Centre for Internet and Society

Access to Knowledge Bulletin — November 2013

praskrishna — 2014-02-25T13:41:04Z

The Access to Knowledge (Wikipedia) newsletter for the month of November 2013:

CIS-A2K Narrative ReportThis narrative report captures the work done by the A2K program during the period of September 2012 to June 2013. It examines projects and activities and its impact and outcomes over a period of the initial Ten months of the Grant. This report will also inform CIS-A2K program’s strategy for the next one year to achieve the goals set out by its donor, Wikimedia Foundation, and goals listed in our Work Plans (which were developed in consultation with the Wikimedia community in India). Importantly, this Narrative Report is critical for the Wikimedia community in India, Global Wikimedia community and the Wikimedia Foundation to get a comprehensive overview of A2K’s work and to critically assess the A2K program’s eligibility for further support. The report compiled by by T. Vishnu Vardhan, Nitika Tandon and Subhashish Panigrahi can be accessed at http://bit.ly/1dFyjpO.
► Announcements

CIS Signs MoU with Christ University, Bangalore (November 20, 2013): The Access to Knowledge team signed a MoU as part of which CIS-A2K and Christ University will impart Wikipedia education in Indian classrooms: http://bit.ly/1ehr8kz.
We are happy to share with you that Rahmanuddin Shaik has been selected for the role of "Community Communications Consultant" at CIS-A2K! Rahmanuddin is an active contributor on Wikimedia Commons, Telugu Wikipedia and Telugu Wikisource: http://bit.ly/1bwrEu3.

►Articles

ಅಂತರ್ಜಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ನೆಟ್ಟ ಸಸಿಗೆ ಈಗ ಹತ್ತು ವರ್ಷ (by Dr. U.B. Pavanaja, Kannada Prabha, November 1, 2013): http://bit.ly/17LOw4O. The article highlights 10 years of Kannada Wikipedia, the current status of the Kannada Wikipedia vis-a-vis number of articles, number of editors, active editors, and page views per month.
Train The Trainer Programme for Wikipedians (by Subhashish Panigrahi, DNA, November 14, 2013):http://bit.ly/ILwLMr. The article was edited by Rohini Lakshane of DNA.

►Blog Entries

Train the Trainer Program (by Subhashish Panigrahi, November 18, 2013): http://bit.ly/18hjw0n.
Konkani Vishwakosh Under CC-BY-SA (by Nitika Tandon, November 26, 2013): http://bit.ly/1gnVV2z.

► Events Organised

Wikipedia Orientation Programme for MA Students (Christ University, Bangalore, November 12, 2013): http://bit.ly/ItxAtu. Syed Muzammiluddin was the trainer. Twenty students participated.

Wikipedia Orientation Programme for the Second Language Students (Christ University, Bangalore, November 12, 13, 16 and 19, 2013): http://bit.ly/1bxsOYF. T. Vishnu Vardhan, Syed Muzammiluddin and Dr. U.B.Pavanaja were the trainers. About 1200 second language students participated in the programme.
Documentation and Wikipedia Contribution — A One Day Workshop (Kalinga Institute of Social Studies, Bhubaneswar, November 14, 2013). The workshop was conducted by Subhashish Panigrahi: http://bit.ly/1fSvl1v.
Documentation and Wikipedia Workshop (Kalinga School of Management, Bhubaneswar, November 16, 2013): http://bit.ly/Imf0DV. Subhashish Panigrahi conducted the workshop.
Konknni Wikipedia Workshop (organised by Dalgado Konknni Akademi and CIS-A2K, Goa Central State Library, November 16 and 17, 2013): http://bit.ly/1fSwiH5.
Tenth Anniversary of Wikipedia (H N Multimedia Hall, National College, Basavanagudi, Bangalore, November 17, 2013): http://bit.ly/1eJ6da9. Dr. U R Ananthamurthy, Prof. G. Venkatasubbiah and Ravi Hegde were the guests of honour. Dr. U.B. Pavanaja conducted the workshop.
First Phase of Odia Wikipedia Workshop (Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Bhubaneswar, November 18, 2013): http://bit.ly/18doDer. Subhashish Panigrahi conducted the workshop.
Konkani Wikipedia Workshop (Nirmala Institute of Education, Goa, November 19, 2013): http://bit.ly/1fSAUwT. Nitika Tandon conducted the event.
Konkani Vishwakosh: Doubt Solving Session I (Goa Central State Library, November 26, 2013): http://bit.ly/1gnVV2z. Nitika Tandon conducted the session.
Konkani Vishwakosh: Doubt Solving Session II (Goa Central State Library, November 28, 2013): http://bit.ly/1gnVV2z. Nitika Tandon conducted the session.
Editing Sprint for Vishwakosh (Goa Central, State Library, November 30, 2013): http://bit.ly/1gnVV2z. Nitika Tandon conducted the event.

► Event Co-organised

The Relaunch of Creative Commons India (co-organised by Wikimedia India, Acharya Narendra Dev College and CIS, India Islamic Cultural Centre, November 12, 2013): http://bit.ly/HPxrAO. Dr. Shashi Tharoor, Minister of State for Human Resource Development was the chief guest at the event.

► Event Participated In

Wikimedia Diversity Conference (organized by German Wikipedia Community, GLS Campus, Berlin): http://bit.ly/Ixr9W8. T. Vishnu Vardhan was a speaker at this event and made a presentation on the challenges and opportunities for the Wikimedia movement in India.

► Media Coverage CIS gave its inputs for the following media coverage:

Kannada Wikipedia and its Tenth Anniversary (RadioCity, November 2, 2013): http://bit.ly/1dHEwBI.
Indian Govt to Build Machine Translation System for 22 Indic Languages (by Brindaalakshmi, Medianama, November 14, 2013): http://bit.ly/J4qg7V. CIS MoU with Goa University is mentioned.
10th anniversary of Kannada wikipedia (by ND Shiva Kumar, The Times of India, November 15, 2013): http://bit.ly/IxqDr7.
Tenth Anniversary of Kannada Wikipedia (Udayavani, November 15, 2013): http://bit.ly/1aFwqF1.
ಕನ್ನಡ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯಕ್ಕೆ ಈಗ ದಶಮಾನೋತ್ಸವ. ಅದರ ಪ್ರಯುಕ್ತ ಒಂದು ಆಚರಣೆ (Avadhi Website, November 16, 2013): http://bit.ly/ImiBSy.
ಕನ್ನಡ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯಗೆ 10, ಬೆಳವಣಿಗೆ ಸಾಲದು: ಪ್ರೊ .ಜಿವಿ (OneindiaKannada, November 17, 2013): http://bit.ly/19blS17.
Tenth Anniversary of Kannada Wikipedia (Vijayavani, November 17, 2013): http://bit.ly/1b7exSa.
ಕನ್ನಡ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯಕ್ಕೆ ದಶಮಾನೋತ್ಸವ ಸಂಭ್ರಮ (Prajavani, November 18, 2013): http://bit.ly/1hWtt9v.
ಕನ್ನಡದ ಆನ್‌ಲೈನ್ ವಿಶ್ವಕೋಶ ದುರ್ಬಲ (Vijaya Karnataka, November 19, 2013): http://bit.ly/1hWtsCy.
Panaji: DKA organizes two day Konkani Wikipedia workshop (Daijiworld, November 18, 2013): http://bit.ly/1inoi03.

Wikimedia Foundation has funded A2K to anchor the growth of Wikimedia movement in India. The A2K team consists of six members, four based in Bangalore: T. Vishnu Vardhan, Dr. U.B. Pavanaja, Subhashish Panigrahi and Muzammiluddin Syed, one member Nitika Tandon in Delhi and one Advisor Dr. Tejaswini Niranjana. Archives of our newsletters can be accessed here (http://cis-india.org/about/newsletters). Wikipedians from various communities can request for outreach programs, technical bugs, logistics-merchandize and media, public relations and communications at http://bit.ly/TOcXId.

About CIS
The Centre for Internet and Society is a non-profit research organization that works on policy issues relating to freedom of expression, privacy, accessibility for persons with disabilities, access to knowledge and IPR reform, and openness (including open government, FOSS, open standards, etc.), and engages in academic research on digital natives and digital humanities.
Follow us elsewhere

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CISA2K
CIS group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/cis.india
Visit us at: https://cis-india.org

Support Us
Please help us defend consumer / citizen rights on the Internet! Write a cheque in favour of ‘The Centre for Internet and Society’ and mail it to us at No. 194, 2nd ‘C’ Cross, Domlur, 2nd Stage, Bengaluru – 5600 71.

Request for Collaboration:
We invite researchers, practitioners, and theoreticians, both organisationally and as individuals, to collaboratively engage with Internet and society and improve our understanding of this new field. To discuss the research collaborations, write to Sunil Abraham, Executive Director, at sunil@cis-india.org or Nishant Shah, Director – Research, at nishant@cis-india.org. To discuss collaborations on Indic language wikipedia, write to T. Vishnu Vardhan, Programme Director, A2K, at vishnu@cis-india.org

CIS is grateful to its donors, Wikimedia Foundation, Ford Foundation, Privacy International, UK, Hans Foundation and the Kusuma Trust which was founded by Anurag Dikshit and Soma Pujari, philanthropists of Indian origin, for its core funding and support for most of its projects.

For more details visit https://cis-india.org/about/newsletters/access-to-knowledge-bulletin-november-2013

CIS-A2K Narrative Report (September 2012 – June 2013)

Vishnu Vardhan, Nitika Tandon and Subhashish Panigrahi — 2013-11-30T11:18:56Z

This narrative report captures the work done by the Access to Knowledge (CIS-A2K) team in the first ten months of the grant. The report also throws some light on the CIS-A2K program strategy in the next one year.

This narrative report was originally published on the Wikipedia page. Access it here.

Background to the Access to Knowledge Programme

The Wikimedia Foundation approved a grant to support the growth of Indian language Wikimedia communities to the Centre for Internet & Society (CIS) to expand their Access to Knowledge program (A2K) in India. The grant enabled CIS to work with the Wikimedia community of volunteers in India to expand upon Wikimedia’s Indic language free knowledge projects, including Wikipedia in Indic languages. Further, the grant aims to generate improvements in India-relevant free knowledge in Wikimedia’s English projects and wider distribution of Wikimedia’s free knowledge within India.

Section A: Introduction

Objective of the Narrative Report

This narrative report captures the work done by the A2K program during the period of September 2012 to June 2013. It examines projects and activities and its impact and outcomes over a period of the initial Ten months of the Grant. This report will also inform CIS-A2K program’s strategy for the next one year to achieve the goals set out by its donor, Wikimedia Foundation, and goals listed in our Work Plans (which were developed in consultation with the Wikimedia community in India). Importantly, this Narrative Report is critical for the Wikimedia community in India, Global Wikimedia community and the Wikimedia Foundation to get a comprehensive overview of A2K’s work and to critically assess the A2K program’s eligibility for further support.

Context

Though the mandate of the CIS-A2K program was clearly articulated before the commencement of the program, it should be noted, that the context in which the program had to undertake its work was very disturbed. Majority of the Wikimedia community in India saw CIS-A2K as an extension of the India Program as the entire team of the India Program moved into the CIS’s A2K program, except for the Director. Thus the CIS-A2K program inherited the not so conducive image of the India Program that was operational until August 2012. It should be noted that by August 2012, the Wikimedia community in India was extremely critical of the India Program’s work and achievement.[1]

Further, the community explicitly expressed lack of faith and Trust in the India Program’s method of work.[2] Thus, it is important to note that the CIS-A2K program did not start with a clean slate but had to first address multiple challenges, before it could take on active implementation of various programmatic activities. These challenges include:

building trust with the Wikimedia community in India;
building a collaborative relationship with Wikimedia India Chapter;
finding a new leadership to anchor the program that was left vacant in August 2012.

A2K Program Achievements (September 2012 to June 2013)

CIS Access to Knowledge (A2K) team started working on facilitating the improvement of Indian language Wikimedia projects with special focus on Indic Wikipedias in September 2012. Some key activities during the period of September 2012 to June 2013 are:

Number of newsletters published: 10
Number of events conducted: 49
Number of Wikipedia Education Programs conducted: 5
Number of people reached: about 1314
Number of women participants: approximately 406 (30.9%)
Number of community meet-ups & IRCs: 13
Number of sites across India where Wikimedia events were conducted: 18
Number of valid usernames: 582
Number of blogs posted: 58
Number of Print and Electronic Media mentions: 28
Number of Hackathons supported: 2
Number of community celebration events: 7
Number of Institutional partnerships: 13

CIS hired A2K Programme Director, T. Vishnu Vardhan, through an open and multi-stakeholder process of selection.[3] Representatives from Wikimedia India Chapter, Wikimedia community in India and Wikimedia Foundation were actively part of the selection process. This process was extremely critical and ensured participation of the Wikimedia community in India and the WMIN Chapter in deciding the leadership of the program.

Noted academician Dr. Tejaswini Niranjana was hired as Adviser to A2K.[4] This was done upon the request of the selection committee that was constituted for the selection of the program Director and in consultation with the WMF.

A2K proactively interacted with the WMIN Chapter Executive Committee and built collaborative working relationship.
Most of the A2K programs executed in collaboration with WMIN Chapter and community.
Began a new project on visualisation of the growth of Indic Wikipedias [5] [6] Sajjad Anwar and Sumandro are working on this. Two blog posts have been published so far. This was appreciated by the Wikimedia community in India and the WMF. Further, the WMF has expressed interest in extending these visualizations at a global level.
A2K has successfully reached out to the Wikipedians across Indian Language communities through conducting outreach programs, resolving technical bugs, supporting with required logistics, merchandise and media publicity, building public relations and communications.
Work-plans for the growth of Indic Wikipedias[7] were developed in a participatory manner with active collaboration from Wikimedia community in India and Wikimedia India Chapter Executive Committee.
Proactive open disclosure of A2K budget. and proposed revisions to the budget seeking feedback from the Wikimedia community in India towards building transparency.
CIS-A2K gave significant media visibility to Indian Language Wikipedias both in print and electronic media.

Section B: A2K Programme Impact

In discussing the A2K program’s impact we have presented below both the tangible and intangible aspects of our work.

Intangible Impact

The A2K team has left no stone unturned since the commencement of the program in September 2012 to work in a transparent manner. We have taken the following measures in being transparent:

Periodic publication of A2K work and outcomes through monthly newsletters.
Circulation of A2K monthly newsletters and notifications on various India related Wikimedia mailing lists.
Real-time listing and communication of activities on A2K Meta page.
Active documentation of all events and activities, which were published as blogs on CIS.
Prior announcements of all the events organized or supported by A2K.
Open and collaborative process of hiring Program Director.
Keeping the Wikimedia India Chapter EC in the loop on all programmatic developments since March 2013.
Proactive disclosure of A2K program budget and proposed revised budget to the Indian Wikimedia community.

