Dear FSF-India friends:
BytesForAll has just launched a new mailing list, specifically focused on Free/Libre and Open Source Software (FLOSS, or FOSS). Details of the group are below. We invite all interested to join.
Rather than replicating the many existing FLOSS networks, this one intends to have a specific agenda (i) build cross-border regional South Asian links among FLOSS campaigners, users and supporters (ii) share resources and building networks among those working on localisation of FLOSS, particularly on languages which have implications for more than one country in the region, or whose initiatives we can learn from (with a special emphasis on Urdu, Bengali, Nepali, the Devanagari script, smaller languages currently unsupported by FLOSS and/or proprietorial software, etc).
In this way, we hope to complement, support and spread awareness about useful initiatives like IndicComputing, Ankur Bangla, and the MPP initiatives on Nepali localisation. On the Urdu front, in particular, links between Pakistan and north India (particularly) are needed on the FLOSS front.
Your support and active participation is welcome!
Many thanks to Fouad Riaz Bajwa bajwa@fossfp.org of Pakistan for his high energy levels and repeated prodding to BytesForAll for undertaking this initiative.
INTRODUCING THE GROUP: A network to link Free/Libre and Open Source Software (FLOSS, or FOSS) advocates in South Asia, with an intention of building regional links and specially encouraging localisation efforts in this populous part of the planet which can really benefit from the power of free-as-in-freedom software. This is a sub-group of the wider BytesForAll Network. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bytesforall_floss