The movement of Software Freedom started with the establishment of 'The Free Software Foundation (FSF)' in 1984 by MIT hacker Richard M. Stallman. The FSF advocates the software user's freedom to study and modify any program as well as redistribute its original or modified copies. FSF focuses on a completely free software system from kernel to applications and it rejects any component of the system which is non-free.  FSF released the 'GNU General Public License (GPL)' for the users of 'free software'. As a UNIX like OS, GNU/Linux distributions and the freedom of open source provide an excellent academic and research opportunity. Each application is available in source form and the author as well as the user community can be contacted online.  

'GNU/Linux User Group(GLUG) - Meerut' is a GNU/Linux software user's platform to meet, discuss and innovate with other users and developers. GLUG-Meerut is the first gnu.org registered GLUG of entire UP and only the nineteenth one in India. We have helped establish the standard GNU/Linux software as part of engineering curricula in CS & IT. We also help FM Radio station at IIMT Meerut to migrate from properietary software to public domain software 'AUDACITY' released under the 'GNU General Public License (GPL)'.   
  
Now, the efforts of GLUG-Meerut have been appreciated by Dr. Richard Stallman (the founder of 'Software Freedom Movement' from MIT, USA) as "Happy Hacking and thanks for defending the freedom in Meerut" at JNU, New Delhi on 21-12-2008. GLUG-Meerut has invited Dr. Stallman for a visit to Meerut - "The City of Freedom" - the city of 1857 war of Indian Independence which laid the seeds of the rising Indian self reliance culminating into modern Indian nation.

GLUG-Meerut community welcomes all GNU/Linux enthusiasts of Meerut and beyond. We intend to organize various workshops, seminars and conferences for proliferation of GNU/Linux philosophy of software freedom all over the western UP region and beyond. Anyone can freely join GLUG-Meerut on 'groups.google.com/group/glug-meerut'.

Mohit Singh       
Coordinator-GLUG Meerut
                     
gmohitsingh@...
9719092091

<groups.google.com/group/glug-meerut>
www.glug-meerut.org (w.e.f. 01-01-09)

With Regards
Sumit Srivastava