Master
ThoughtWorks
Menu
Close
  • What we do
    • Go to overview
    • Customer Experience, Product and Design
    • Data Strategy, Engineering and Analytics
    • Digital Transformation and Operations
    • Enterprise Modernization, Platforms and Cloud
  • Who we work with
    • Go to overview
    • Automotive
    • Healthcare
    • Public Sector
    • Cleantech, Energy and Utilities
    • Media and Publishing
    • Retail and E-commerce
    • Financial Services and Insurance
    • Not-for-profit
    • Travel and Transport
  • Insights
    • Go to overview
    • Featured

      • Technology

        An in-depth exploration of enterprise technology and engineering excellence

      • Business

        Keep up to date with the latest business and industry insights for digital leaders

      • Culture

        The place for career-building content and tips, and our view on social justice and inclusivity

    • Digital Publications and Tools

      • Technology Radar

        An opinionated guide to technology frontiers

      • Perspectives

        A publication for digital leaders

      • Digital Fluency Model

        A model for prioritizing the digital capabilities needed to navigate uncertainty

      • Decoder

        The business execs' A-Z guide to technology

    • All Insights

      • Articles

        Expert insights to help your business grow

      • Blogs

        Personal perspectives from ThoughtWorkers around the globe

      • Books

        Explore our extensive library

      • Podcasts

        Captivating conversations on the latest in business and tech

  • Careers
    • Go to overview
    • Application process

      What to expect as you interview with us

    • Grads and career changers

      Start your tech career on the right foot

    • Search jobs

      Find open positions in your region

    • Stay connected

      Sign up for our monthly newsletter

  • About
    • Go to overview
    • Our Purpose
    • Awards and Recognition
    • Diversity and Inclusion
    • Our Leaders
    • Partnerships
    • News
    • Conferences and Events
  • Contact
Global | English
  • United States United States
    English
  • China China
    中文 | English
  • India India
    English
  • Canada Canada
    English
  • Singapore Singapore
    English
  • United Kingdom United Kingdom
    English
  • Australia Australia
    English
  • Germany Germany
    English | Deutsch
  • Brazil Brazil
    English | Português
  • Spain Spain
    English | Español
  • Global Global
    English
Blogs
Select a topic
View all topicsClose
Technology 
Agile Project Management Cloud Continuous Delivery  Data Science & Engineering Defending the Free Internet Evolutionary Architecture Experience Design IoT Languages, Tools & Frameworks Legacy Modernization Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence Microservices Platforms Security Software Testing Technology Strategy 
Business 
Financial Services Global Health Innovation Retail  Transformation 
Careers 
Career Hacks Diversity & Inclusion Social Change 
Blogs

Topics

Choose a topic
  • Technology
    Technology
  • Technology Overview
  • Agile Project Management
  • Cloud
  • Continuous Delivery
  • Data Science & Engineering
  • Defending the Free Internet
  • Evolutionary Architecture
  • Experience Design
  • IoT
  • Languages, Tools & Frameworks
  • Legacy Modernization
  • Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence
  • Microservices
  • Platforms
  • Security
  • Software Testing
  • Technology Strategy
  • Business
    Business
  • Business Overview
  • Financial Services
  • Global Health
  • Innovation
  • Retail
  • Transformation
  • Careers
    Careers
  • Careers Overview
  • Career Hacks
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Social Change
Defending the Free InternetBangaloreDiversity & InclusionTechnologyCareers

Freedom Fest, Hyderabad: An Eye-Opening Experience

Judy Das Judy Das

Published: Apr 8, 2014

Until I got to Hyderabad in the early morning of January 24, I didn’t know much about the Swecha* Freedom Fest. All I knew was that we would talk about Defending the Free Internet (DFI) and free software.

Several ThoughtWorkers spoke at the event including our Chairman Roy Singham, Ola Bini (creator of programming languages Seph and Ioke), Nagarjun K, VP, and political and technology consultant Zack Exley. ThoughtWorks’ friends included human rights lawyer Renata Avila and software activist Dmytri Kleiner**, among others. I knew this was an opportunity I shouldn’t miss.

Arriving early at the venue, wherever I looked I saw posters and quotes from some of the most inspirational people in the world – Nelson Mandela, Che Guevara, and Mahatma Gandhi. There were also many memorials and remembrances of my former colleague Aaron Swartz. After talking to some of the organisers and volunteers, it became clear that this was not going to be like any other event I’d attended. And it was definitely an eye-opener.

Over the course of the morning, approximately 2800 students showed up; more than five times the expected turnout! It wasn’t just the number of people that amazed me, it was their willingness to travel from different cities and towns to be a part of the event, their knowledge of and passion for free and open software, and their thirst to learn more that really impressed me.

During the talks, students were engaged, curious, eager to learn, and not afraid to ask questions. At the end of the day, they surrounded the speakers to have in-depth conversations. It was heartening to see such passion in such a young group of people. What was even more heartening to see was that there were as many – if not more – women than men at the conference!  

As Renata Avila noted, “The web we want can only be a web with massive participation of women. Like the Freedom Fest in Hyderabad last week.”

It’s hard to describe what it was like to be there. But I will try. I learned, for example, about encryption and open source alternatives to the popular communication tools we use like Skype, Whatsapp, Facebook, etc. One point that was driven home was that software can’t protect you if your hardware is compromised, and vice versa. I learned about the Zapatista movement in Mexico and the sacrifices people from across the world have made in their fight against mass surveillance. And in learning so much, I realised just how little I knew, and it was humbling.

I came away feeling hopeful for the future. If the Free Software Movement can extend its influence as strongly in other Indian states as it has in Andhra Pradesh, there’s no end to the possibilities.

Read One-Year Later: A Remembrance of Aaron Swartz 

Swecha is an organisation that was founded in 2005 (in Andhra Pradesh) to build a vibrant community of software users, students, academicians, and software professionals/developers. determined to provide quality software built on the guidelines of the free software development model.

** Dmytri has now joined ThoughtWorks as a Lead Analyst, focusing specifically on DFI and New Economies..

Master
Privacy policy | Modern Slavery statement | Accessibility
Connect with us
×

WeChat

QR code to ThoughtWorks China WeChat subscription account
© 2021 ThoughtWorks, Inc.