-10-14|newspaper=The Hindu|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|access-date=2016-07-31}}</ref> and [[LibreOffice|Libre Office]].

== Free software Conferences ==

=== Free Software Free Society Conference ===
Kerala hosts a regular international conference on Free Software which runs once every 2 – 4 years. This conference is done with the involvement of the Government of Kerala and the Free software community. [[ICFOSS|International Center for Free and Open Source Software (ICFOSS)]] has been responsible for organizing the last two editions of the conference.
# Freedom First 2001<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gnu.org/press/2001-07-20-FSF-India.en.html|title=Richard Stallman Inaugurates Free Software Foundation-India, First Affiliate in Asia of the Free Software Foundation|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref>
# Free Software Free Society 2005<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.linuxjournal.com/article/8319|title=India's Upcoming Free Software, Free Society Conference {{!}} Linux Journal|website=www.linuxjournal.com|access-date=2016-07-28}}</ref>
# FSFS 2008<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://mm.gnu.org.in/pipermail/fsfs-discuss/2008-November/000000.html|title=[FSFS-discuss][Free Software, Free Society] 2nd International Conference on Freedom in Computing|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=2016-07-28}}</ref>
# FOSSK4 2011<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Thiruvananthapuram/foss-meet-moots-new-domain-for-free-software/article2758387.ece|title=FOSS meet moots new domain for free software|date=2011-12-29|newspaper=The Hindu|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|access-date=2016-07-28}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://meetings.vtools.ieee.org/m/9917|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919063308/https://meetings.vtools.ieee.org/m/9917|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 September 2016|title=International FOSS Conference, Kerala : vTools Events|last=IEEE.vTools|website=[[IEEE]]|access-date=2016-07-28}}</ref>
# [[Swatantra 2014]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cis-india.org/openness/news/swatantra-2014-icfoss-december-18-20-2014-fifth-international-free-software-conference-in-kerala|title=Swatantra 2014: Fifth International Free Software Conference, Kerala|access-date=2016-07-28}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/huge-savings-from-free-software-highlighted/article6710522.ece|title=Huge savings from free software highlighted|date=2014-12-20|newspaper=The Hindu|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|access-date=2016-07-28}}</ref>
# Swatantra 2017 <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://icfoss.in/event/swatantra17|title=Swatantra 2017: Sixth International Free Software Conference, Kerala|access-date=2018-08-31|archive-date=31 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831141213/https://icfoss.in/event/swatantra17|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== FOSSMeet ===
The students of [[National Institute of Technology Calicut]] conducts an annual Free Software conference called [http://fossmeet.net/ FOSSMeet], which is held on the campus during the month of February/March every year.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/fossmeet-begins-today/article5687686.ece|title=FOSSMeet begins today|date=2014-02-14|newspaper=The Hindu|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|access-date=2016-07-31}}</ref> The 3 day conference has been held every year since 2005.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Calicut/NIT/FOSS Meet - FSCI Wiki |url=https://wiki.fsci.in/Calicut/NIT/FOSS_Meet#2005 |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=wiki.fsci.in}}</ref> After a gap of 3 years due to COVID-19, FOSSMeet was restarted offline in 2023.

# FOSSMeet 2005<ref>{{Cite web |title=Calicut/NIT/FOSS Meet/05 - FSCI Wiki |url=https://wiki.fsci.in/Calicut/NIT/FOSS_Meet/05 |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=wiki.fsci.in}}</ref>
# FOSSMeet 2019<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-08-10 |title=FOSSMeet'19 {{!}} FOSSCell NITC |url=https://fossmeet.in/ |access-date=2024-02-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190810123443/https://fossmeet.in/ |archive-date=10 August 2019 }}</ref>
# FOSSMeet 2024<ref>{{Cite web |title=FOSSMeet'24 – FOSSCell, NIT Calicut |url=https://www.fossmeet.net/ |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=www.fossmeet.net}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Free and open-source software}}[[Free software in India]]

[[Free software movement]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Free Software}}
[[Category:Free software movement]]
[[Category:Free Software Foundation]]
[[Category:Software industry in India]]
[[Category:Science and technology in Kerala]]

Free software in Kerala - Revision history

AgnesOppen5 at 19:02, 26 March 2026