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Srinagar, November 01 (Scoop News)- The National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar on Friday officially launched its campus chapter of the Free and Open-Source Software (FOSS) initiative with a day-long event titled “FOSSConnect: The Open-Source Gallery Talk.”
The event marked a significant step toward integrating open-source learning, collaboration, and innovation within the institute’s academic and technical ecosystem.
The inaugural ceremony was attended by Prof. Mohammad Abid Bazaz, Dean Students’ Welfare; Dr. Shabir Ahmad Sofi, Head, Department of Information Technology; Er. Mustafa Zargar, Scientific/Technical Officer; and Mr. Vishal Arya, Program Director, FOSS United Foundation and other dignitaries. The launch drew participation from over 120 students and faculty members.
In his inaugural address, Prof. Mohammad Abid Bazaz said that the launch of FOSS NIT Srinagar was a timely step toward building a more self-reliant and collaborative academic culture.
“The open-source movement encourages students to learn beyond classrooms, to innovate, and to build solutions for real-world problems. It is a culture of openness and contribution, not consumption,” he said.
Prof. Bazaz added that the initiative aligns with NIT Srinagar’s vision of equipping students with practical, community-driven technical skills.
Dr. Shabir Ahmad Sofi, Head of the Department of Information Technology, highlighted the department’s commitment to supporting open-source education.
“Open source is no longer a niche domain, it is the foundation of today’s software ecosystem. Our students must not only use but also contribute to these platforms. This collaboration with FOSS United will give them the exposure and discipline needed to engage with global developer communities,” he said.
Er. Mustafa Zargar, Scientific/Technical Officer, said the event demonstrates the growing interest of young technologists in developing transparent and accessible software solutions.
“The FOSS culture promotes creativity and technical independence. It teaches students to think critically and work collaboratively — qualities that are essential in any engineering discipline,” he remarked.
Vishal Arya, Program Director of FOSS United Foundation, who was the guest of honour, emphasized the foundation’s broader vision of strengthening India’s open-source ecosystem through campus initiatives.
“FOSS United’s mission is to make every educational institution a hub of open innovation. We want to see more young developers building tools that benefit society at large. NIT Srinagar’s chapter will be an important contributor to this vision,” Arya said.
During the event, the official FOSS NIT Srinagar T-shirt was also unveiled, symbolizing the formal launch of the club’s operations.
Following the inauguration, the technical sessions began with “Git Set Go”, a hands-on workshop and hackathon held at PF-2 near Central Chinar.
The session focused on version control, Git workflows, and collaborative coding practices using GitHub. Students were guided through real-time exercises on repository management and pull requests.
The afternoon sessions included “FixIt: Certificate Generator Edition” and the “OpenBuild Challenge”, where students collaboratively developed open-source tools and mini-projects. These activities aimed to foster teamwork, technical skill-building, and problem-solving through open development methods.
The FOSS NIT Srinagar chapter, part of FOSS United’s Clubs Program, will receive mentorship, educational support, and annual funding of up to ₹50,000 to organize hackathons, coding workshops, and open-source development projects.
Organizers said the event marks the beginning of a long-term effort to make NIT Srinagar a key contributor to India’s open-source network.
“We are building a community where learning, coding, and sharing go hand in hand,” said one of the student coordinators.
A team of students from the Central University of Kashmir (CUK) also participated in the event and was declared the winner of the Ideathon. Two student teams from NIT Srinagar secured the second and third positions, respectively.
Organizers said they expect student developers from other institutions across Kashmir to join the FOSS NIT Srinagar club in future events, strengthening inter-campus collaboration in open-source development.
Akshit Bhardwaj, Team Lead, FOSS Club, presented a formal vote of thanks. He expressed gratitude to all dignitaries, guests, and participants for making the event a success.
Akshit acknowledged the support of the institute’s administration, the Department of Information Technology, and FOSS United Foundation for enabling the launch of the campus chapter.
“This is just the start of our journey towards creating a vibrant open-source community on campus,” he said, adding that future activities will focus on hackathons, coding workshops, and collaborative projects aimed at contributing to global open-source ecosystems.
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