In addition to this A2K has explored various possibilities of collaboration with the Indian Wikimedia community and Chapter alike. The biggest instance is the A2K Wok Planning exercise for 2013-14, where multiple stakeholders were consulted. These include

Some English-language Wikimedia community members from India;
Wikimedia India chapter Executive Committee;
Indian language Wikimedians and
A few of the Wikimedia Foundation staff.

Some of the collaborative and community building efforts of A2K were:

Support to community-led activities and facilitating community participation and ownership (e.g. Wiki Women’s Month).
Mobilization of the Indian Wikimedia community in organizing mega community events like Telugu Wiki Mahotsavam.
Engagement with WMI Chapter EC and built a collaborative relationship.
Wikipedia Education programs in 4 Indian languages done in collaboration with the local Wikimedia community.
Supporting Wikimedians in conducting outreach events.
Almost all the A2K events since February were done in collaboration with WMI Chapter and the Wikimedia community in India.
A2K team actively participated in various community meet-ups.
A2K has provided significant media visibility to Indian Language Wikipedias, especially in mainstream English press.

These transparency and collaboration efforts resulted in building trust among the Wikimedia India communities, where in they have begun to constructively engage with the A2K program’s work. This is a significant achievement since the closure of India program in August 2012. However, there are still some Wikimedians who prefer to ignore the A2K program, which indicates that the A2K program still needs to prove its worth. Thus it could be said that the A2K program has been partly successful in winning the faith of the Indian Wikimedia communities and still needs to put in more effort in this direction. The A2K team is committed to achieve this by demonstrating success through its work during the next phase of this program.

Tangible Impact

It is difficult for the CIS-A2K program to either take direct credit for the growth or direct blame for the lack of it in the Indian language Wikimedia projects. However, we believe that we have been one of the factors — and sometimes a key factor — in impacting the growth of the Wikimedia projects and communities in India since the commencement of the project.

Though the A2K program has done some amount of work with almost all Indian language Wikipedias, the A2K team has had relatively more involvement in 10 Indic languages - Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi and Telugu - during September 2012 to June 2013.

In addition to this based on the various outreach work done by A2K we have attempted to present an analysis of direct new Wikipedia users that have emerged in languages impacted by the A2K program, keeping in mind that community mobilization will always be an autonomous activity to some extent.


Graph 1: Growth of Articles in Indian Language Wikipedias from September 2012 to June 2013

The growth momentum in Indian languages over the eight month period of September 2012 to June 2013 looks healthy.
Some language Wikipedias have been growing at a phenomenal rate than others in terms of percentage change since September 2012.
Punjabi, Assamese and Odia Wikipedias have a growth rate of 82%, 59%, and 37% respectively and are the top 3 Indian language Wikipedia projects during the ten month period.
In terms of absolute number of articles, Tamil, Malayalam, Punjabi and Hindi Wikipedias have grown by about 5,812; 5,008; 3050; and 2,734 articles respectively.
However, given the small size of the Wikipedia communities in Punjabi, Nepali, Kannada, Odia and Sanskrit the growth achieved by them is much commendable and all efforts have to be put to ensure that this momentum continues by strengthening these communities and also expanding them.


Graph 2: Active Editors in Indian Language Wikipedias from September 2012 to June 2013

There is a fluctuation in the number of active editors in all Indian language Wikipedias.
The active editors on Assamese, Marathi and Gujarati Wikipedias have been consistently coming down, which is a cause of concern.
It is important to note that Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Nepali Wikipedias where the number of Active Editors were declining earlier have shown a remarkable turnaround. The efforts of the A2K program, especially in Telugu and Kannada, over the last 4 months could have resulted in this positive change.
It seems the Wikipedia Education Program, Nepal has been instrumental in bringing significant number of new active editors on Nepali Wikipedia.
Overall the active editors on Malayalam Wikipedia have crossed the 100 mark numerous times, making it the first Indian language Wikipedia to reach this benchmark. However, in month of May and June 2013 this dropped to a 2 digit figure again.
Looking at the trends Tamil Wikipedia may soon reach the 100 active editor mark.
Even Bengali community could cross 100 active editors if concerted efforts are put in.
The Assamese Wikipedia, which received support from A2K program until January 2013, had a consistent active editor population which was around 20 people. However, once the support from the A2K dwindled since February a declining trend can be noticed. One could deduce that the A2K program has had critical relevance in the growth of Assamese Wikipedia. The decline over the last 5 months also alerts us to the possibility of building dependencies on the A2K program, which is a concern that we need to address going forward.


Graph 3: Monthly growth of New Editors on Indian Language Wikipedias from September 2012 to June 2013

On an average 94 new editors have joined Indian language Wikipedias every month.
Bengali, Malayalam and Tamil Wikipedias have consistently seen more than 10 new editors joining almost every month since Jan 2013.
Hindi, Marathi and Telugu have many new editors joining per month.
Total of 849 new people have become editors for Indian language Wikipedia since Sep 2012.
However, the conversion rate of new editors into active editors is still a challenge across all Indian language Wikipedias.


Graph 4: Snapshot of “Page Views” of Indian Language Wikipedias in September 2012 & June 2013

Overall the “Page View” trends of Indian Language Wikipedias until April 2013 look positive. but since the last two months the trend is in the decline. However, it should be noted that the month on month “Page View” trends keep fluctuating.
Bengali, Tamil, Malayalam and Punjabi Wikipedias have shown highest percentage growth in page views since September 2012.
In absolute numbers Bengali Wikipedia has seen a spectacular growth of 3,000,000 page-views, Tamil and Malayalam Wikipedias witnessed a growth of about 927,150 and 365,913 a page-views respectively.
Based on the the absolute numbers of “Page Views” for Indian Wikipedias it could be speculated that there is a significant increase in demand for knowledge and information in Indian languages on the internet.

In the below given Graph 5, we have also looked at the direct impact the A2K programme had in cultivating new editors on Indian language Wikipedias through various outreach programs that conducted during September 2012 to June 2013.


Graph 5: New Editors from CIS-A2K Outreach September 2012-June 2013

It should be noted that during the 10 month period CIS-A2K reached out to a total of 1,314 participants. This is approximate 130 people per month. However, the username data for more than 700 participants could not be ascertained, due to incorrect inefficient data collection and input. This includes participants giving wrong usernames, trouble with the handwriting of some of the participants, etc. We have already taken note of this issue and have put in measures to efficiently capture the new user data. Hence, we have only presented an analysis of 582 participants, whose usernames are valid.

The analysis of this data reveals that more than 120 users have done more than 5 edits, which is about 21 per cent of the participants with valid usernames. Further, 25 participants have done more than 100 edits on English and various Indian language Wikipedias, which constitutes 4 per cent of the total participants that the A2K programme has reached out to. Further 11 users have become very active editors on Indian language Wikipedias with more than 1000 edits to their credit.

Section C: Learning and Challenges

Outreach

One of the biggest constraints with the existing outreach efforts across India including that of CIS-A2K's is that they are all based on light-touch model. We have learned that a light touch outreach with no follow up, no hand-holding, no support system will not be able to yield desired results. We need to have a thoroughly thought out well-designed outreach programs where there should be continuous interaction with the participants for a minimum of 2-3 months. CIS-A2K approach to outreach should be different from usual Wikipedia editing training. Further, any outreach with an educational institution on the lines of a "Wikipedia Education Program" requires at least 3-4 months commitment from everyone concerned (i.e. student, institution, community and CISA2K).

This in no way means diminish the importance of the light-touch model of 1/2 or 1 day Wikipedia editing training workshops, as seldom you get institutions/groups who are willing to commit to a long-term engagement. Thus a mixed approach is more pragmatic, while more energies need to put in long-term engagements.
There is a strand of criticism about effectiveness of physical outreach in general. However physical outreach for Indian languages is extremely essential as this is the lead exercise by which language communities have strengthened themselves over the years, though this has been very slow. The need to involve human element, face-to-face interaction and two-way communication is an extremely important factor of for growth of Indian language communities.
The need for each language community is different with respect to outreach. There are some communities that are more comfortable with conducting physical outreach while other communities are more efficient with outreach on social networking sites. For instance the Odia Wikipedia community where the average age of the active members is less than 25 is more active on Social Media and extensively uses it to network among themselves and to also discuss about the Wikipedia, whereas the Telugu Wikipedia is more comfortable with physical meetings and primarily uses Village Pump for all community discussions.
Based on the interaction with most of the Indian language Wikimedia communities, CIS-A2K noticed that except for some communities like Malayalam, an institutional partnership is something that might not be easily taken up by community members. This is so because it requires high level of effort, time and strong network, amongst several other things. CIS-A2K has been focusing to address this need in general and in the five focus language areas in particular.

Work Plan Development and Community Communications

Even after sending multiple invitations, it took a lot of effort by CIS-A2K to encourage the larger community to engage and participate actively in the development of language focused work plan. CIS-A2K put its best efforts in inviting the community members through meta pages, village pumps, language and city-wide mailing lists, Indian mailing list, India English mailing list, meet-ups, IRCs, social-media channels to give their valuable suggestions and feedback. However, very few community members showed interest and helped in refining the plans. Better feedback could be gathered during physical and informal meetings with the community members.
Less than 10% active volunteers across all Indian language communities are active on Meta and even less on Indian mailing lists. During some informal conversations some community members expressed that it is too much of an additional burden to also visit Meta and engage. Taking into consideration that most of the language communities have less than 20 active volunteers, pragmatically speaking it is a huge ask to expect them to actively participate on Meta or mailing lists. Thus one cannot have a uniform standard and uniform mode of communication with different language communities. Thus CIS-A2K needs to explore various means of engaging with the Wikimedia community in India and should adopt a mixed channel approach of gauging community feedback. Though this is requires additional efforts on the team.
The mediums listed show a significant effort was made to solicit feedback and participation. It's okay and understandable that strategic planning is not for everyone, that volunteers economize their time devoted to the movement. So CIS-A2K does not necessarily see it as a failure that participation was low. What CIS-A2K aimed to do was to make sure participation was solicited, encouraged, and made possible. Of course ideally we would want higher participation, but CIS-A2K is careful not to confuse and turn higher participation in strategizing into a goal in itself.
In spite of this CIS-A2K took the risk and went ahead with a participatory and continuous mode of evaluation. We foresee a challenge in actively involving the community in quarterly evaluation cycles as this would require them also to introspect. In the five focus language communities such an introspection exercise was not done systematically before and a mandatory imposition may not be productive either for the Community or for CIS-A2K. The challenge would be that in the first 2 quarterly cycles CIS-A2K could miss meeting its own evaluation criteria. However, the opportunity here is to train the community to systematically introspect, which will go a long way in strengthening the Indian language Wikipedias and the associated communities.
Some programs, especially institutional partnerships, have a higher risk of failure than others. Though CIS-A2K committed to a very granular break-down of outcomes, it may require significant revisions. Hence it is extremely important for CIS-A2K to review and revise the plans and goals every 3-4 months.

Community Engagement/Development

Indian language communities are able to grow and cultivate new editors who come from similar background as their’s. For example, we find that the Telugu community comprises primarily in the age group of 30-50 years, while on the other hand, the Odia community consists of relatively younger editors between the age group of 20-30 years. Hence, it is essential that the community building programs take this aspect into consideration and work to diversify the community mix by engaging with people belonging to varied backgrounds.
Transparency and accountability are essential to build community trust. CIS-A2K has already taken various measures in this direction. However, there are occasions when more demands are placed on CIS-A2K, which consumes a lot of CIS-A2K's time and effort. The challenge is to struck a balance between the demands of transparency and accountability and the actual work they describe.
Meetups, one-on-one meetings/talk with community members are an essential ingredient to build long-term relationship. This is especially very important for nascent language communities with few editors. These kind of personal interactions help community members to know and connect with other Wikipedians. It also helps build trust and working relationship between community members and the A2K team.
CIS-A2K recognizes the potential role of Wikimedia India Chapter in growing the Wikimedia movement in India. Though CIS-A2K's work doesn't depend on the India Chapter, there is a huge potential for collaboration between the Wikimedia India Chapter and CIS-A2K. CIS-A2K has put in its best efforts to build a cordial working relationship with the India Chapter. However, the extent of the collaboration would depend on the India Chapter's capacity and interest.

Section D: Progress Report

A detailed progress report of the A2K program activities has been presented on a monthly basis below. Most of the activities have been documented as blog posts or news-items on the CIS website. All of the A2K events, blog-posts and news-items can be seen here.

Outreach Sessions in September 2012

Note: Although most of these workshops were conducted prior to the grant period, the reports for all of these were written during September 2012:

The First Punjabi Wikipedia Workshop (by Shiju Alex and Subhashish Panigrahi, September 27, 2012). A total of 25 participants came for this workshop. There were 15 new editors (of which 13 were female).
Punjabi Wikipedia Workshop at Punjabi University, Patiala (by Shiju Alex and Subhashish Panigrahi, September 28, 2012). About 30 participants including students and teachers attended the workshop.
Punjabi Wikipedia Workshop at Amritsar (by Shiju Alex and Subhashish Panigrahi, September 30, 2012). Nearly 50 participants including students and teachers from eight different schools apart from the students and teachers of Spring Dale School attended the workshop.
Wikipedia Workshop in British Library, Chandigarh (by Subhashish Panigrahi, September 27, 2012). About 32 participants attended the session on Day 1 and 10 participants attended the session on Day 2.
Kannada Wiki Workshop at Tumkur University (Tumkur, Karnataka, September 15, 2012). About 30 participants including students and teachers participated in this workshop.
Wikipedia comes to Hyderabad! (By Noopur Raval, September 30, 2012). There was coverage in the Hindu on September 28, 2012. About 60 students participated in the event.

Outreach Sessions in October 2012

Bengaluru: A Hub for Kannada and Sanskrit Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects! (October 7, 2012, Bangalore). Nitika Tandon, Subhashish Panigrahi and Jessie Wild led the session. Seven Kannada wikipedians participated in the event.
Wikipedia workshop @ Inmantec College, Ghaziabad (by Nitika Tandon, October 19, 2012). The Access to Knowledge team was approached by Gaurav Prashar, Assistant Dean at Inmantec College, Ghaziabad to organize the workshop. Over 120 participants attended the workshop including MCA, BCA, BBA students and faculty members.
Bridging Gender Gap in Pune: WikiWomenDay 2012 Celebrated with Success! (organised by Wikipedia Club Pune at PAI International Learning Solutions, Azam Campus, Pune, October 28, 2012). Subhashish Panigrahi shares the experience in a blog post.
First Pune Odia Wikipedia Workshop Organized! (Co-organised by CIS and Pune Odia Wikipedia community, Pune, October 27, 2012). The Access to Knowledge team showed the participants the Chatasabha, a friendly desk on Odia Wikipedia and demonstrated how they can ask questions and see the answered questions. New wikipedians were connected to Facebook

Outreach Sessions in November 2012

Odia Wikipedia Workshop at AML (Academy of Media Learning, Bhubaneswar, November 10, 2012). Odia Wikipedians like Ansuman Giri, Manoranjan Behera and Diptiman Panigrahi participated in this event.
Follow up to Wikipedia Introductory Session (Bharati Vidyapeeth, Delhi, November 19, 2012). A Wikipedia introductory session was organised at Bharati Vidyapeeth Engineering College in Delhi early this year and a follow up session was organised by CIS on November 19, 2012. About 15 participants attended the follow up session.
An Odia Wikipedia Workshop at KMBB (co-organized with CIS and with Odia Wikipedians, KMBB College, Bhubaneswar November 18, 2012). The agenda for the two-and-a-half hour session was to educate students about open source movement, journey of Wikipedia and how to contribute to Odia Wikipedia and how it would help them. Nine active Odia Wikipedians joined to support this event.

