Route to FOSS
Session Description
This talk is about how FOSS (Free and Open Source Software) was part of every step in my journey — from a small village to becoming an IT professional.
I started with no background in technology. But when I joined VGLUG Foundation, I was introduced to the world of FOSS. I learned everything using free tools, open-source platforms, and with help from the FOSS community.
FOSS gave me:
* Free access to learn programming and tools
* A community to ask questions and grow
* Confidence to contribute and build real projects
FOSS enhanced my skill set and helped me to set my career up. VGLUG drives with the philosophy of FOSS, witnessing it by liberating the knowledge to the grassroots of our country with the essence of FOSS technology.
Happy to be a part of this movement and I could able to fix myself in the right position where I could build hundreds of myself and How the philosophy of FOSS can drive a social movement that can uplift the country and can ensure the well-being of its people.
About the Speakers:
Dilip H is the current coordinator of the VGLUG Foundation and has been an active member for over 6 years. He has 3.5 years of experience in the IT industry, working in Python-based Test Automation. Dilip is passionate about FOSS and community learning, and he regularly mentors students through VGLUG activities.
Kowsalya is an executive member of the VGLUG Foundation and has also been an active contributor for over 6 years. She has 3 years of experience in the IT industry, working with Python. She is committed to promoting Free and Open Source Software and helps students and freshers grow through hands-on learning.
Key Takeaways
1. FOSS can change lives — not just careers.
2. Anyone can learn tech, even from a village or without money.
3. Community support matters — learning together helps more.
4. VGLUG and FOSS give real opportunities to students.
5. Giving back is powerful — sharing knowledge makes the cycle strong.
6. You don’t need to be rich or from a city to grow in tech.
7. With hard work and the right support, success is possible for all.
References
Session Categories
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Speakers
Dilip H
Kowsalya V
Reviews
Conflicted about this one. The proposal seems to be covering multiple things without explaining anything in good detail. It starts as a story of one person but i see two speakers listed at the end of the proposal. I'm also not sure if the focus is on the speaker(s)'s individual journeys how FOSS helped them in their career (along with projects they've contributed to if any) or VGLUG's work in this space (we already had a talk about that previously so consider applying for a booth in that case). In either case, there are not enough references to evaluate this properly.
It is an inspiring story indeed, but the proposal needs more clarity -- is it about VGLUG Foundation or speaker?. Also, I would prefer this to be a Lightning talk.
Thank you for submitting your proposal for IndiaFOSS 2025. Your submission was well-received and progressed to our final review stages.
Unfortunately, due to the high volume of excellent proposals this year, we were unable to select your talk for the final program. We appreciate the effort you put into your submission and encourage you to apply again for future events.