Manoj Kanakam
My FOSS Journey with Swecha Telangana
Introduction
My journey into the world of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) began with a strong desire to learn, build, and contribute to meaningful, community-driven projects. Over the past year, I’ve been actively involved with Swecha Telangana, where I not only developed my technical skills but also discovered the power of open-source collaboration and grassroots innovation.
How It All Started
It all started when I attended the Industry-Oriented Summer Internship on Data Science and Full Stack Development, organized by Swecha Telangana from 18th May to 3rd June 2023. This program gave me a strong foundation in web development, backend technologies, and data handling — and more importantly, introduced me to the FOSS ecosystem and its values.
Following that, I took part in a 7-day Bootcamp at Swecha’s office. It served as an extension of the summer camp and gave me hands-on experience working in a collaborative environment, solving real-world problems, and understanding how open-source tools can be used to build impactful tech solutions.
Becoming a Volunteer
After these initial programs, I was inspired to stay connected and started volunteering for Swecha. This opened doors to a variety of projects and initiatives, allowing me to contribute not just as a learner, but as a part of something larger than myself.
One of the most impactful events I was part of was the Leadership Development Program — a 3-day session where I learned about Linux System Administration, Shell Scripting, and Cluster Computing. It pushed me to think beyond just programming and understand how large-scale systems are managed and optimized in open environments.
Contributing to Telugu LLM
Another highlight of my journey was participating in the Chandamama Kathalu DataThon. During this event, we digitized a large volume of Telugu textbooks and structured the data to train a Telugu Large Language Model (LLM). It was fascinating to work on a project that combined culture, language, and AI — something that aims to make technology accessible in regional languages.
To celebrate this milestone, I took up the role of Main Coordinator for a Concert organized at our college. It was an effort to blend culture and technology, and bring attention to the importance of open-source efforts like the Datathon.
Working on Panini Cluster
Later, I helped organize a workshop on the Panini Cluster, which is designed to be the backbone for training future iterations of the Telugu LLM. It gave me a deeper understanding of the compute infrastructure behind AI training, and how we can build sustainable, open alternatives to commercial cloud platforms.
Social Impact: Volunteering Beyond Tech
Apart from tech, I also actively volunteered at multiple medical camps organized by Swecha. Supporting these camps helped me realize how technology and logistics can directly serve the community — whether through digitization, coordination, or outreach. It felt great to contribute to real change on the ground.
Where I Am Now
Currently, I’m working as an intern at Swecha Telangana, where I continue to contribute to open-source projects, organize events, and explore ways in which technology can be used for social good. From writing code to managing teams, from AI to community welfare — this journey has transformed the way I look at both tech and society.
What FOSS Means to Me
For me, FOSS is not just about sharing code. It's about sharing knowledge, amplifying voices, and building tools that empower people. It’s about making technology accessible, culturally relevant, and deeply rooted in values of freedom and collaboration.