What is Freedom Walk? - In Brief

Freedom walk is a project aimed at spreading the message of 'Freedom in Society', 'Freedom from Environmental Issues', and 'Freedom in Software' and to promote activism around these freedoms. As part of this mobilization campaign a team of volunteers are going to walk from Kasargode to Trivandrum and organize seminars and talks on these freedoms at educational institutions and non profit organizations.

Additionally we hope to connect with people and organisations who share our vision and to work together for our common cause. We are also planning to launch a collaboration platform for such individuals and organizations to help them to work together and also to harness the power of the web to improve their efficiency.

Click here to read more about the project

Freedomwalk : Places covered

Freedom Walkers have so far covered a number of places across the length and breadth of the state. Here is the list of places we have covered so far.
Click here to view the list

Distance Covered

The Freedom Walk started on October 2nd, 2008 and completed on November 14, 2008. It took 44 days to complete the journey from Kasargod to Trivandrum, covering all the 14 districts and a total distance of more than 1200kms. See the distances covered during each day.

Freedom Walk: Our Walkers

Since October 2nd, a lot of people including people from various FSUGs, GNU/Linux enthusiasts, NGOs, and various organizations had joined the Freedom Walk.
Click here to view the list

Official Programs

During the course of the 44-day walk, the freedom-walkers talked to thousands of people through their organized programs at educational institutions as well as road-side meetings with general public. We have compiled here a list of such documented interactions here.

Latest Updates

Freedom Walk Day 15 - NIT Calicut to Kozhikode Town

October 16, 2008 by webmaster

day15-200x200.JPGThe meeting with the NIT students was nice. A lot of ideas were bounced back and forth, and ideas for a in-campus users group for free software was discussed. Interestingly, a lot of these students were students of Civil Engineering, and we were quite happy at the response from them. Apparently, the Computer Engineering and Electronics Engineering students were having exams at the time.Click Here to Read the rest of this article

Freedom Walk Day 14 - Eengappuzha to NIT Calicut

October 15, 2008 by webmaster

DAY15-200X200.jpgThe stay at Puthupaddy was quite comfortable. Mr. Yunais has done a great job of handling stay for the walkers in Kozhikode. A good thing about staying in a functioning office is that we get kicked out before the start of the day. We set off for Thamarassery at a lazy pace. The distance to Thamarassery is very small, and the program was arranged to begin at 3.30pm.The idea was to start out in a procession towards "Vyapari Bhavan", where a meeting was organised by the Rotary club. Rain, however, spoiled the plans that Mr. Mohammad Niyas, of the Rotary club had made for us. Mr Niyas had even printed out a banner to hold ahead of the procession. So we headed off to the city centre in rain coats, and found the "Vyapari Bhavan".Click Here to Read the rest of this article

Freedom Walk Day 13 - Kalpatta to Eengappuzha

October 14, 2008 by webmaster

We have reached a place called 'Eengappuzha' and are resting at the KSEB office (courtesy Unais) . What a day! We have covered 26+ kms and 12 kms of out it was the 'Thamarassery Churam' (Thamarassery Pass). Anoop and Suraj are back in full form, and even though we didn't have any sessions this day was awesome.Click Here to Read the rest of this article

Freedom Walk Day 12 - Panamaram to Kalpatta

October 13, 2008 by webmaster

day12-150x150.jpgThis day is dedicated to two fever ridden members of the gang pushing themselves to the limits. Hats off to Sooraj and Anoop John. They inspired the rest of the Freedom Walkers and the general public with their sustained efforts.Click Here to Read the rest of this article

Freedom Walk: Day 11 - Mananthavady to Panamaram

October 12, 2008 by webmaster

Day-11-thumbnail.jpgToday saw two more members joining the group. Ashik arrived with supplies from Trivandrum and joined us at Hotel Bismillah at Mananthavaadi. Jiyo arrived from his home at Kannur. After we had breakfast , we met Suraj and Arun ( Social activist ) .Arun took a photo of us standing before the Gandhi statue in Mananthavadi, so he can get Mathrubhumi's local edition to report our progress. Azeez and Arun saw us off and we set off towards Pachilakkaadu , about four km from Panamaram. Click Here to Read the rest of this article

Freedom Walk: Day 10 - Korome to Mananthavady

October 11, 2008 by webmaster

large_dscn1691.jpgThe caretaker at the Govt. Tourist Bungalow in Korome seems to think of it as her very own palace. After much cajoling and whining, she manages to evict us at about 10am. The bill/reciept we get is a little dodgy. The rent we paid is split between "rent" and "food", with "additional" scrawled illegibly somewhere in between. Definitely worth reporting to the management.Click Here to Read the rest of this article

Freedom Walk: Day 9 - Thottilpaalam to Korome

October 10, 2008 by webmaster

large_DSCN1650.JPGThe KSEB office is not exactly conducive to slumber. The phone rings regularly, even at unearthly hours, and the night staff seem to be quite busy here. The entrance to the office is guarded by a steel roll-shutter, which is opened and shut a few times during the night. Finally though, its time to wake up for real, and we're soon on the road. Click Here to Read the rest of this article

Freedom Walk: Day 8 - Kuttiyadi to Thottilpaalam

October 9, 2008 by webmaster

large_DSCN1249.JPGToday is Maha navami day. All educational institutions are shut. According to Hindu custom, students would have put their reading material before the deity of Durga devi (Goddess). Today we intend to cover as much ground as we can, so we start out early. A strong cup of tea at 7am helps us pick up the pace, and we set off with vigor, intent on covering as much ground as we can. Walking early is, unsurprisingly, very easy, and we cover a good amount of ground, without tiring much. Breakfast is from "Vilyappalli" - literally "Big Holy Place" - in this case, perhaps a reference to the local Muslim Masjid.Click Here to Read the rest of this article

Freedom Walk: Day 7 - Mahe to Kuttiyadi

October 8, 2008 by webmaster

large_dscn1096.jpgThe faculty at "Kalagrammam" are fondly called by their name, followed by "Maash". For non-Indian readers: "Maash", is a corruption of the word "Master", which was the form of address towards teachers in the good old days of the British Raj. M.V. Devan, ideologue of Malayalam modernist painting thus becomes "Devan Maash", Mahesh Mangalat becomes "Mahesh Maash", Chaalakkara Purussu becomes "Chaalakkara Maash" and so on. "Mahesh Maash" and "Chaalakkara Maash" calls on us at the guest house in the morning. "Chaalakkara Maash" is also a reporter for the local "Kerala Kowmudhi" newspaper. An impromptu interview is arranged. Click Here to Read the rest of this article

Freedom Walk: Day 6 - Mulathilangady to Mahe

October 7, 2008 by webmaster

large_DSCN0921.JPGMorning dawns early, especially for happily fed mosquitoes. The misery at the Panchayat Hall is rather frustrating, but good for the trek. We exit the building rather quickly. "Rajmohan Maash” meets us at the building just before we leave. He has come all the way from home, a few miles away, just to say hello.Click Here to Read the rest of this article

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