Outreach Sessions in December 2012

Marathi Wiki Workshop at TISS (co-organised with the Wikimedia India Chapter, Tata Institute of Social Science, Mumbai, December 8, 2012). There were about 25 participants (MA and PhD level) and 5 conductors - Yogesh, Nikita, Moksh, Kartik and Nitika.
Wikipedia Workshop at NMAIT (NMAIT, Karkala Taluk, Karnataka December 21, 2012, co-organised in association with Metawings Institute). Subhashish Panigrahi led the session. About 170 engineering students took part in this event.
Wikipedia Workshop at SRM (SRM University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, December 17, 2012, co-organised in association with Metawings Institute). Noopur Raval participated in the event. About 40 students from different engineering colleges in Chennai participated in the workshop.

(Note: The following events were also conducted in December 2012. However, reports for these events were published later in January.)
Two-day Wiki Workshop in Goa University: An Introduction (by Nitika Tandon, January 15, 2013). The workshop was conducted on December 12 and 13, 2012 along with the Wikipedia community members for M.A. and Ph.D. students at the Goa University. Over 35 participants attended the two-day workshop.
Wikipedia in St. Xavier's College, Mapusa, Goa (by Nitika Tandon, January 19, 2013). The workshop was conducted on December 14, 2012. Over 30 participants attended the session.
Promoting GLAM in Goa (by Nitika Tandon, January 24, 2013). The Access to Knowledge team organised an introductory Galleries, Libraries, Archives, Museums (GLAM) session at Goa State Central Library on December 13, 2012. About 45 people from over 10 different GLAM institutes in Goa participated in the event.
Konkani in Wikipedia Incubator — Taking it to the Next Level (by Nitika Tandon, January 25, 2013). An introductory session on Konkani in Wikipedia was conducted at the Konkani Department in Goa University on December 12, 2012. About 30 participants took part in the event.

Outreach Session in January 2013

A Wiki Workshop at Raj Kumar Goel Institute of Technology, Ghaziabad (RKGIT, Ghaziabad, January 17, 2013). Around 65 mechanical engineering students from second and third year participated in this workshop.

Outreach Session in February 2013

Digital Literacy Workshop at Department of Arts, Delhi University (University of Delhi, February 5, 2013). A digital literacy workshop was organised at the Department of Arts, Delhi University for students pursuing their masters in Modern Indian Languages and Literary Studies on February 5, 2013. About 30 students and 4 faculty members attended the workshop.

Outreach Sessions in March 2013

Introductory Wikipedia session at BITS Goa (organised by CIS, Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani, Goa, March 7, 2013). The Access to Knowledge team was invited by Nikhil Dixit, Public Relations Officer at the Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani – Goa (BITS Goa) to organise Wikipedia session on March 7, 2013. About 30 people participated in the event.
Telugu Wikipedia Training Workshop on Women's Day (organised by CIS, Theatre Outreach Unit, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, March 8, 2013). Telugu Wikipedians Dr. Rajasekhar and Rahmanuddin alongwith T. Vishnu Vardhan led this event.
Wikipedia Workshop for Kannada Science Writers (organised by Wikimedia India Chapter, Karnataka Rajya Vijnana Parishath and CIS, Karnataka Rajya Vijnana Parishath Conference Hall, Banashankari 2nd Stage, Bangalore, March 17, 2013). Dr. U.B. Pavanaja led the event.
Kannada Wikipedia Workshop (organised by CIS, Institution of Engineers, JLB Road, Mysore, March 24, 2013). Dr. U.B. Pavanaja led this workshop.
Wikipedia Indian Languages Workshop at IIT, Bombay (organised by CIS, IIT Mumbai, March 28, 2013). Noopur Raval led the event.

Outreach Sessions in April 2013

Telugu Wikipedia Workshop (April 9, 2013 at the Centre for Good Governance, Hyderabad). Telugu Wikipedians Arjunarao, Rahmanuddin and Pavithran along with T. Vishnu Vardhan led this half-day workshop. This was organized as a pre-event to Telugu Wiki-Mahotsavam.
Telugu Wikipedia Workshop (April 11, 2013 at the Theatre Outreach Unit, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad). Telugu Wikipedians Radhkrishna and Rajachandra led this half-day workshop. This was organized as part of the Telugu Wiki-Mahotsavam.
Telugu Wikipedia Advance level Workshop (April 11, 2013 at the Theatre Outreach Unit, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad). Telugu Wikipedians Arjunarao and Rahmanuddin led this demonstration. This was organized as part of the Telugu Wiki-Mahotsavam.
Kannada Wikipedia Workshop (April 29, 2013, Govinda Pai Research Centre, MGM College Udupi). Dr. U.B. Pavanaja led the workshop and gave a talk on Kannada Wikipedia.

Outreach Sessions in May 2013

Wikipedia workshop (May 8, 2013, TISS, Mumbai). T. Vishnu Vardhan conducted the workshop to the students of Post Graduate Diploma in Community Media. A total of 14 students and 1 teacher attended this multi-lingual Wikipedia training workshop.

Outreach Sessions in June 2013

Kannada Wikipedia Workshop (June 4, 2013, Ramakrishna Vidyalaya, Hassan). Dr. U.B. Pavanaja led the workshop and gave a talk on Kannada Wikipedia.
Wikipedia workshop (June 10, 2013, Internet Institute, Palm Grove, Bangalore). T. Vishnu Vardhan conducted the workshop. This orientation workshop on Wikipedia was attended by representatives from about 25 Civil Society organizations across India. This was followed up by a hands-on Wikipedia training workshop.
Kannada Wikipedia workshop for bloggers (June 24, 2013, Suchitra, Bangalore). Dr U.B. Pavanaja conducted the workshop and gave a presentation on Kannada Wikipedia.

Education Programme Updates

Launch of Assamese Wikipedia Education program at Guwahati University (by Nitika Tandon, October 22, 2012). The program was launched on October 14, 2012 with 15 post-graduate students (90 per cent of these are women students) under the guidance of Prof. Dulumoni Goswami, Head of the Department of Education, Guwahati University.
Malayalam Wikipedia Education Program: August to October Updates (by Shiju Alex, October 29, 2012). This program is the first of its kind in an Indic language, and Malayalam community is doing the program in collaboration with the IT@School, a project of the Department of General Education, # Government of Kerala, setup in 2001, to foster the IT education in schools. Gujarati Wikipedia Article Competition – 10 schools, 200 students, 20 articles on Gujarati Wikipedia (by Noopur Raval, October 31, 2012). This was a competition to raise Wikipedia awareness and help students discover the joy of writing articles in their native language and an attempt to connect producers having knowledge in Gujarati to a wide audience of more than 4,00,000 readers.
Gujarat Wikipedia Education program:Rajkot (by Noopur Raval, October 31, 2012). This report analyses a series of meetings and workshops held in Rajkot, a city in Gujarat, India during the month of October 2012 including students from the Galaxy Education System, Christ College students and members from the Wikipedia community.
First Odia Wikipedia Education Program to be Rolled Out (by Subhashish Panigrahi, November 30, 2012). Odia wikipedians launched this program at the Indian Institute of Mass Communications, Dhenkanal on November 8, 2012 to bring students to edit articles on Odia wikipedia through a series of assessments by professors.
Odia Education Program (Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dhenkanal, Orissa, January 26, 2013). This is the first Odia Education Program which ran for three months and 16 students took active part in contributing on various articles on Odia Wikipedia.
Odia Wikipedia Community Brings Wikipedia Education Program to IIMC, Dhenkanal (by Subhashish Panigrahi, February 28, 2013). Sixteen student wikipedians signed up and took part in editing more than a dozen articles on Odia Wikipedia.

Hackathons

Wikipedia Hackathon at BITS Hyderabad (organized by CIS - A2K team and BITS-Pilani, Hyderabad, October 26 – 27, 2012).
A Wikipedia Mini-hackathon in Delhi (CIS, New Delhi, November 11, 2012)

Meetups

Kolkata: Tasting the Sweetness of Wikipedia! (Kolkata, November 3, 2012). The journeys of three Wikipedians — Jayanta Nath, Deepon Saha and Ashwin Baindur are examined. Subhashish Panigrahi participated in the meeting.
Wikivoyage, November 18, 2012: Ravikiran presented the Wikivoyage project and discussions on Wiki Project Karnataka. A total of 13 participants attended this meeting.
Wikidata, December 2, 2012: Lydia Pintscher presented the Wikidata project. The talk covered history of Wikidata project, state of the project and Wikidata India opportunities. About 13 people attended this event.
Wikimedia Meet-up, Hyderabad (7 Hyderabad based Wikimedians attended this meet-up. Abhijith Jayanthi - SIG Hyderabad, Rahimanuddin Shaik - SIG Telugu, Dr. Rajasekhar; Veera Venkata Chowdary, Tausif, Sai Anudeep, and Akhila Thumma came together for a discussion meeting with the CIS-A2K Program Director T. Vishnu Vardhan.
Kolkata Wiki Community Meetup (organised by CIS and Kolkata Wiki Community, March 14, 2013). Four Wikipedians from Kolkata, Wikimedia Foundation's mobile Developer Yuvaraj Pandian and OPW intern Sucheta Ghoshal joined T. Vishnu Vardhan and Subhashish Panigrahi for this event.
Odia Wikipedia - Cuttack Community Meetup (organised by CIS and Odia Wiki Community, Cuttack, March 16, 2013). T. Vishnu Vardhan and Subhashish Panigrahi met Odia Wikipedians in Cuttack to discuss about the current state of Odia Wikipedia and understand the community building strategies.
Odia Wikipedia – Bhubaneswar Community Meetup (organised by CIS and Odia Wiki Community, Bhubaneswar, March 17, 2013).
First Telugu Wiki Meetup @ CIS, Bangalore (co-organised by Telugu Wikipedia community and CIS-A2K on June 2, 2013). S.J. Veera conducted the meet-up.

Celebration and Events

Celebrating Odia Wikipedia's Ninth Anniversary (organized by the Odia Wiki Community with support from CIS and Academy for Media Learning, January 29, 2013, Bhubaneswar). The event attracted good coverage in the local media:

Wikipedia Women's Workshop in Mumbai (by Noopur Raval, Vidyalankar Institute of Technology, Wadala, Mumbai, November 4, 2012).
Wiki Women's Day in Goa (organised by the Wikimedia India Chapter and CIS, Nirmala Institute of Education, Panaji, Goa, March 8, 2013). The workshop was organised on International Women's Day. Rohini Lakshane and Nitika Tandon led the workshop.
Telugu Wiki Mahotsavam 2013 (organised by Telugu Wikipedia Community and CIS, Hyderabad, April 9 – 11, 2013). T. Vishnu Vardhan was one of the trainers at the Wikipedia Academy at Centre for Good Governance on April 9, 2013. Vishnu Vardhan spoke about the Access to Knowledge work in one of the sessions of Wikimedia. Meeting with Media Heads on April 10, 2013. Vishnu Vardhan gave a talk on A2K’s plans for the growth of Telegu Wikipedia in 2013-14 at the Telegu Wikipedia general meeting on April 11, 2013. Vishnu Vardhan also gave a talk about Access to Knowledge in the digital era at the Wiki Chaitanya Vedika on April 11, 2013.

Events Participated In

Celebrating the success of Wikipedia in Wikipedia Summit Pune 2013 (organized by Wikipedia Club, Pune, January 12 – 13, 2013).
GNUnify 2013 (organized by Pune Linux/Unix User Group and Symbiosis Institute of Computer Studies & Research, Pune, February 15 – 17, 2013). Subhashish Panigrahi participated in the event.
Creative Commons comes to India (co-organized by Pune Linux/Unix User Group and Symbiosis Institute of Computer Studies & Research in Pune, February 15, 2013, and CIS the Wikimedia India Chapter, Chitrakala Parishad, Bangalore, February 25, 2013).The Access to Knowledge team participated in the CC meetings organized in Bangalore.
Fifty-fourth Bangalore Wikimedia Meet-up at IIM, Bangalore (organized by Radhakrishna Arvapally, SIG (Special Interest Group) Chair, Bangalore (a part of the Wikimedia India Chapter) with support from Solutions IQ, Wikimedia India Chapter and CIS, Indian Institute of Management, February 25, 2013). Sudhwana Jogalekar (President, Wikimedia India) spoke on Wikimedia Projects. T. Vishnu Vardhan (program Director, A2K, CIS) gave a talk on 'Accessibility to Knowledge'. Joe Justice (Founder WikiSpeed) and Vibhu Srinivasan gave a presentation of WikiSpeed Car project. Chief Guest K.S. Viswanath (Vice President, Industry Initiatives, NASSCOM) gave the welcome address. Noopur Raval participated in the event.
Knowledge Sharing through GLAM at Bangalore (organized by Wikimedia India and Creative Commons, Karnataka Chitrakala Parishad, Kumara Krupa Road, Bangalore, February 25, 2013). Dr. U.B. Pavanaja, Nitika Tandon and Subhashish Panigrahi participated in the event. CIS supported the event.
Wikipedia Workshop for Kannada Science Writers (organised by Wikimedia Chapter India, Karnataka Rajya Vijnana Parishath and CIS, Karnataka Rajya Vijnana Parishath Conference Hall, Banashankari 2nd Stage, Bangalore, March 17, 2013). Dr. U.B. Pavanaja participated in the event.
Wikipedia Women's Workshop Bangalore 2013 (organised by Wikimedia India, Servelots Infotech, Jayanagar, Bangalore, March 8, 2013). The event was covered by Kannada Prabha on March 9, 2013. Dr. U.B. Pavanaja participated in the event.
Wikipedia at Avenir (organised by the Wikipedia community, Netaji Subhash Engineering College, Kolkata, West Bengal, March 11, 2013). CIS supported the event.
Wikipedia Community members helped the Higher Education Innovation and Research Applications program (HEIRA) of CSCS Bangalore organizes a day-long workshop on ‘Digital Literacy’ at Ahmednagar College, Ahmednagar, Maharasthra on January 17, 2013. Tanveer Hasan of HEIRA shares with us the developments in this report. During this period, CIS established partnerships with the Goa University, Tata Institute of Social Science, Mumbai, Regional Research Centre, Udupi, etc.

