The term “FOSS” has been translated to Indian languages - variously as “swatantra”, “azad”, etc. These literal translations haven’t stuck, for the reason that they focus on the implementation but not the idea and philosophy behind the term. Software and digital designs are the norm now, which makes the core idea of freedom even more relevant and widely applicable to the public at large.
Clinging to “software” has little value in this age of AI based coding. Software has already passed through multiple cycles of abstraction already - such as machine code, assembly language, low-level to high-level languages, frameworks, etc etc The need of the times is to ensure that the public at large can deal with digital systems like putty. Pipes and joints are sold in every store as commodity, but plumbers yet retain their place. So it’s possible that software in some form will keep its place as an enabler even in a world where people can flexibly build systems.
In this talk, I’ll explain the real tragedy of “FOSS”, and why it has not been understood as a philosophy. And that too here in India, which is in a league by itself when it comes to philosophy. I will also present my idea of why “FOSS” must be understood as a type of “dharma” (ಧರ್ಮ धर्म). Dharma is apt as it flexibly deals with multiple shades - which in this case could easily encompass everything from “business source”, “open source”, patent/commercial/non-commercial inclusions/exclusions and “free software”. The key insight here is that adharma(अधर्म ) - the opposite of dharma - would have much wider consensus - implying that closed source is harmful in general. In software systems, अधर्म limits freedoms, and in AI based systems it severely impacts our ability to explain how the system can behave in a specific scenario.
To realize the benefits of FOSS, it is imperative that we effectively translate the idea of FOSS into local languages. This talk will touch upon how we can make this happen, and what the fruits such attempts can bear both locally as well as globally.
Note to organizers: if you select this, you could make this the last session of any day. I’d like a longer slot than 30 minutes if possible - there is much to cover here starting from 1995-ish, and if I rush I fear the audience won’t get the feel of how things were. They need to know that to get grounded and understand how fast things may evolve in the future.
Note to reviewers: the reference link is me explaining this concept at the Governing Board Reflections sessions in IndiaFOSS 2026.