Yesterday I went to MET (Maharastra Education Trust) college at Bandra in Mumbai to deliver a key note address on “Introduction to Free Software Movement” for Tech@MET festival. I looked at a verse written in their handout that fits very well with free software and free knowledge movement. The verse in Sanskrit is as follows: (Find the English Translation below)
न चौर हार्यम न च राज हार्यम |
न भ्रात्रभाज्यम न च भारकारी ||
व्यये कृते वर्धते नित्यं |
विद्या धनं सर्वे धनं प्रधानम् ||
Knowledge can neither be stolen by a thief, nor snatched by a king.
It is indivisible unlike ancestral property, it never burdens the bearer,
it multiplies manifold when offered to others.
Knowledge is the supreme form of wealth.
The college does not seem to use free software as of now, but has intentions to use. The vice chairman of the MET trust Mr. Sunil G. Karve mentioned that free software goes well with their philosophy. I do hope, it will eventually go well with their practice as well.
If any of you know the exact source of this verse, please let me know.
