Abhas Abhinav, a long-time member of the Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) community in India, has been promoting open source through various initiatives, including the Mostly Harmless USB disk containing multiple live and installable operating systems. He has also been involved in distributing liberated hardware products through LibreTech.Shop, such as mobile phones with LineageOS, wireless routers with OpenWRT, and computers with Coreboot. Despite the challenges of financial viability and the blurring lines between free and proprietary software, Abhinav remains committed to increasing access to free software and educating others about its benefits.

Goa's complex history under Portuguese rule and its subsequent liberation through Operation Vijay is explored, highlighting the region's unique cultural and legal legacy. The article discusses the political and social changes post-liberation, including the influence of Portuguese laws, the rise of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, and the current political landscape influenced by the BJP. The narrative also touches on the renewed interest in Portuguese language and citizenship, the role of women in Goan society, and the high migration rates. Key figures such as Antonio Costa, Pramod Sawant, and Suresh Kanekar are mentioned, reflecting on their contributions and perspectives.

The article explores the complex history and current dynamics of religious conversion and communalism in Goa. It highlights the historical context of Portuguese colonial rule and its impact on religious demographics, the decline of the Catholic population, and the rise of evangelical groups. The piece also critiques the BJP's political strategies and communal tactics, while discussing the roles of various historical and contemporary figures. The future of Goa's religious and political landscape is seen as dependent on the interplay between good intentions and vested interests.

Women's groups in Goa, including Bailancho Ekvott and the Muslim Women's Association, emphasize the need for justice over uniformity in the debate on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC). They argue for more time to deliberate on the UCC, highlighting the complexities of family laws and the need for gender-just provisions. The groups express concerns about losing positive aspects of Goa's current laws and stress the importance of informed consultative processes. The Modi Government's push for the UCC is seen as potentially contentious, with calls for a focus on substantive equality and access to justice.

Goa, once the site of Asia's first Gutenberg-style printing press in 1556, now struggles with publishing, particularly for local and non-mainstream authors. The indie publishing venture Goa 1556, despite challenges such as limited distribution and readership, has produced over 150 titles in 15 years, focusing on non-fiction and local stories. The article discusses the broader issues of regional publishing in India, the impact of policies like demonetisation and GST, and the decline of the National Book Trust's role in promoting publishing skills. It emphasizes the importance of regional knowledge and the need for more local publishing to enrich the subcontinent's understanding and expression.

Open access (OA) aims to make scholarly research freely available online, reducing barriers to access. This initiative is particularly beneficial for developing countries like India, where financial resources are limited. Subbiah Arunachalam, a prominent advocate for OA in India, emphasizes the importance of making scientific knowledge accessible to all to foster further advancements. Despite resistance, OA has gained acceptance, supported by major funders like the Wellcome Trust and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Arunachalam also advocates for preprints to facilitate knowledge exchange and highlights the need for more robust OA initiatives in India. Various models of OA, such as Green, Gold, Hybrid, Bronze, Diamond, and Black, offer different approaches to making research accessible. Indian institutions like the Indian Institute of Science have made strides in OA, but more efforts are needed to ensure widespread adoption and compliance with OA mandates.

The article highlights the impact of a single book on the life of Dr. Parthasarathy, a prominent figure in the open source software community. It recounts his journey from receiving his first Linux book from Thaths Chandrasekhar to becoming a dedicated promoter of FOSS. Dr. Partha's contributions to the field, including his work on 'Linux in a Teaspoon' and his advocacy for free and open source software, are detailed. The narrative also touches on the broader history and significance of Linux and open source software in India and globally.

The BJP secured a significant victory in Goa's Assembly elections, winning 20 out of 40 seats, despite initial predictions of a hung Assembly. The party's success is attributed to strategic defections from the Congress and vote splitting by other parties like the Trinamool Congress and Aam Aadmi Party. The BJP's ability to adapt and take bold gambles, such as promising to resolve Goa's mining crisis and inducting leaders from other parties, played a crucial role. The Congress, despite some gains, continued to struggle with defections and a declining vote share. The BJP's internal dynamics and the role of key political figures were also highlighted.

Goa's coastline is crucial due to the state's dependence on fisheries and coastal tourism. The protection of coastal habitats is a significant concern, especially with global heating and sea level rise threatening coastal and low-lying areas. Large parts of Goa are predicted to face devastating coastal flooding by the end of the century, exacerbated by coastal infrastructure and ecosystem destruction.

