I do not know whether there is any clear cut definition for Social Movement. And any attempt to fit this commonly used terms in to a sharply defined constraints will be a worthless effort. In general, the term Social Movement represent gathering together of individuals or organizations focused on mutually agreed political or social change.
In that sense free software movements are social movements. Same will be the case of political parties as well. However I have to say, even if the free software movements have global reach, it is very weak when compared to other social movements existed in our milieu. And I feel some of the free software groups in India are not socially matured. That is why an organisation like FSF-India is reluctant to adopt democratic way of functioning. Same is also evident through the hostile mails against CPI(M) appeared in this list.
I feel CPI(M) is also a part of free software movement in India. As some one pointed out here, they are working in a boarder social and political circle when compared to us ( the free software movements), they have done more struggles to empower the people, for which freedom as advocated by us is an essential one. They have realised it even before free software movements takes its shape. We have to appreciate their efforts and should learn things from them.
Tarnish the image of a partner organisation with baseless allegation will no way help our further reach-out to the society. We have to make out strategy to over come our weakness, for which we have to work with other social movements including political parties, who really agrees with the philosophy of software freedom on the basis of a common minimum program.
- Anilkumar KV