Section E: Indic Wikipedia Visualisation Project


Given above is a chart depicting the visualization of Indic Wikipedia project

CIS hired Sumandro Chattapadhyay and Sajjad Anwar to work on visualisation of the growth of Indic Wikipedia. Their project takes basic parameters, like page views, total articles and total editors, and compares them over time and across projects:

They have looked into the different aspects of the past and present activities of Indic Wikipedias, and divided the visualisation into three different focus areas:
1. Basic parameters
2. Geographic patterns of edits
3. Exploring topics that receive greatest number of edits. You can read more about Indic Wikipedia Visualisation Project #1: Visualising Basic Parameters
They also worked on visualisation of the page views statistics and the project specific pages. The page views indicate the number of unique visits Wikipedia project concerned has received in one month. You can read more about Indic Wikipedia Visualisation Project #2: Visualising Page Views and Project Pages
Readership Dashboard: The Readership Dashboard combines a line graph showing the movement of page view for a project across the years and bar graphs showing a separate variable for the same project.
Motion Charts: The motion charts help compare Indic Wikipedia Projects across Languages on various parameters such as new editors, new articles, active editors, total editors etc.
Calendar Charts: The calendar charts limits each chart section to 12 months allowing the user to focus on more granular movements of the variable concerned, say the number of new editors per month or page views per month, etc.

Section F: The Access to Knowledge Work Plan (2013 – 2014)

The Access to Knowledge team assessed 12 of the active Indic-language communities based on the community dynamics, growth patterns in readership, and community and edit contribution for drafting this work plan. In putting together this work plan the Access to Knowledge team has extensively engaged with various stakeholders. These include: a) some Wikimedia community in India members across various Indian-language Wikimedia projects; b) some English-language Wikimedia community members from India; c) Wikimedia India chapter executive committee; d) some potential institutional partners; e) a few like-minded advocates of free knowledge; f) Access to Knowledge program Adviser Dr. Tejaswini Niranjana; and g) a few of the Wikimedia Foundation staff. Five languages were selected as core language areas. These include: Bengali, Kannada, Konkani, Odia and Telegu. Some key factors that determined the selection of languages areas included:

The Access to Knowledge team's existing ties with knowledge institutions, groups and individuals.
Willingness of language community to interact and engage with the Access to Knowledge team.
Considering Wikimedia India Chapter EC's suggestion that Access to Knowledge team should work on at least one incubation project.
Access to Knowledge team's familiarity with the languages.

However, choosing these five languages do not necessarily mean that the A2K program would not focus on the other languages rather there would be more programmatic support and organizational ties to be built.

Language Area Work Plans

The language area work plans are linked to the individual meta-pages:

The expected and dream targets for the languages are shown below:

Expected and dream targets for languages
Parameters	Telugu		Odia		Kannada		Bengali		Konkani
	Expected target	Dream target	Expected target	Dream target	Expected target	Dream target	Expected target	Dream target	Target
No. of Editors	755	905	120	350	600	1000	930	1200	NA
No. of New editors	200	350	35	100	300	700	30	100	24
No. of Acitve editors	25	40	20	40	50	70	100	150	NA
No. of Aritcles	54000	55000	5000	6000	25000	30000	27000	28000	500
No. of Outreach Events	29	34	12	15	12	20	5	15	12

The detailed plan with projection of outcomes and expected impact of the A2K program activities could be accessed here.

Overall Community Support

Besides the specific programs mentioned under individual language area plans, A2K team will provide overall support to all Indian-language Wikipedia communities. This includes but is not limited to:
Creating awareness through online editing videos, editing guides and digital coverage all in local Indian languages.
Supporting outreach activities
Capacity building to multiply outreach efforts. This would include training sessions to improve presentation skills, audience engagement skills with mock presentations and video recording for feedback. The first Train-the-Trainer program is being planned in June.
Facilitate more qualitative interactions amongst community members with an aim to foster creation of new project ideas in the form of physical meet-ups, hangouts/Skype calls, and small/large scale conferences.
Organize language specific IRCs where community members from that specific language could discuss their plans, issues, concerns, and anything at all.
Encourage community members to share feedback, suggestions or details of any kind of support on A2K's Meta help page.
Supporting communities for bug reporting and following up for resolution. A detailed overall community support page can be found here.

Section G: Team Orientation and Development

Team’s Professional Development

A one-day orientation was organized in CIS where Wikimedia board members Bishakha Datta and Achal Prabhala helped the Access to Knowledge team members to develop an agenda for a period of 6-7 months. They helped team members to find overlaps, prioritise and recognize possibilities to make best use of available resources. The board members also shared learnings, principles and concepts from other movements that could be applied to the Access to Knowledge program.
A one-day orientation program was organized with Wikimedia India Chapter Executive Committee Members to find common minimum program on which both the Chapter and the Access to Knowledge team could work together to achieve common objectives. The orientation also helped define overlapping areas and how the two oragnisations will handle them.
A one-day orientation program was organised with Wikimedia community in India Members such as Tinu Cherian who gave a talk on how to leverage mainstream and social media; Gautam John who organized a workshop on organisational procedures for greater transparency and accountability, and Arun Ramarathnam who spoke about best practices for working with Wikipedia community. This orientation was organized as a part of training and skill development for the Access to Knowledge team members.
Since March 2013 CIS-A2K started having weekly Team Learning Sessions on every Wednesday. However, given the hectic schedules of the Team these could not be organized in a regular manner.

Exits and New Hires

CIS has an office in New Delhi with a five-member team for the Access to Knowledge program. The team is currently headed by T. Vishnu Vardhan, Program Director (Access to Knowledge). Other team members include Tejaswini Niranjana (Distinguished Fellow), Dr. U.B. Pavanaja (Program Officer, Indian Language Initiatives), Nitika Tandon (Program Manager) and Subhashish Panigrahi (Program Officer).

	T. Vishnu Vardhan: Vishnu Vardhan was hired as the new program Director-Access to Knowledge at CIS. Vishnu Vardhan has over the last 11 years worked in various capacities as researcher, grant manager, teacher, project consultant, information architect and translator. Vishnu Vardhan managed the Art, Crafts and Culture portfolio of Sir Ratan Tata Trust and also worked as Research Coordinator at the Centre for the Study of Culture and Society in Bangalore.
	Dr. U.B. Pavanaja joined the team as program Officer, India Language Initiatives on March 4, 2013. Dr. Pavanaja holds a Master’s degree from Mysore University and Ph.D. from Mumbai University. He was a scientist at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, for about 15 years. He is one of the earliest editors of Kannada Wikipedia. He has to his credit many firsts, viz., first Kannada website, first Kannada online magazine, first Indian language (Kannada) website to receive Golden Web Award, first Indian language (Kannada) editor for Palm OS, first Indian language (Kannada) editor for WinCE device (HP Jornado 720), first Indian language version (Kannada) of universally popular Logo (programming language for children) software, etc.
	Tejaswini Niranjana is a Senior Fellow at the Centre for the Study of Culture and Society (CSCS), Bangalore, and Visiting Professor at Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai joined A2K as an Adviser. She guides the Access to Knowledge team in expanding the Indian language Wikipedias and helps in increasing the number of active editors through strategic partnerships with Higher Education institutions across India.

The following staff left the organisation:

Shiju Alex, Program Manager, Access to Knowledge left the organization on November 16, 2012.

Noopur Raval, Program Officer, Access to Knowledge left the organization on April 24, 2013.

Section H: Additional Links and Data

Blog Entries

Indic Language Wikipedias – Statistical Report: January – June 2012 (by Shiju Alex, September 25, 2012).
Kannada Wiki Workshop at Tumkur University (by Shiju Alex, September 25, 2012).
The First Punjabi Wikipedia Workshop (by Shiju Alex and Subhashish Panigrahi, September 27, 2012).
Wikipedia Workshop in British Library, Chandigarh (by Subhashish Panigrahi, September 27, 2012).
Punjabi Wikipedia Workshop at Punjabi University, Patiala (by Shiju Alex and Subhashish Panigrahi, September 28, 2012).
Editor Growth & Contribution Program on Telugu Wikipedia (by Nitika Tandon, September 29, 2012).
Punjabi Wikipedia Workshop at Amritsar (by Shiju Alex, September 30, 2012).
Wikipedia comes to Hyderabad! (by Noopur Raval, September 30, 2012).
Bengaluru: A Hub for Kannada and Sanskrit Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects! (by Subhashish Panigrahi, October 16, 2012).
Wikipedia workshop @ Inmantec College, Ghaziabad (by Nitika Tandon, October 19, 2012).
Launch of Assamese Wikipedia Education Program at Guwahati University (by Nitika Tandon, October 22, 2012).
Malayalam Wikipedia Education Program: August to October Updates (by Shiju Alex, October 29, 2012).
Bridging Gender Gap in Pune: WikiWomenDay 2012 Celebrated with Success! (by Subhashish Panigrahi, October 29, 2012).
Gujarat Wikipedia Education Program: Rajkot (by Noopur Raval, October 31, 2012).
Gujarati Wikipedia Article Competition – 10 schools, 200 students, 20 articles on Gujarati Wikipedia (by Noopur Raval, October 31, 2012).
First Pune Odia Wikipedia Workshop Organized! (by Subhashish Panigrahi, October 31, 2012).
An Odia Wikipedia Workshop at Academy of Media Learning (by Subhashish Panigrahi, November 10, 2012).
A Wikipedia Mini-hackathon in Delhi (a guest blog post by Yuvraj Pandian, November 11, 2012).
Report on Wikipedia Hackathon held in Hyderabad (a guest blog post by Yuvi Panda, November 19, 2012).
An Odia Wikipedia Workshop at KMBB College, Bhubaneswar (by Subhashish Panigrahi, November 19, 2012).
Follow up to Wikipedia Introductory Session at Bharati Vidyapeeth — More Interested and More Involved Participants (by Nitika Tandon, November 19, 2012).
Typing in Indic Languages from Mobiles made Easy! (by Subhashish Panigrahi, November 19, 2012).
Wikipedia Women's Workshop in Mumbai (by Noopur Raval, November 21, 2012).
First Odia Wikipedia Education Program to be Rolled Out (by Subhashish Panigrahi, November 30, 2012).
Kolkata: Tasting the Sweetness of Wikipedia! (by Subhashish Panigrahi, November 30, 2012).
Marathi Wiki Workshop at Tata Institute of Social Sciences (by Subhashish Panigrahi, December 8, 2012).
Non Unicode ISCII Text Can be Converted to Unicode Now! (by Subhashish Panigrahi, December 19, 2012).
A Wikipedia Workshop at SRM University, Chennai (by Subhashish Panigrahi, December 27, 2012).
New Avenues: Media Wiki Groups (by Noopur Raval, December 27, 2012).
A Wikipedia Workshop at NMAIT (by Subhashish Panigrahi, December 30, 2012).
Two-day Wiki Workshop in Goa University: An Introduction (by Subhashish Panigrahi, December 30, 2012).
Two-day Wiki Workshop in Goa University: An Introduction (by Nitika Tandon, January 14, 2013).
Wikipedia in St. Xavier's College, Mapusa, Goa (by Nitika Tandon, January 19, 2013).
Celebrating the success of Wikipedia in Wikipedia Summit Pune 2013 (by Subhashish Panigrahi, January 21, 2013).
A Wiki Workshop at Raj Kumar Goel Institute of Technology, Ghaziabad (by Subhashish Panigrahi, January 22, 2013).
Bringing Konkani Encyclopedia in Public Domain (by Nitika Tandon, January 22, 2013).
Promoting GLAM in Goa (by Nitika Tandon, January 24, 2013).
Konkani in Wikipedia Incubator — Taking it to the Next Level (by Nitika Tandon, January 25, 2013).
Digital Literacy Workshop at Department of Arts, Delhi University (by Nitika Tandon, February 5, 2013).
Celebrating Odia Wikipedia's Ninth Anniversary (by Subhashish Panigrahi, February 19, 2013).
Odia Wikipedia Community Brings Wikipedia Education Program to IIMC, Dhenkanal (by Subhashish Panigrahi, February 28, 2013).
Introductory Wikipedia session at BITS Goa (by Nitika Tandon, March 19, 2013).
Ahmednagar — Marathi Wikipedia Workshop (by Tanveer Hasan, March 18, 2013). This is a report contributed by the Centre for Study of Culture and Society.
Wiki Women's Day in Goa (by Nitika Tandon, March 19, 2013).
Indic Wikipedia Visualisation Project #1: Visualising Basic Parameters (by Sajjad Anwar and Sumandro Chattapadhyay, March 26, 2013).
Odia Wikipedia - Cuttack Community Meetup (by Subhashish Panigrahi, April 3, 2013).
Odia Wikipedia - Bhubaneswar Community Meetup (by Subhashish Panigrahi, April 4, 2013).
Indic Wikipedia Visualisation Project #2: Visualising Page Views and Project Pages (by Sajjad Anwar and Sumandro Chattapadhyay, April 22, 2013).
Indian WikiWomen celebrate Women’s History Month (by Netha Hussain, April 29, 2013). This is a guest blog post by Netha Hussain.
Odia Wikipedia: Needs Assessment (by Subhashish Panigrahi, May 11, 2013).
Access to Knowledge Work Plan: Synopsis of Feedback by Wikipedians (by Nitika Tandon, May 20, 2013).
Wikipedia Introductory Session organized for Data and India portal consultants (by Subhashish Panigrahi, May 30, 2013).
CIS Signs MOU with TISS, Mumbai (May 31, 2013).
A Telugu Wiki Meetup @ CIS, Bangalore (April 2013 - June 2014) (a guest blog post by S J Veera, June 2, 2013).
Access To Knowledge Work Plan (April 2013 - June 2014) (by T Vishnu Vardhan, June 10, 2013).
My First Wikipedia Training Workshop – Theatre Outreach Unit, University of Hyderabad (by T Vishnu Vardhan, June 19, 2013).
Wikipedia Visual Editor (by Nitika Tandon, June 27, 2013).
A 'Kannada' Wikipedia Workshop for Bloggers (by U B Pavanaja, June 28, 2013).