The Congress party in Goa is hesitant to name a chief ministerial candidate before the February 14 elections, fearing internal conflict and defections that have plagued the party since the BJP took power in 2012. Despite winning more seats in the 2017 elections, Congress was outmaneuvered by the BJP, which formed the government. The party now hopes to capitalize on anti-BJP sentiment and has introduced many new, younger candidates. The political landscape in Goa is influenced by local interest groups, caste networks, and business interests. The BJP, post-Parrikar, is trying to maintain its strategies and alliances. Other parties like the AAP, Trinamool Congress, and Revolutionary Goans are also vying for power, potentially splitting the anti-BJP vote.

The Free Software Foundation (FSF) will present its 2021 awards at the LibrePlanet conference in March 2022, recognizing significant contributors to free software. The awards honor individuals and projects that advance free software, provide social benefits, or are outstanding new contributors. Past recipients include CiviCRM, Alyssa Rosenzweig, Bradley Kuhn, Let's Encrypt, OpenStreetMap, and many others who have made notable contributions to the free software community. The FSF continues to promote computer user freedom and defend software user rights globally.

Frederick Noronha, an Open Source contributor and Wikipedian, pens an open letter to Maryana Iskander, the incoming CEO of the Wikimedia Foundation, expressing concerns about Wikipedia's systemic bias, barriers to participation, and the shift away from its volunteer model. He highlights the difficulties faced by contributors from the Global South and urges for a fairer system that values diverse forms of knowledge. Noronha calls for the removal of roadblocks to fulfill Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales's vision of providing free access to all human knowledge.

The article examines the evolving relationship between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Goa Church as the 2022 Assembly elections approach. It highlights the historical context of their alliance, the Church's cautious political stance, and recent criticisms against the BJP for corruption and controversial projects. The article also discusses the potential impact of new political entrants like the Trinamool Congress and Aam Aadmi Party on the election outcomes.

Goa's political landscape is marked by instability and frequent party-switching, leading to a complex and uncertain environment ahead of the 2022 Assembly elections. The BJP, despite being weakened and lacking strong leadership, remains a significant player due to its power and strategic alliances. The Congress, historically dominant, faces challenges from new entrants like the Aam Aadmi Party and Trinamul, which could disrupt traditional power dynamics. Alliances and social coalitions will be crucial in determining the election outcome, with the potential for significant shifts in power.

Software developers globally have collaborated to create the World Flood Mapping Tool, an open-source online tool designed to predict and understand floods better. Developed by UNU-INWEH with support from Google and MapBox, the tool uses big Earth data, AI models, and cloud computing to produce accurate historical inundation maps from 1985 onwards. It aims to aid urban and agricultural planning, flood defenses, disaster readiness, and supply chain vulnerability identification. The tool will soon be open-sourced and is expected to enhance flood mitigation, emergency response, and public awareness. Future plans include a Web-based Spatial Decision Support System to address information gaps in flood early warning and risk management systems.

Goa, 1556, a small independent publisher focused on Goan writing, has faced significant challenges during the pandemic, exacerbating existing issues in the local publishing industry. Despite these hurdles, the organization has innovated with digital formats, Creative Commons licensing, and crowdfunding to sustain its operations. The article highlights the broader struggles of the publishing industry in Goa, including inadequate printing facilities, limited market size, and insufficient government support. It underscores the importance of hyper-local publishing and the need for sustainable models to ensure the survival and growth of local literature.

A short story about a boy named Henry, who was named by his great-grandmother after a relative she allegedly had an affair with. The narrative unfolds in a small, intimate setting, capturing the essence of a slow, hazy night filled with local color and sensory details.

Goa's unique citizenship issues have come to the forefront amid the CAA-NRC debate. The state's Christian community has been reassured by the BJP that the CAA will not adversely affect them. Historical migration patterns, particularly to Karachi, have led to ongoing citizenship and visa challenges for Goans. The Enemy Property Act and the manner in which Goa joined the Indian Union in 1961 further complicate matters. Many Goans face difficulties obtaining Indian citizenship or passports due to their or their ancestors' migration history. The issue of statelessness also emerged when Goans were expelled from Uganda and Malawi in the 1970s. Despite efforts, the Indian government has not granted Goa the authority to issue citizenship certificates to those of Goan origin born abroad.

A personal narrative recounting the author's first encounter with the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHTs) through a Bengali friend at Brandeis University in 1984. The story highlights the author's initial introduction to the region and its people, providing a glimpse into the cultural and historical context of the CHTs.