TOP 10 for all categories will be given Linux Manipur T-Shirts. For those who couldn't win any prize there will be a lucky draw, the lucky participant will be given Linux Books. FREE Linux CDs, Linux Manuals and Souvenir for ALL participants.

Before we start talking we would like to thank our generous contributors, without whom we won't have been able to prepare an event of this kind. These names we don't and won't forget are given in the link: www.linux-manipur.org/contributors.htm

Readers of E-Pao, please inform your friends back home, that we are conducting this event for them. We are charging no registration fees; the forms are available for free. This event will be a not-Imphal-centric one; this event will not have a chief guest.

Started with a mere simple mail to E-Pao, some time in Feb 2005; with only a handful die-hard faithful few who kept the group alive for the last two years, we have come this far. The coming of fresh young blood added josh and magic to the group, and we are going all out to make IT empowered by GNU/Linux happen in the home front.

We are a not-for-profit virtual group, and by not-for-profit it does not mean we are an NGO or something of its kind; we get no funds. Whatever we do, putting in our time, energy and money, we are not doing it for any profitable business. We are a bunch of like-minded Manipuris from across the country, striving to spread technical knowledge, raising awareness about the need to spread knowledge.

There is no boss, president or anything of that sort in our group; anybody who takes the initiative takes the lead. Everybody in the group came forward on their own voluntarily; ours is a group that is not premised on "what's-in-it-for-me" approach; we share not just software, but also knowledge, information and above all, a helpful attitude.

In the movie, 'Scent of a Woman', there's a scene where Al Pacino asks a girl to dance and she replies, "I can't, my boyfriend will be here any minute now". To which Al responds, "A life is lived in an instant". Then they dance to a tango.

Many of us live our lives running behind time, but we only reach it when we die of a heart attack or in a car accident rushing to be on time. Others are so anxious of living the future that they forget to live the present, which is the only time that truly exists. We all have equal time throughout the world. No one has more or less. The difference lies in how each one of us does with our time. We need to live each moment. As John Lennon said, "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans".

We are now trying to reach out to the newer generation of Manipur from the hills and valley alike, who are living on the razor's edge - somewhere in between their world of hopes/dreams and the state of our homeland which is getting paralysed in every front; to show them what Computers and Linux is all about, and give them hopes.

"You may say I am a dreamer, but I am not the only one. I hope someday you will join us, and the world will live as one."

We are making the form available in all the nine districts of Manipur, the following are the names of the form outlets. (You can also download the form from here and submit to any of the outlets below.)

FORM OUTLETS IN MANIPUR:

BISHENPUR: Cards and Gifts Shop, Bishenpur (9862232346); Bishenpur Public School, Bishenpur; BK Electronics (Near Laxmi Medicals), Moirang (9856112822).

CHANDEL: St Peter, Chandel; St George School, Moreh; St Paul School, Palel.

CHURACHANDPUR: Don Bosco School, Churchandpur.

IMPHAL EAST: Down Town Tutorial Center, Near Sainik School, Pangei (9436278554); Koubru Cyber Cafe, Konung Mamang (9862033572); Roy's Car Wash, Lairekyengbam Leikai (Near Lamlong bridge) (9863145029); Stationery Shop, Near Phutiba Press, Lamlong Bazaar (9856142728); Don Bosco, Chingmeirong (2422083).

IMPHAL WEST: Chirom Brothers, Singjamei; Sangai Enterprises, Kwakeithel; ITCTC, RIMS Road (2411135); Motijan Stores, Keishampat; AITECT, Sagolband Tera Tongbram Leikai (9856292981); GNET, Thangal Bazar (2440759).

SENAPATI: Don Bosco, Senapati; Don Bosco College, Mao.

TAMENGLONG: Don Bosco School, Tamenglong.

THOUBAL: IRE, Wangjing; KM Blooming Eng School, Khangabok; Sofia school, Thoubal; Evergreen Flower School, Thoubal.

UKHRUL: Sacred Heart Higher Secondary School, Hundung, Ukhrul.

OTHER IMPHAL OUTLETS: DBS (Imphal, Lanjing), NBS, LFS, St Joshep's, TG, St George's, Brighter, Havard, CC, Johnstone, DM Coll, GP Coll, Imphal Coll, MIT-Engg Coll, CEDTI (Akampat), MU, MECI, KV (Lamphel, Lanjing), MPS etc

Some answers to questions you might frequently ask are:

FAQs:

1) What is Linux Manipur all about?
Linux Manipur is a virtual organisation, where main interaction is done via the Internet. It's bunch of like-minded Manipuris from across the country and abroad, most of us haven't seen each other in person, our common passion got us together and we are striving to spread technical knowledge, raising awareness about the need to spread knowledge. Primary aim is to make awareness of Linux or Free and Open Source Software in Manipur and the North East India, help and guide the students and computer users, share knowledge, discuss technical problems etc.

2) Do I have to pay fees for the contest?
No, you don't have to.

3) From where will I get the forms?
You can download from here, from this very site.

4) My friends in Manipur want to know from where to get the forms in Manipur?
We made sure that the forms are available in all the 9 districts of Manipur, please click here to see the outlets in Manipur.

5) Do I have to have any qualification to participate in the contest?
For the Junior and Senior Categories, you have to. But for the Open we are *not* restricting so much on the tag and qualification, the kind of protocol we find everywhere, we believe that one need not have them to be a good programmer, you can be a college-drop-out but a genius in programming, please feel free to drop us telling us something about you at [email protected], we will *make sure* that you are able to attend the contest, we do really encourage you.

6) Will I get GNU/Linux CDs from the event?
Yes, every participant will be given GNU/Linux CDs for FREE.

7) What time does the event start?
On the 20th of May the inaugural function begins at 9:30 AM. However, the registrations will start much earlier at around 8:00 AM.

8) How do I get to the venue?
Make your route to Chingmeirong, Sangakpham Bazar. From there Don Bosco School, is just about 30 meters walk. Please go to the Old Building of Don Bosco.

9) How early do I have to come to the venue on the day of the contest?
It's always better to come as early as possible to the conference venue, as registration and settling down will take some time.

10) Will I be provided accommodation if I come from a far away district?
So far no plan is there for accommodation for the participants. But if you really have a problem, please do mail us at [email protected] telling us your genuine inconvenience, we will try to find ways to arrange for accomodation. We are not promising anything, but we will surely try.

11) I would like to volunteer my services for smooth functioning of the event. What do I do?
You could mail us at [email protected]. But, please note, if you register as a volunteer there is a very slight chance that you may actually get to participate the contest. Being a volunteer is quite a demanding thing.

12) If I volunteer, will I get paid?
No. There is no pay for a volunteer. Your help will be a noble contribution for the cause. We will give a Linux Manipur T-Shirt, lots of love and gratitude. You selfless contribution will surely be acknowledged.

13) I am Bill Gates! Can I contribute?
Yes, sure. But mind you, we gonna talk the evil side of Micro$oft - your closed source and monopoly philosophy.

14) How do I join Linux Manipur?
Please send a mail to [email protected]

15) How do I join the Linux Manipur mailing list?
Please go to our URL: http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/linux-manipur/ or by just sending a mail to [email protected] or [email protected]

16) I just discovered GNU/Linux. Could you help me install this thing on my Windows PC?
Please mail your queries or request for GNU/Linux CDs to our mailing list.

Venue Provided by	Event Endorsed by	Event Supported by
Don Bosco, Imphal	www.e-pao.net	Contributors and Form Outlets