Press Coverage

Odisha: Odia Wikipedia workshop organized in Pune to promote Odia language (OdishaDiary.com, October 31, 2012).
‘Some Indian laws could be challenging’ (by Kalyan Subramani, Bangalore Mirror, November 15, 2012).
A Report of the Odia Wikipedia Workshop held in KMBB College of Engineering, Bhubaneswar (Sambad, November 19, 2012).
OdishaDiary conferred prestigious Odisha Youth Inspiration Award 2012 to Odia Wikipedia team (by Pravuprasad Routray, Orissa Diary, November 23, 2012).
A Report of Odia Wikipedia Workshop at IIT, Kharagpur (Samaja, Odia daily, Kolkata edition, December 3, 2012).
વિકિપીડિયા ગુજરાતી માં પણ છે (by Harsh Kothari, Cybersafar, November 28, 2012).A Report of Odia Wikipedia Workshop at IIT, Kharagpur (Samaja, Odia daily, Kolkata edition, December 3, 2012).
First Odia Wikipedia Education Program concludes at IIMC, Dhenkanal (OdishaDiary Bureau, January 27, 2013).
Odia Wikipedia's 9th Anniversary and Workshop on Application of Odia in Media (Sambad, January 30, 2013).
ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଉଇକିପିଡ଼ିଆର ନ‌ବମ ଜନ୍ମତିଥି ଅବସରରେ କର୍ମଶାଳା : ଇମିଡ଼ିଆରେ ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଭାଷାର ପ୍ର‌ୟୋଗ (Odishan.com, February 4, 2013).
ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଉଇକିପିଡ଼ିଆର ନ‌ବମ ଜନ୍ମତିଥି ଅବସରରେ କର୍ମଶାଳା : ଇମିଡ଼ିଆରେ ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଭାଷାର ପ୍ର‌ୟୋଗ (Sambad, February 4, 2013).
Odia language workshop organized on 9th Anniversary of Odia Wikipedia: Application of Odia language in e-media (Odishaviews.com, February 5, 2013).
Odisha: Workshop organized on 9th Anniversary of Odia language: Application of Odia language in e-media (Odishaviews.com, March 2, 2013).
Odisha: Workshop organized on 9th Anniversary of Odia language: Application of Odia language in e-media (India Education Diary.com, March 2, 2013).
Kannada Wikipedia Workshop, Mysore — Coverage in Prajavani (Prajavani, March 25, 2013).
CIS Celebrates 5 Years: A Report in Prajavani (Prajavani, May 24, 2013).
CIS Celebrates 5 Years: A Report in Udayavani (Prajavani, May 24, 2013).
A Feature on Wikipedia and Telugu Wikipedians on HMTV (Prajavani, May 30-31, 2013).
Wikipedia Live Phone-in Programme on HMTV (Prajavani, June 1, 2013).
Kannada Wikipedia Workshop at Hasan (Prajavani, June 5, 2013).
Kannada Wikipedia Workshop at Hasan (Samyukta Karnataka, June 5, 2013).
Kannada Wikipedia Workshop at Hasan (Vijaya Karnataka, June 5, 2013).
Wiki Rahasya: Panel Discussion on Suvarna News (Suvarna News 24x7, June 13, 2013).
Wiki donors (TimeOut Bengaluru, June 21, 2013).

Newsletters

The following newsletters have been published:

September 2012 Bulletin
October 2012 Bulletin
November 2012 Bulletin
December 2012 Bulletin
January 2013 Bulletin
February 2013 Bulletin
March 2013 Bulletin
April 2013 Bulletin
May 2013 Bulletin
June and July 2013 Bulletin (During this month the CIS-A2K Newsletter was redesigned based on feedback from the community and thus the June Newsletter was clubbed with July 2013).

Talk @ CIS

Wikipedia: State of Tech — A Talk by Erik Moeller (CIS, Bangalore, November 12, 2012). Erik Moeller, Vice President of Engineering and Product Development at the Wikimedia Foundation gave a talk on Wikipedia.

Section I: Budget Utilization

Currency in INR	2012-13 (Per month)	1st Year (10 months)	Budget Utilization (Sept. 2012 to June 2013)
People
Prg. Manager	1,17,000	1,170,000	1,170,000
Prg. Officer	58,800	5,88,000	580,000
Prg. Officer	1,44,000	14,40,000	1,008,000
Communications role	60,000	6,00,000	2,20,000
New Prg. Director	2,00,000	2,000,000	1,000,000
Consultant	34,500	3,45,000	2,76,000
Benefits – All	6,250	62,500	0
Staff costs	6,20,550	6,205,500	4,262,000
Rent	47,300	4,73,000	5,70,000
Janitorial	2,750	27,500	48,634
Utilities	7,500	75,000	61,836
Telephone	4,000	40,000	47,819
Office pantry	5,000	50,000	38,765
Office space	66,550	6,65,500	7,67,054
Travel
SF travel	77,726	7,77,257	1,81,887
Wikimania travel	0	0	0
Domestic travel	1,10,000	1,100,000	1,373,469
Travel	1,87,726	1,877,257	1,555,356
Printed materials	50,000	5,00,000	38,800
Design, Creative	55,000	5,50,000	1,25,400
Volunteer development	50,000	500,000	0
Postage & Mailing	2,500	25,000	5,800
Office supplies	7,500	75,000	50,192
General expenses	1,65,000	1,650,000	2,20,192
Total before fees	1,039,826	10,398,257	6,804,602
Admin fee	51,991	5,19,913	5,19,913
Program fee	51,991	5,19,913	5,19,913
Total	1,143,808	11,438,082	7,844,428

Notes:

The above table gives a picture of the A2K program budget utilization (un-audited) for the period Sept. 2012 to June 2013. Thus it is important that these figures be read as provisional figures, which could change post the statutory audit as per the Indian laws binding a Registered Society.
Approximately there is a 31% underspending of the Budget during the ten month period. This is mainly because of the transition of the program to CIS took sometime along with delays in the recruitment of the New Program Director. CIS-A2K has requested the WMF for a reallocation of the Budget since then.

Footnotes

[1]. Independent Report from Tory Read on India Education Program

[2]. Death and Post-mortem of Indian Education Program pilot. Wikimedia-India Mail archive

[3]. Most recent updates on the hiring of the Programme Director for the A2K programme. Wikimedia-India mail archive

[4]. The Access to Knowledge - Bulletin - January '13

[5]. Indic Wikipedia Visualisation Project #1: Visualising Basic Parameters

[6]. Indic Wikipedia Visualisation Project #2: Visualising Page Views and Project Pages

[7]. CIS-A2K Work Plan (Draft). Wikimedia-India mail archive

[8]. CIS-A2K Budget, Utilization Report and proposed revision. Wikimedia-India mail archive

For more details visit https://cis-india.org/openness/blog-old/cis-access-to-knowledge-narrative-report-september-2012-june-2013

ಅಂತರ್ಜಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ನೆಟ್ಟ ಸಸಿಗೆ ಈಗ ಹತ್ತು ವರ್ಷ

pavanaja — 2013-11-20T09:55:31Z

Dr. U.B. Pavanaja wrote an article highlighting 10 years of Kannada Wikipedia. Kannada Wikipedia started in the year 2003 and now it has completed 10 years. The article highlights the current status of the Kannada Wikipedia vis-a-vis number of articles, number of editors, active editors, and page views per month.

Read the original article published in Kannada Prabha on November 1, 2013. For downloading the article (PDF), click here.

ಕನ್ನಡದ ಮುಕ್ತ ಜ್ಞಾನಕೋಶವಾದ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯ ಈಗ ಜನಪ್ರಿಯ

ಯುಗಯುಗಾದಿ ಕಳೆದರೂ ಯುಗಾದಿ ಮರಳಿ ಬರುತಿದೆ ಎಂಬಂತೆ ನವೆಂಬರ್ ಕೂಡ ಮರಳಿ ಬರುತಿದೆ (ಬೇಂದ್ರೆಯವರು ಕ್ಷಮಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ). ಕನ್ನಡದ ಸ್ಥಿತಿಗತಿ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಮತ್ತೊಮ್ಮೆ ಲೇಖನಗಳ ಮಹಾಪೂರದ ಸಮಯ. ಪ್ರತಿ ನವೆಂಬರ್‌ಗೆ ಇದನ್ನು ಮತ್ತೆ ಮತ್ತೆ ಓದುವುದು ಎಲ್ಲರಿಗೂ ರೂಢಿಯಾಗಿದೆ. ಅಂತೆಯೇ ಮತ್ತೆಮತ್ತೆ ಬರೆಯುವುದು ನಮಗೆ ರೂಢಿಯಾಗಿಬಿಟ್ಟಿದೆ.

ಪೆಟ್ರೋಲ್ ಉಳಿಸಬೇಕಾದರೆ ಪೆಟ್ರೋಲ್ ಬಳಸಬಾರದು. ಕನ್ನಡ ಉಳಿಸಬೇಕಾದರೆ...?' ಎಂಬ ಮಾತು ಪ್ರತಿ ನವೆಂಬರ್ ಒಂದರಂದು ಅತ್ತಿಂದಿತ್ತ ಹರಿದಾಡುವ ಒಂದು ಜೋಕ್. ಕನ್ನಡ ಉಳಿಯಬೇಕಾದರೆ ಕನ್ನಡ ಬಳಸಬೇಕು. ಇದು ಎಲ್ಲರೂ ಒಪ್ಪುವ ಮಾತು. ಕನ್ನಡ ಬಳಸುವುದೆಂದರೆ ನಿತ್ಯದ ವ್ಯವಹಾರಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಕನ್ನಡ ಬಳಸುವುದು. ಕನ್ನಡ ಭಾಷೆಯ ಶ್ರೀಮಂತಿಗೆ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಭಾಷಣ ಬಿಗಿದು ಮೇಜು ಕುಟ್ಟುವುದರಿಂದ ಕನ್ನಡ ಉಳಿಯುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಅದು ಉಳಿಯಬೇಕಾದರೆ ಜನಸಾಮಾನ್ಯರು ಅದನ್ನು ಬಳಸಬೇಕು. ಜನಸಾಮಾನ್ಯರಿಗೆ ಪ್ರಮುಖವಾಗಿ ಬೇಕಾಗಿರುವುದು ಸಾಹಿತಿಗಳು ಬೆನ್ನು ತಟ್ಟಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವ ಸೃಜನಶೀಲ (ಕಥನ) ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯವಲ್ಲ. ಅದು ಬೇಡ ಎಂದಲ್ಲ. ಆದರೆ ಜನಸಾಮಾನ್ಯರಿಗೆ ಅಗತ್ಯವಾಗಿ ಬೇಕಾದುದು ಮಾಹಿತಿ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ. ಒಬ್ಬಾತನಿಗೆ ಹೊಚ್ಚಹೊಸ ನಮೂನೆಯ ಪ್ಲಾಸ್ಮಾ, ಎಲ್‌ಸಿಡಿ ಅಥವಾ ಎಲ್‌ಇಡಿ ಟಿವಿ ಖರೀದಿಸಬೇಕಾಗಿದೆ ಎಂದಿಟ್ಟುಕೊಳ್ಳಿ. ಆತನಿಗೆ ಇವುಗಳ ವ್ಯತ್ಯಾಸ ಗೊತ್ತಿರಬೇಕು. ತನ್ನ ಅಗತ್ಯ ಮತ್ತು ಇತಿಮಿತಿಯೊಳಗೆ ಯಾವುದು ಉತ್ತಮ ಎಂದು ತಿಳಿಯಬೇಕು. ಆತ ಇದನ್ನು ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ತಿಳಿಯುವ ಬಗೆ ಹೇಗೆ? ಇದಕ್ಕೆ ಬೇಕು ಒಂದು ವಿಶ್ವಕೋಶ.

ಈಗ ಇನ್ನೊಂದು ವಿಷಯದ ಕಡೆ ಗಮನ ಹರಿಸೋಣ. ಈಗ ಇಂಗ್ಲಿಷ್ ಮಾಧ್ಯಮ ಮತ್ತು ಕನ್ನಡ ಮಾಧ್ಯಮ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಚರ್ಚೆ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತಿದೆ. ಕನ್ನಡ ಮಾಧ್ಯಮದಲ್ಲಿ ಕಲಿತರೆ ನಮ್ಮ ಮಕ್ಕಳಿಗೆ ಪ್ರಪಂಚ ಜ್ಞಾನ ದೊರೆಯುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಆದ್ದರಿಂದ ನಮ್ಮ ಮಕ್ಕಳನ್ನು ಇಂಗ್ಲಿಷ್ ಮಾಧ್ಯಮದಲ್ಲಿ ಕಲಿಸುತ್ತೇವೆ ಎಂದು ಹೆಚ್ಚಿನ ತಂದೆತಾಯಂದಿರು ಹೇಳುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಕನ್ನಡ ಭಾಷೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಪಂಚ ಜ್ಞಾನದ ಲಭ್ಯತೆ ತುಂಬಾ ಕಡಿಮೆ ಎಂಬುದನ್ನು ನಾವು ಒಪ್ಪಲೇಬೇಕು. ಆದರೆ ಈ ಸಮಸ್ಯೆಗೆ ಪರಿಹಾರ ಇಂಗ್ಲಿಷ್ ಭಾಷೆಗೆ ಮೊರೆಹೋಗುವುದಲ್ಲ. ಕನ್ನಡ ಭಾಷೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಪಂಚ ಜ್ಞಾನವನ್ನು ತರುವುದು. ಈ ರೀತಿ ಮಾಡಲು ಸಹಾಯ ಮಾಡುವುದು ಅತಿ ಜನಪ್ರಿಯವಾಗಿರುವ ಸ್ವತಂತ್ರ ಮತ್ತು ಮುಕ್ತ ವಿಶ್ವಕೋಶ ಕನ್ನಡ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯ.

ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯ ಒಂದು ಸ್ವತಂತ್ರ ಮತ್ತು ಮುಕ್ತ ವಿಶ್ವಕೋಶ. ಇದು 2001ರಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಾರಂಭವಾಯಿತು. ಇದು ಜಗತ್ತಿನ 286 ಭಾಷೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿದೆ. ಇನ್ನೂ ಸುಮಾರು 300 ಭಾಷೆಯ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯಗಳು ತಯಾರಿ ಹಂತದಲ್ಲಿವೆ. ಸುಮಾರು 20ಕ್ಕೂ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಭಾರತೀಯ ಭಾಷೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯ ಲಭ್ಯ. ಅದರಲ್ಲಿ ಕನ್ನಡವೂ ಸೇರಿದೆ. ಭಾರತೀಯ ಭಾಷೆಯ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಹಿಂದಿ, ತಮಿಳು, ತೆಲುಗು, ಮಲಯಾಳಂ, ಮರಾಠಿ, ಬೆಂಗಾಳಿ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯಗಳು ಕನ್ನಡಕ್ಕಿಂತ ಅಂಕಿ ಅಂಶಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಮುಂದಿವೆ. ಕನ್ನಡ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯ 2003ರಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಾರಂಭವಾಯಿತು. ಅಂದರೆ ಕನ್ನಡ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯಕ್ಕೆ ಈಗ ದಶಮಾನೋತ್ಸವ.

