This talk will be a walk down memory lane - sort of an oral history that will trace the evolution and tell the story behind the Bangalore & India Linux User Groups. It will be told by someone who has been one of the earliest users of FOSS in India (starting ca 1995) and part of the community in its formative years. It will discuss the trails and tribulations and how people from diverse backgrounds came together to build one of the largest tech communities in India. The talk will seeks to identify the critical success factors in the development of the community and how similar communities can be formed now.