Celebrating the 1st General Body Conference of Puduvai GLUG - 2024

The Free Software Hardware Movement Puducherry proudly hosted the inaugural General Body Conference of Puduvai GLUG (GNU/Linux Users Group) — a momentous occasion celebrating the essence of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) and its growing community in Puducherry.

About PuduvaiGLUG

PuduvaiGLUG is a vibrant community of tech enthusiasts dedicated to promoting the GNU/Linux ecosystem and FOSS through workshops, sessions, and initiatives. PuduvaiGLUG is one of the many GLUGs functioning with the Free Software Hardware Movement Puducherry

Schedule

• Dr. Balasubramanian D (Chief Guest)
• Damodharan (Chairperson for the conference)
• Kamalavelan (Reporting)
• Arjun (Host)
• Surendiran (Annual Report Submission)
• Devamurugan (Experience Sharing)
• Devipriya (Panel Discussion)

Keynote Speakers and Sessions

The conference featured various keynote speakers and sessions, focusing on:

• Chairperson's Address: Damodharan set the tone of the conference with a vision for the community's future.
• Reporting: Kamalavelan provided a comprehensive overview of Puduvai GLUG's journey, emphasizing how technologies should serve societal needs. The presentation included a poignant example of an US based health insurance company whose reliance on AI to reject insurance applications led to tragic consequences for its CEO, highlighting the ethical considerations of technology.

• Chief Guest's Address: The chief guest discussed various FOSS communities across India, shedding light on their origins and growth. Drawing from personal experience, the chief guest shared insights from his past research, including a published paper on the evolution and impact of FOSS communities Like,.
  • Learning
  • Sharing
  • Hacking
  • Meeting Peoples
  • Informality/Different and so on...
• Annual Report Submission: A detailed presentation of Puduvai GLUG’s achievements, milestones and transparency over the past year.

• Experience Sharing: Members and participants shared their journey and learnings within the FOSS ecosystem, fostering inspiration and collaboration.

• Panel Discussions: Engaging discussions on the evolving landscape of FOSS, privacy concerns, and the societal impact of free technologies.

Annual Report

The conference highlighted Puduvai GLUG's activities and milestones over the past year:

• Totally 41+ Weekly Sessions: 30+ Software, 2+ Hardware, 4+ Events and 2+ Open Discussions Were conducted over the year.

• Workshops: Conducted hands-on sessions, including a one-day UX/UI design workshop led by IBM professionals.
• Public Advocacy: Organized a public rally to champion affordable, accessible, and inclusive internet for everyone.
• FOSSCON: Puducherry’s first-ever Foss Conference, bringing together over 100 participants to celebrate open-source innovation and hosting insightful talks by the Puduvai GLUG Executive Committee members.
• Community Engagement: Held open discussions, movie screenings, and interactive sessions to deepen awareness of FOSS principles.

Election of new executive committee

• Election of New Executive Committee Members: A transparent voting process to induct new members into the Executive Committee, ensuring continued leadership and growth. Election of the executive committee members was followed by election of the office bearers.
• President - Jagadeesh M
  Secretary - Damodharan
  Treasurer - Surendiran
  Vice-President - Devipriya
  Joint Secretary - Devamurugan
• Executive Committee Members -
  Daniel
  Deepa
  Seenuvasan
  Timoth
  Udhaye
  Vishnu

Vision for the Future

Looking ahead, Puduvai GLUG aims to:

• Expand FOSS awareness through innovative workshops and collaborative projects.
• Strengthen community ties with impactful public events.
• Advocate for consensual technologies that prioritize societal well-being, as aligned with FSHM’s mission.

Gratitude and Acknowledgments

A heartfelt thanks to all participants, supporters, and the broader FOSS community for making the 1st General Body Conference a grand success. Together, we are paving the way for a freer and more inclusive technological landscape.

For those inspired by this mission, join Puduvai GLUG and be part of the change. Let’s continue to celebrate the spirit of openness, collaboration, and innovation!