ಎಲ್ಲ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯಗಳಂತೆ ಕನ್ನಡ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯವೂ ಜನರಿಂದ ಜನರಿಗಾಗಿ ಜನರೇ ನಡೆಸುವ ಒಂದು ಮುಕ್ತ ಮತ್ತು ಸ್ವತಂತ್ರ ವಿಶ್ವಕೋಶ. ಇದಕ್ಕೆ ಯಾರು ಬೇಕಾದರೂ ಸಂಪಾದಕರಾಗಿ ಲೇಖನ ಸೇರಿಸಬಹುದು. ಇರುವ ಲೇಖನ ತಿದ್ದಬಹುದು. ಇನ್ನೊಬ್ಬರು ಬರೆದ ಲೇಖನದಲ್ಲಿ ಏನಾದರೂ ತಪ್ಪುಗಳು ಕಂಡುಬಂದರೆ ಅಥವಾ ಮಾಹಿತಿಯ ಕೊರತೆ ಇದ್ದಲ್ಲಿ ಆ ಮಾಹಿತಿ ನಿಮ್ಮಲ್ಲಿ ಇದ್ದಲ್ಲಿ ಅದನ್ನು ನೀವೇ ತಿದ್ದಬಹುದು ಮತ್ತು ಹೆಚ್ಚಿನ ಮಾಹಿತಿ ಸೇರಿಸಬಹುದು. ನಿಮಗೆ ಒಂದು ವಿಷಯದ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿ ತಿಳಿದಿದೆ ಮತ್ತು ಆ ವಿಷಯದ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಲೇಖನ ಇಲ್ಲ ಎಂದಾದಲ್ಲಿ ಆ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಒಂದು ಹೊಸ ಲೇಖನವನ್ನು ನೀವೇ ಸೇರಿಸಬಹುದು. ನಿಮ್ಮ ಲೇಖನ ಯಾರೋ ಒಬ್ಬರು ಒಪ್ಪಿದ ನಂತರ ಅದು ಪ್ರಕಟವಾಗುವ ಪರಿಪಾಠ ಇಲ್ಲಿಲ್ಲ. ನೀವು ಲೇಖನ ಬರೆದು ಪುಟ ಉಳಿಸಿ ಎಂಬುದರ ಮೇಲೆ ಕ್ಲಿಕ್ ಮಾಡಿದರೆ ನಿಮ್ಮ ಲೇಖನ ಕನ್ನಡ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯಕ್ಕೆ ಸೇರ್ಪಡೆಯಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಪ್ರಪಂಚದಾದ್ಯಂತ ಹಬ್ಬಿರುವ ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರಿಗೆ ಅದು ಕ್ಷಣಮಾತ್ರದಲ್ಲಿ ದೊರೆಯುವಂತಾಗುತ್ತದೆ.

ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯ ಆದಾಯರಹಿತ (ನಾನ್ ಪ್ರಾಫಿಟ್) ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಯಾದ ವಿಕಿಮೀಡಿಯ ಫೌಂಡೇಶನ್‌ನ ನಿಯಂತ್ರಣದಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾರ್ಯನಿರ್ವಹಿಸುತ್ತಿದೆ. ಇದು ಸರ್ಕಾರಿ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಯಲ್ಲ, ಸರ್ಕಾರದಿಂದ ಯಾವುದೇ ರೀತಿಯ ಅನುದಾನವನ್ನೂ ಪಡೆಯುತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ. ಈ ಯೋಜನೆಗೆ ಅವಶ್ಯಕವಾದ ಬಂಡವಾಳವನ್ನು ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯದ ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯ ಬಳಕೆದಾರರಿಂದ ದೇಣಿಗೆಯ ರೂಪದಲ್ಲಿ ಸಂಗ್ರಹಿಸಲಾಗಿದೆ. ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯ ನಡೆಸಲು ನೀವೂ ಧನಸಹಾಯ ನೀಡಬಹುದು. ಇಂದು ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯ ಇಷ್ಟು ಜನಪ್ರಿಯವಾಗಿರುವ ಕಾರಣ ಕೆಲವು ಸರ್ಕಾರಿ ಹಾಗೂ ಕಾರ್ಪೊರೇಟ್ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಗಳು ಕೂಡ ಧನಸಹಾಯ ನೀಡಲು ಮುಂದಾಗಿವೆ.

ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಮಾಹಿತಿ ಸೇರಿಸುವುದಕ್ಕೆ ನಾವು ತಜ್ಞರೇ ಆಗಿರಬೇಕು ಎನ್ನುವುದು ತಪ್ಪು. ವಾಸ್ತವವಾಗಿ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯದ ಯಾವುದೇ ಬರಹ ಒಬ್ಬನೇ ಲೇಖಕ ಬರೆದುದಲ್ಲ. ಬೇರೆ ಬೇರೆ ದೇಶ, ಹಿನ್ನೆಲೆಗಳ ಅನೇಕ ಮಂದಿಯ ಸಹಕಾರದಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರತಿಯೊಂದು ಪುಟವೂ ರೂಪುಗೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತದೆ. ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯ ಒಂದು ಸಹಯೋಗಿ ವಿಶ್ವಕೋಶ. ನಿಮಗೆ ತಿಳಿದಷ್ಟು ನೀವು ಸೇರಿಸಿ. ನೀವು ಬಿಟ್ಟಿರುವುದನ್ನು ವಿಷಯ ತಿಳಿದ ಬೇರೆ ಯಾರಾದರು ಸೇರಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ.

ಕನ್ನಡ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಬರೆಯುವುದರಿಂದ ಯಾವುದೇ ಆರ್ಥಿಕ ಲಾಭವಿಲ್ಲ. ಲೇಖಕರ ಹೆಸರನ್ನೂ ಲೇಖನದ ಕೆಳಗೆ ಬರೆಯುವ ಪರಿಪಾಠವಿಲ್ಲ. ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಬರೆಯುವುದೆಂದರೆ ನಿಜವಾದ ಸ್ವಾರ್ಥರಹಿತ ಸಮಾಜಸೇವೆ. ನಮ್ಮ ಭಾಷೆಯ ಉಳಿವಿಗೆ ಇದು ಅತೀ ಅಗತ್ಯ. ಆದ್ದರಿಂದ ಇಂದೇ ಕೀಲಿಮಣೆ ಮೇಲೆ ಕುಟ್ಟಿ -- kn.wikipedia.org.

For more details visit https://cis-india.org/openness/blog-old/kannada-prabha-november-1-2013-dr-ub-pavanaja-10-years-of-kannada-wikipedia

ಕನ್ನಡ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯಗೆ 10, ಬೆಳವಣಿಗೆ ಸಾಲದು : ಪ್ರೊ .ಜಿವಿ

praskrishna — 2013-11-20T08:54:46Z

A post-event report of the program published in OneindiaKannada on November 17, 2013.

Read about the event published in Oneindia Kannada on November 17 here.

ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು, ನ.17: ಕನ್ನಡ ನೆಟ್ಟಿಗರ ಜ್ಞಾನದಾಹವನ್ನು ತಣಿಸುತ್ತಿರುವ ಕನ್ನಡ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯ 10 ವಸಂತಗಳನ್ನು ಪೂರೈಸಿರುವ ಸಂತಸವನ್ನು ನವೆಂಬರ್ 17 ರಂದು ನಗರದ ಬಸವನಗುಡಿಯ ನ್ಯಾಷನಲ್ ಕಾಲೇಜಿನ ಡಾ. ಎಚ್ ನರಸಿಂಹಯ್ಯ ಸಭಾಂಗಣದಲ್ಲಿ ಹಂಚಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲಾಯಿತು.

ದಶಮಾನೋತ್ಸವ ಸಮಾರಂಭಕ್ಕೆ ಮುಖ್ಯ ಅತಿಥಿಗಳಾಗಿದ್ದ ಡಾ. ಯುಆರ್ ಅನಂತಮೂರ್ತಿ ಹಾಗೂ ರವಿ ಹೆಗಡೆ ಅವರು ಕಾರಣಾಂತರದಿಂದ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮಕ್ಕೆ ಆಗಮಿಸಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಮತ್ತೊಬ್ಬ ಮುಖ್ಯ ಅತಿಥಿಗಳಾದ ನಾಡೋಜ ಪ್ರೊ.ಜಿ. ವೆಂಕಟಸುಬ್ಬಯ್ಯ ಅವರು ಸಭೆಯನ್ನು ಉದ್ದೇಶಿಸಿ ಹೀಗೆ ಮಾತನಾಡಿದರು :

'ಕನ್ನಡ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯದ ಬೆಳವಣಿಗೆ ಸಾಲದು. ನಾಡಿನ ಯುವ ಜನತೆ ಮತ್ತಷ್ಟು ಉತ್ಸುಕರಾಗಿ ಲೇಖನಗಳನ್ನು ಸೇರಿಸಿ ಕನ್ನಡ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯವನ್ನು ಮಾಹಿತಿಯೋಗ್ಯ ತಾಣವಾಗಿ ಮಾರ್ಪಡಿಸಿ' ಎಂದು ನಾಡೋಜ ಪ್ರೊ.ಜಿ. ವೆಂಕಟಸುಬ್ಬಯ್ಯ ಯುವಜನತೆಗೆ ಕರೆ ನೀಡಿದರು.

ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನ ಬಸವನಗುಡಿಯ ನ್ಯಾಷನಲ್ ಕಾಲೇಜು ಸಭಾಂಗಣದಲ್ಲಿ ನಡೆದ ಕನ್ನಡ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯ ದಶಮಾನೋತ್ಸವ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮದಲ್ಲಿ ಮುಖ್ಯ ಅತಿಥಿಯಾಗಿ ಮಾತನಾಡಿದ ಪ್ರೊ.ಜಿ. ವೆಂಕಟಸುಬ್ಬಯ್ಯ ಅವರು, 'ಕನ್ನಡ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯವನ್ನು ಹತ್ತು ಪೂರೈಸಿದ ಮಾತ್ರಕ್ಕೆ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯ ಮುಂದುವರೆಯುತ್ತದೆ ಎನ್ನುವ ಭಾವನೆ ಬೇಡ. ಪ್ರೀತಿಯಿಂದ ಕಟ್ಟಿದ ಒಂದು ಸಂಸ್ಥೆ ಮುಂದುವರೆಯಬೇಕಾದರೆ ಅದಕ್ಕೆ ಬಹಳಷ್ಟು ಜನರ ಸಹಕಾರ ಬೇಕು. ಈ ಸಹಕಾರ ಈಗ ಕನ್ನಡ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯಕ್ಕೆ ಅಗತ್ಯವಿದೆ. ನನಗೆ ಈಗಾಗಲೇ ನೂರು ವರ್ಷವಾಗಿದೆ. ಆದರೂ ನನ್ನಿಂದಾಗುವ ಸಹಾಯವನ್ನು ನೀಡಲು ಸಿದ್ದ. ಕನ್ನಡ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯಕ್ಕೆ ನನ್ನ ಬೆಂಬಲ ಯಾವತ್ತೂ ನಿರಂತರ' ಎಂದರು.

ಇಂದು ಇಂಟರ್ನೆಟ್ನಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದು ವಿಚಾರಕ್ಕೆ ಸಂಬಂಧಿಸಿದಂತೆ ಸಾವಿರಾರು ಮಾಹಿತಿಗಳು ಸಿಗುತ್ತದೆ.ಇವುಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ನಿಖರವಾಗಿರುವ ಮಾಹಿತಿ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ತಾಣಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಸಿಗುವುದು ಕಷ್ಟ. ಹೀಗಾಗಿ ಅಯಾ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರದಲ್ಲಿ ಸಾಧನೆ ಮಾಡಿರುವ ಕನ್ನಡದ ಸಾಧಕರು ತಮ್ಮ ಕರ್ತವ್ಯವೆಂದು ಭಾವಿಸಿ ಕನ್ನಡ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಮಾಹಿತಿ ಸೇರಿಸುವ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ಮುಂದಾಗಬೇಕು' ಎಂದು ವಿಜ್ಞಾನಿ ಅನಂತರಾಮು ಅಭಿಪ್ರಾಯಪಟ್ಟರು.

ಕನ್ನಡ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯದ ಸಂಪಾದಕ ಯು.ಬಿ. ಪವನಜ ಮಾತನಾಡಿ, 'ಪೆಟ್ರೋಲ್‌ ಉಳಿಸಲು ಕಡಿಮೆ ಪೆಟ್ರೋಲ್‌ ಬಳಸಿ ಎಂದು ಹೇಳುತ್ತೇವೆ. ಆದರೆ ಕನ್ನಡ ಉಳಿಸಲು ಏನು ಮಾಡಬೇಕು ಎಂಬ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆಗೆ ಉತ್ತರ ಸಿಗುವುದು ಕಷ್ಟ. ಆದರೆ ವಿಶ್ವದ ಮಾಹಿತಿಗಳು ನಮ್ಮ ಭಾಷೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸಿಕ್ಕಿದಾಗ ಮಾತ್ರ ಕನ್ನಡ ಉಳಿಸಬಹುದು. ಕಥೆ, ಕವನ ಇತ್ಯಾದಿ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯದ ಜೊತೆಗೆ ಈಗ ಮಾಹಿತಿ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯವನ್ನು ಬರೆಯುವ ಮಾಹಿತಿ ಸಾಹಿತಿಗಳ ಅಗತ್ಯವಿದೆ. ಈ ಸಾಹಿತಿಗಳಿಗೆ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯ ಒಂದು ಉತ್ತಮ ವೇದಿಕೆ.ಈ ವೇದಿಕೆಯನ್ನು ಬಳಸಿ ಕನ್ನಡ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯವನ್ನು ಉತ್ತಮ ಮಾಹಿತಿ ಕೋಶವನ್ನಾಗಿ ರೂಪಿಸಬೇಕಾಗಿದೆ' ಎಂದು ಹೇಳಿದರು.

ನಿರ್ದೇಶಕ ಅಭಯ್ ಸಿಂಹ ಮಾತನಾಡಿ. 'ನನ್ನ ಅಜ್ಜ ಜಿ.ಟಿ ನಾರಾಯಣರಾಯರು ಬರೆದಿರುವ ವಿಜ್ಞಾನಕ್ಕೆ ಸಂಬಂಧಿಸಿ ಬರೆದಿರುವ ಲೇಖನಗಳು ಕ್ರಿಯೆಟಿವ್ ಕಾಮನ್ಸ್‌ ಲೈಸನ್ಸ್‌ನಿಂದಾಗಿ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಲಭ್ಯವಾಗಿದೆ.ಈ ಲೈಸನ್ಸ್‌ ಮೂಲಕ ಈಗಾಗಲೇ ಮುದ್ರಣಗೊಂಡಿರುವ ಮತ್ತಷ್ಟು ಲೇಖನಗಳು ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಸೇರುವಂತಾಗಬೇಕು' ಎಂದು ಆಶಿಸಿದರು.

ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮದಲ್ಲಿ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಅತಿ ಹೆಚ್ಚಾಗಿ ಲೇಖನಗಳನ್ನು ಸಂಪಾದನೆ ಮಾಡಿದ ಲೇಖಕರಿಗೆ ಸ್ಮರಣಿಕೆ ನೀಡಿ ಗೌರವಿಸಲಾಯಿತು. ಬಳಿಕ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯಕ್ಕೆ ಹೊಸ ಲೇಖನ ಸೇರಿಸುವ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಓಂ ಶಿವಪ್ರಕಾಶ ಪ್ರಾತ್ಯಕ್ಷಿಕೆ ನೀಡಿದರು. ಕ್ರಿಯೇಟಿವ್ ಕಾಮನ್ಸ್ ವಿಚಾರದ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಕಿರಣ್ ರವಿಕುಮಾರ ಉಪನ್ಯಾಸ ನೀಡಿದರು.

ಎಲ್ಲ ಪ್ರಮುಖ ಸುದ್ದಿಗಳ ಮೇಲೆ ಒನ್ಇಂಡಿಯಾ ನೋಟ. ನಿರಂತರ ಸುದ್ದಿ ಪಡೆಯಲು Facebook ಮತ್ತು Twitter ಮೇಲೆ ಇರಲಿ ಕಣ್ಣು.

For more details visit https://cis-india.org/news/one-india-november-17-2013-kannada-wikipedia-10th-anniversary-celebration-basavanagudi

ಕನ್ನಡ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯಕ್ಕೆ ದಶಮಾನೋತ್ಸವ ಸಂಭ್ರಮ

praskrishna — 2013-11-20T07:34:14Z

A report of the Kannada Wikipedia tenth anniversary celebrations in Prajavani on November 18.

Read the online version published in Prajavani here.

ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು: ಕನ್ನಡ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯಕ್ಕೆ ಈಗ ದಶಮಾನೋತ್ಸವ ಸಂಭ್ರಮ. ಬಸವನಗುಡಿ ನ್ಯಾಷನಲ್‌ ಕಾಲೇಜು ಡಾ.ಎಚ್‌.ನರಸಿಂಹಯ್ಯ ಸಭಾಂಗಣ ದಲ್ಲಿ ದಶಮಾನೋತ್ಸವ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮ ಭಾನುವಾರ ನಡೆಯಿತು.

ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯ ಸ್ವತಂತ್ರ ವಿಶ್ವಕೋಶ. ಈ ವಿಶ್ವಕೋಶ ಬಹುಭಾಷೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಲಭ್ಯ ಇದೆ. 2001ರಲ್ಲಿ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯಾ ಆರಂಭವಾಯಿತು. ಕನ್ನಡ ವಿಕಿಪೀ ಡಿಯಾ ಆರಂಭವಾದುದು 2003 ರಲ್ಲಿ. ಪ್ರಸ್ತುತ ಕನ್ನಡ ಆವೃತ್ತಿಯು 15,369 ವಿಷಯಗಳ ಕುರಿತಾದ ಪುಟಗಳನ್ನು ಹೊಂದಿದೆ. ಇಂಗ್ಲಿಷ್‌ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯಾದಲ್ಲಿ 44 ಲಕ್ಷ ವಿಷಯ ಗಳಿವೆ. ಹಿಂದಿಯಲ್ಲಿ 1 ಲಕ್ಷ, ತೆಲುಗು ವಿನಲ್ಲಿ 53,900, ತಮಿಳುನ ಭಾಷೆ ಯಲ್ಲಿ 56,000, ಮಲಯಾಳಂನಲ್ಲಿ 25,000 ವಿಷಯಗಳಿವೆ.

ಇಂಗ್ಲಿಷ್‌ನಲ್ಲಿ 80,000 ಸಂಪಾ ದಕರು ಇದ್ದರೆ, ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಇರುವುದು 403 ಮಂದಿ. ಅದರಲ್ಲಿ ಸಕ್ರಿಯರಾ ಗಿರುವವರು 40 ಮಂದಿ.
ಕನ್ನಡ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯಾದಲ್ಲಿ 2004 ರ ವರೆಗೂ ಒಂದೇ ಲೇಖನ ಇತ್ತು. 2004ರ ಅಂತ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಲೇಖನಗಳ ಸಂಖ್ಯೆ 176ಕ್ಕೆ, 2005ರಲ್ಲಿ 515ಕ್ಕೆ ತಲುಪಿತು. 2006ರ ಜೂನ್‌ನಲ್ಲಿ 1,000 ಲೇಖನ ಗಡಿ ದಾಟಿತು. ಬಳಿಕ ಪ್ರಕ್ರಿಯೆಗೆ ವೇಗ ಸಿಕ್ಕಿತ್ತು. ಮತ್ತೆ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಸಮಯ ಕಳೆಯುವಷ್ಟರಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಗತಿ ಕುಂಠಿತವಾಗಿದೆ.

‘ಮುಂಬೈಯಲ್ಲಿ ನೆಲೆಸಿರುವ ಎಚ್‌.ಆರ್‌.ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ ವೆಂಕಟೇಶ ಅವರು 10,000 ವಿಷಯಗಳನ್ನು ಹಾಗೂ ಬಿ.ಎಸ್‌.ಚಂದ್ರಶೇಖರ್‌ ಅವರು 4,000 ವಿಷಯಗಳನ್ನು ಪರಿಷ್ಕರಣೆ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಇಬ್ಬರೂ 80 ವರ್ಷದ ಆಸುಪಾಸಿನವರು. ಇಂತಹ ಉತ್ಸಾಹ ಇತರರಲ್ಲಿ ಮೂಡಿದರೆ ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ವಿಷಯಗಳ ಸಂಖ್ಯೆ ಜಾಸ್ತಿ ಆಗಲಿದೆ. ಕನ್ನಡ ಭಾಷೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಪಂಚ ಜ್ಞಾನ ಒದಗಿಸದಿದ್ದರೆ ಕನ್ನಡ ಭಾಷೆ ಉಳಿ ಯಲ್ಲ’ ಎನ್ನುತ್ತಾರೆ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯಾ ಸಂಪಾದಕರಲ್ಲಿ ಒಬ್ಬರಾದ ಯು.ಬಿ.ಪವನಜ.

‘ಕನ್ನಡದ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ವಿಚಾರಸಂಕಿರಣ, ಕವಿಗೋಷ್ಠಿಗಳನ್ನು ನಡೆಸಿದರೆ ಕನ್ನಡ ಭಾಷೆ ಉಳಿಯುತ್ತದೆ ಎಂಬ ಭ್ರಮೆ ಬಿಡಬೇಕು. ಕನ್ನಡ ಸಾಹಿತಿಗಳು ವಿಕಿ ಪೀಡಿಯಾದಲ್ಲಿ ಮಾಹಿತಿ ಸೇರಿಸಲು ತಂತ್ರಜ್ಞಾನದ ಅರಿವಿಲ್ಲವೆಂದು ಮೌನ ವಾಗುವುದು ಸರಿಯಲ್ಲ’ ಎಂದರು.
ದಶಮಾನೋತ್ಸವ ಸಂದರ್ಭದಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಾತ್ಯಕ್ಷಿಕೆ, ಸಂವಾದ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮ ಗಳನ್ನು ಆಯೋಜಿಸಲಾಗಿತ್ತು.

For more details visit https://cis-india.org/news/tenth-anniversary-kannada-wikipedia-prajavani-coverage-november-18

ಕನ್ನಡದ ಆನ್‌ಲೈನ್ ವಿಶ್ವಕೋಶ ದುರ್ಬಲ

praskrishna — 2013-11-20T07:30:24Z

An article about the tenth Kannada Wikipedia published in Vijaya Karnataka on November 19.

Read the article published in Vijaya Karnataka on November 19, 2013.

-ಕನ್ನಡ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯಕ್ಕೆ ಹತ್ತು, ಸೋದರ ಭಾಷೆಗಳ ಮುಂದೆ ಕನ್ನಡ ಹಿಂದೆ-

* ಎಸ್. ಕುಮಾರ್, ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು
ಹತ್ತು ವರ್ಷಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಬರಿ 14,202 ಲೇಖನಗಳು! ಇದು ಕನ್ನಡ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯದ ಸಾಧನೆ. ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಮಾಹಿತಿಯನ್ನು ಕಲೆಹಾಕುವ ಹುರುಪಿನೊಂದಿಗೆ ಆರಂಭವಾದ ಕನ್ನಡ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯಾ ಈಗ ದಕ್ಷಿಣ ಭಾರತದಲ್ಲಿ ಕೊನೆಯ ನಾಲ್ಕನೇ ಸ್ಥಾನದಲ್ಲಿದೆ.

ಇಂಗ್ಲಿಷಿನ ಅತಿದೊಡ್ಡ ಆನ್‌ಲೈನ್ ವಿಶ್ವಕೋಶವಾಗಿ ಜನಪ್ರಿಯವಾದ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯಾ ಹತ್ತು ವರ್ಷಗಳ ಹಿಂದೆ ಭಾರತೀಯ ಭಾಷೆಗಳಲ್ಲೂ ವಿಶ್ವಕೋಶ ಆರಂಭಿಸಿತು. ಆದರೆ ಕನ್ನಡ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯಾ ದಕ್ಷಿಣ ಭಾರತದ ಇತರೆ ಭಾಷೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಹೋಲಿಸಿದರೆ ಇದು ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಬಡವಾಗಿರುವ ವಿಶ್ವಕೋಶವಾಗಿಯೇ ಉಳಿದಿದೆ. ತಮಿಳಿನ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯ 56 ಸಾವಿರ ಲೇಖನಗಳನ್ನು ಹೊಂದಿದ್ದರೆ, ತೆಲುಗು 53 ಸಾವಿರ ಲೇಖನಗಳನ್ನು ಹೊಂದಿದೆ. ಮಲಯಾಳಂ, ಮರಾಠಿ ಭಾಷೆಗಳು ಕನ್ನಡ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯಾಕ್ಕಿಂತ ಹೆಚ್ಚಿನ ಅಂದರೆ 40 ಸಾರ ಲೇಖನಗಳನ್ನು ಒಳಗೊಂಡಿವೆ. ಭಾರತೀಯ ಭಾಷೆಗಳ ಪೈಕಿ ಅತಿಹೆಚ್ಚು ಲೇಖನಗಳನ್ನು ಹೊಂದಿರುವು ಹಿಂದಿ ಭಾಷೆಯ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯ. ಸುಮಾರು ಒಂದು ಲಕ್ಷ ಲೇಖನಗಳನ್ನು ಹೊಂದಿದ್ದು, ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಕ್ರಿಯಾಶೀಲವಾಗಿ ಸಂಪಾದನೆಗೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತದೆ.

ಸಾರ್ವಜನಿಕರೇ ಇದಕ್ಕೆ ಮಾಹಿತಿಗಳನ್ನು ಅಪ್‌ಲೋಡ್ ಮಾಡಬಹುದು ಹಾಗೂ ಸಂಪಾದಿಸಬಹುದು. ಕೆಲವು ಆಸಕ್ತರು ಜತೆಗೂಡಿ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯಾಗಳನ್ನು ಕಲೆಹಾಕುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಸದ್ಯ ಕನ್ನಡ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯಾಕ್ಕೆ 400 ಒಟ್ಟು ಸಂಪಾದಕರಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಈ ಪೈಕಿ 41 ಮಂದಿ ಮಾತ್ರ ಸಕ್ರಿಯರು. ತಿಂಗಳಿಗೆ 2000 ಸಾರ ಲೇಖನಗಳು ಸಂಪಾದನೆಯಾಗುತ್ತವೆ. ಆದರೆ ಸೇರ್ಪಡೆಯ ಪ್ರಮಾಣ ಕಡಿಮೆ. ಇಷ್ಟಾಗಿಯೂ ಕನ್ನಡ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯಾಕ್ಕೆ ತಿಂಗಳಿಗೆ 14 ಲಕ್ಷ ಭೇಟಿಗಳಿವೆ.

ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿ ತಂಡದಿಂದ ವಿಶ್ವಕೋಶವನ್ನು ಲೇಖನಗಳಿಂದ ಸಮೃದ್ಧಗೊಳಿಸುವ ನಡೆದಿದೆ. ಆದರೆ ಅದಕ್ಕೆ ಸಿಕ್ಕಪ್ರತಿಕ್ರಿಯೆ ನಿರಾಶೆ ಹುಟ್ಟಿಸುವಂಥದ್ದು. ಕಳೆದ ಮಾರ್ಚ್ ನಿಂದ ಮತ್ತೆ ಅಭಿಯಾನ ಆರಂಭವಾಗಿದ್ದು ಆಸಕ್ತರನ್ನು ಸಂಪಾದಕರನ್ನಾಗಿ ಮಾಡುವ ಪ್ರೇರೇಪಿಸುವ ಕೆಲಸವನ್ನು ತಂಡ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದೆ.

ಸಾಫ್ಟ್‌ವೇರ್ ವಲಯದ ಮಂದಿ ಒಂದಿಷ್ಟು ಸಮಯವನ್ನು ಇದಕ್ಕೆ ನೀಡುತ್ತಾರೆ ಹೊರತು, ಸಾಹಿತಿಗಳು, ಉಪನ್ಯಾಸಕರು, ವಿವಿಧ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರಗಳ ತಜ್ಞರು ಆಸಕ್ತಿ ತೋರುವುದಿಲ್ಲ ಎನ್ನುತ್ತದೆ ಕನ್ನಡ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯ ತಂಡ. ಕನ್ನಡ ಬ್ಲಾಗ್ ಬರಹಗಾರರು ಒಂದಿಷ್ಟು ಆಸಕ್ತಿ ತೋರಿದರೂ ಲೇಖನಗಳ ಸಂಖ್ಯೆ ಗಣನೀಯವಾಗಿ ಹೆಚ್ಚುತ್ತದೆ. ಪ್ರಕಟಿತ ಲೇಖನಗಳನ್ನು ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಕಟಿಸಬಹುದು.ಅದಕ್ಕೂ ಆಸಕ್ತಿ ತೋರುವುದಿಲ್ಲ ಎನ್ನುತ್ತದೆ ತಂಡ.

ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರ ನಿರಾಸಕ್ತಿ
ಕನ್ನಡ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯದ ಹಿರಿಯ ಸಂಪಾದಕರಲ್ಲಿ ಒಬ್ಬರಾದ ಯು ಬಿ ಪವನಜ ಅವರು ''ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರಿಗೆ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ನಿರಾಸಕ್ತಿ ಇದೆ ಎನ್ನುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಕನ್ನಡ ಸಾಹಿತಿಗಳಾದರೂ ಅಷ್ಟೆ. ಕನ್ನಡ ಭಾಷೆಯ ಬೆಳವಣಿಗೆ ಅಂದರೆ ಬರೀ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯದ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಮಾತಾನಾಡುವುದು ಎನ್ನುವ ಭಾವನೆ ಬೆಳೆಸಿಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಅದರಾಚೆಗೂ ಕನ್ನಡ ಬೆಳೆಯಬೇಕಿದೆ. ಆಗ ಮಾತ್ರ ಭಾಷೆ ಜೀವಂತವಾಗುತ್ತದೆ,'' ಎನ್ನುತ್ತಾರೆ.

''ಆರಂಭ ಹಂತದಲ್ಲಿ ತಂಡದಲ್ಲಿದ್ದ ಗುಂಪುಗಾರಿಕೆ ಮತ್ತು ಹೆಚ್ಚುಗಾರಿಕೆಯೇ ಕನ್ನಡ ವಿಶ್ವಕೋಶ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯ ಬಡವಾಗಲೂ ಕಾರಣ,'' ಎಂದು ತಂಡದ ಸದಸ್ಯರೊಬ್ಬರು ಹೇಳುತ್ತಾರೆ.

ನಮಗೆ ಗೊತ್ತಿರುವುದನ್ನು ಬರೆಯುತ್ತೇವೆ ಎಂಬ ಭಾವನೆಯಿಂದ ಕೂಡಿದ್ದ ತಂಡ ಇನ್ನೊಬ್ಬರನ್ನು ವಿಶ್ವಾಸಕ್ಕೆ ತೆಗೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳದೇ ಇದ್ದದ್ದು ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯಕ್ಕೆ ಹರಿದು ಬರಬಹುದಿದ್ದ ಲೇಖನಗಳ ಪ್ರಮಾಣವನ್ನು ತಗ್ಗಿಸಿತೇನೊ ಎಂದು ಅವರು ಅನುಮಾನ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಪಡಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ.

ಅತಿ ಹಿರಿಯ ಸಂಪಾದಕರು
ಎಚ್ ಆರ್ ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ ವೆಂಕಟೇಶ್, ಮುಂಬಯಿ
ಬಿ ಎಸ್ ಚಂದ್ರಶೇಖರ್, ಸಾಗರ

ಅತಿ ಕಿರಿಯ ಸಂಪಾದಕ
ಯಜ್ಞೇಶ್, 9ನೇ ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿ, ಮೈಸೂರು
-----

ಕನ್ನಡ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯ ಮಾಹಿತಿ ಸಮಗ್ರವಾಗಿರುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಇರುವ ಮಾಹಿತಿ ಕೂಡ ತಪ್ಪಿನಿಂದ ಕೂಡಿದೆ. ವಾಕ್ಯರಚನೆ ಸರಿ ಇಲ್ಲ. ಕನ್ನಡ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯಾ ಇದ್ದೂ ಇಲ್ಲದಂತೆ.
* ಎಚ್ ಎಂ ನಿರಂಜನ, ಇಂಗ್ಲಿಷ್ ಉಪನ್ಯಾಸಕರು, ಹೊಸಪೇಟೆ

ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಅನೇಕರಿಗೆ ಗೊತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ. ಬರಹಗಾರರಿಗೆ ಈ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ತಾಂತ್ರಿಕ ಮಾಹಿತಿ ಇಲ್ಲ. ಹೀಗಾಗಿ ಸಮೃದ್ಧವಾಗಿ ಬೆಳೆಯಬಹುದಾಗಿದ್ದ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯ ಸೊರಗಿದೆ. ಈಗ ಮಾಹಿತಿ ನೀಡುವ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತಿದೆ.
* ಟಿ. ಜಿ. ಶ್ರೀನಿಧಿ, ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯ ಸಂಪಾದಕ

For more details visit https://cis-india.org/news/vijaya-karnataka-kannada-wikipedia-november-19-2013

CIS Signs MoU with Christ University, Bangalore

vishnu — 2013-11-20T06:46:38Z

The Centre for Internet and Society's Access to Knowledge (CIS-A2K) team has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Christ University in Bangalore. As part of this MoU Christ University and CIS-A2K will work together to introduce "Wikipedia in the Indian Undergraduate Language Classroom" at Christ University.

The broad objective of this program is to instil the following skills in the undergraduate student using Indian language Wikipedias as part of the Christ University pedagogy:

Writing Skills (ability to write in an objective fashion/NPOV);
Digital information literacy skills;
Ability to critically engage with a concept/theme; and
Language proficiency skills

CIS-A2K will be doing a one hour orientation on Wikipedia and the program to almost 1,600 students. As part of the orientation we will reach out to about 800 students who have Hindi as a second language, 600 students who have chosen Kannada as a second language, 150 Sanskrit students and about 40 Tamil students and 10 Urdu students. Post the orientation the students will be given an option to do one out of the three continuous internal assignments, as a group assignment, on an Indian language Wikipedia.

We are currently working on the design of this program and will soon share a detailed FAQ for your feedback and inputs.

Christ University and CIS-A2K have also agreed to license all material developed and produced under this partnership under CC-BY-SA 3.0. We would also like to thank Dr. Anil Pinto (Registrar, Christ University) and faculty of Christ University, who has shown great leadership in building this partnership, and Vikram Vincent, a PhD student in the Educational Technology inter-disciplinary program at Indian Institute of Technology - Bombay.

The announcement was made on the Wikimedia mailing list on November 10.

For more details visit https://cis-india.org/openness/blog-old/cis-a2k-mou-christ-university

Panaji: DKA organizes two day Konkani Wikipedia workshop

praskrishna — 2013-11-18T08:33:09Z

In order to showcase Romi Konknni on a global platform, Dalgado Konknni Akademi (DKA) organized a two day Konkani Wikipedia workshop November 16 and November 17 for Romi Konknni writers in collaboration with Centre for Internet and Society’s Access to Knowledge Programme, Bangalore.

This was published in Daijiworld.com on November 18, 2013.

The workshop which was held at Krishnadas Shama Central Library was attended by 30 Romi Konknni writers including editors of Romi Konknni periodicals.

The workshop was conducted by enthusiastic Nitika Tandon, Goa incharge and Programme Manager of Centre for Internet and Society’s Access to Knowledge Programme.

Among those who attended the Romi Konknni Wikipedia Workshop were young writers Nevena Furtado, Frank Fernandes, Venisha Fernandes, Anselmo Fernandes, tiatrist Mario Menezes, Konkani scholar and researcher Fr Pratap Naik, besides editor of ‘Gulab’ and ‘The Goan Review’ Fausto V da Costa, newly appointed editor of ‘Vavraddeancho Ixtt’ Fr Eusebio Gomes and editor of ‘Amcho Avaz’ weekly Tomazinho Cardozo.

DKA President Premanand A Lotlikar while welcoming the participants explained the importance of building up Romi Konknni Wikipedia. Treasurer Walter Menezes proposed the vote of thanks, and secretary Jose Salvador Fernandes co-ordinated the two days workshop.

For more details visit https://cis-india.org/news/daijiworld-november-18-2013-dka-organizes-two-day-konkani-wikipedia-workshop

Train The Trainer Programme for Wikipedians

subha — 2013-11-18T08:24:52Z

Twenty Wikimedians from 10 cities speaking 8 languages attended the 4-day Train-The-Trainer (TTT) programme conducted last month by the Centre for Internet and Society's Access To Knowledge programme (CIS-A2K) at Bangalore. The programme aimed to improve and enhance Wikipedians' skills for outreach and community-building activities.

The article by Subhashish Panigrahi was edited by Rohini Lakshane and published in DNA on November 14, 2013.

Twenty Wikimedians from 10 cities speaking 8 languages attended the 4-day Train The Trainer (TTT) programme conducted last month by the Centre for Internet and Society's Access To Knowledge programme (CIS-A2K) at Bangalore. Twenty active Indian language Wikimedia communities spread across the world are moving ahead the bandwagon of collaborating with each other and carving their mark on the world's largest encyclopaedia and its other sister projects. Apart from editing Wikipedia articles, some Wikimedians devote their time to bringing new blood into the community and fostering it, so that the community grows. Indian language Wikimedia communities need to empower Wikimedians who would lead the outreach activities locally in their vernacular communities. The idea of the TTT programme was born out of this need.

The TTT programme kicked off on October 3 with Wikimedians from Punjab, West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala. They delivered presentations on various topics: Why the society needs Wikipedia; Wikipedia in Indian languages; How articles about diseases and other common medical science topics could be improved to help people; etc. Their presentation delivery skills were assessed by CIS-A2K's Director and Manager and they were offered individual assessment and feedback. Personal trainer Sachin Nagarajappa spent time with Wikimedians discussing mistakes that trainers do while conducting workshops and gradual improvement techniques for impactful outreach. Malayalam Wikimedian Viswanathan Prabhakaran held a session on "Crowd Sourcing from the Future" explaining various layers of crowdsourced projects.

On the next day, groups of Wikimedians were assigned the task of delivering a Wikipedia editing session to the audience as if the latter were new editors. Sachin conducted an advanced presentation skill improvement workshop based on inputs gathered from participants and the assessment of the group presentations. Veteran Wikimedian Hari Prasad Nadig shared lessons on "Challenges and Opportunities in building an Indian Language Community online". FOSS activist and CIS Executive Director Sunil Abraham conducted two sessions: "A spectrogram-based activity to simplify the criticality of Neutral Point of View" and an interactive session on offline and online outreach, "Speed Geeking". These were followed by one-on-one discussions on improving presentation skills.

	Typing in Indian languages is not easy, especially with the many typing layout standards used in the public and private sectors in India. CIS-A2K's Programme Officer Dr. U.B.Pavanaja conducted a session on the Unicode standard for Indian languages, its use and fonts in different operating systems. Social media expert and Wikimedian Tinu Cherian shared the secrets of popularising Indian language Wikipedias and bringing outstanding contributors to the limelight. He also spoke about how the media played an important role in showcasing initiatives for free encyclopaedic content contribution in India, and shared tips on using the social media. CIS-A2K's Programme Director Vishnu Vardhan shared case studies of making Wikipedia workshops interesting, interactive and fun. Viswanathan and CIS-A2K's Programme Officer Subhashish Panigrahi demonstrated how to set up a handheld digital camera-based prop to easily digitise books without using a scanner.

Typing in Indian languages is not easy, especially with the many typing layout standards used in the public and private sectors in India. CIS-A2K's Programme Officer Dr. U.B.Pavanaja conducted a session on the Unicode standard for Indian languages, its use and fonts in different operating systems. Social media expert and Wikimedian Tinu Cherian shared the secrets of popularising Indian language Wikipedias and bringing outstanding contributors to the limelight. He also spoke about how the media played an important role in showcasing initiatives for free encyclopaedic content contribution in India, and shared tips on using the social media. CIS-A2K's Programme Director Vishnu Vardhan shared case studies of making Wikipedia workshops interesting, interactive and fun. Viswanathan and CIS-A2K's Programme Officer Subhashish Panigrahi demonstrated how to set up a handheld digital camera-based prop to easily digitise books without using a scanner.

The most vital part of Wikipedia articles is citing references. Wikimedian Shyamal Lakshminarayan demonstrated how finding sources of references and citing them on Wikipedia could be made easier using various tools. Board member of the Wikimedia Foundation and writer Achal Prabhala shared stories of documenting orally continued traditions in Kerala and South Africa for building references on Wikipedia. He also shed light on how copyright laws evolved in the context of copyright issues that Wikipedia contributors face, and on content donation on WikiSource and other platforms.

Wikimedia India's founding member and veteran Telugu Wikimedian Arjuna Rao Chavala spoke about the history and future plans of Wikimedia India.

The participants then went to M.G. Road Boulevard to see the weaving work by Gandhians, a philately exhibition on Gandhi, and spent some time with Namma Metro's staff to learn about the operations of the Metro. Dr. U.B. Pavanaja and Kannada Wikimedian Om Shivaprakash guided the Wikimedians to the office of Deccan Herald-Prajavani where they observed the newspaper production process and learnt about the use of Kannada Unicode fonts in newspaper printing. The editor and staff of Prajavani learnt about the use of the Wikimedia Commons as a free media repository. The Wikimedians left Bangalore with happy faces with the hope of cultivating more editors in their communities.

Link to the meta page here

More pictures here

For more details visit https://cis-india.org/openness/blog-old/dnaindia-november-14-2013-subhashish-panigrahi-train-the-trainer-programme-for-wikipedians

Train the Trainer Program

subha — 2013-11-18T07:52:26Z

Wikipedians, about 20 of them, from 10 different cities, speaking 8 different languages, joined together for the first ever four days "Train the Trainer Program" organised by the Centre for Internet and Society's Access to Knowledge (CIS-A2K) team in Bangalore from October 3 to 6, 2013.

Read the original published on the Wikipedia meta page

CIS-A2K organised the residency training program to build capacities amongst different language Wikimedia communities. A good diversity of Wikipedians from various language communities such as Bengali, Gujarati, Sanskrit, Malayalam, Hindi, Marathi, Telugu, Odia, came over for the event.

CIS-A2K identified two prominent reasons for organizing the event: (1) Limitations of a virtual sphere, and (2) Limited number of Wikipedians leading outreach activities.

Limitations of a virtual sphere
Most open source communities face problem of a lack of time and space for sharing ideas in a non-virtual sphere. Similary Wikipedians, who are voluntary contributors and authors of the articles posted on Wikipedia merely get time and opportunity to meet fellow editors because of the limitations of a virtual platform on which Wikipedia is built. There are twelve active Indian language Wikimedia communities that are spread across the world and moving the bandwagon of collaborating with each other and carving their historic mark of compiling the world's largest encyclopaedia and its other sister projects. To keep this movement alive there is a need of cross-sharing ideas of working together for a common goal and strengthening the leaders of these communities.

Limited number of Wikipedians leading outreach activities
Only a handful of Wikipedians devote their time in leading outreach activities and bringing new blood to the community. Indian language Wikimedia communities are in need of empowering Wikipedians who would lead outreach sessions in order to expand their editor community and strengthen their language projects.

The inception of this program began with the discussion of organizing a training program for the Wikipedians who are willing to conduct more activities in their home cities. Finally on October 3, 2013, Bangalore heard the voices of prominent Wikipedians from Punjab, West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala. The Wikipedians delivered presentations on various topics such as — why Wikipedia is needed for the society, why Wikipedia in Indian languages, importance of starting new Wiki projects and so on.

Their presentation delivery skills were judged by Vishnu Vardhan and Nitika Tandon and all other community members present. They gave individual assessments and feedback for improvement towards the end of the day. Personal trainer Sachin Nagarajappa spent time with Wikipedians discussing mistakes that trainers do while conducting workshops and gradual improvement techniques for impactful outreach. Wikipedia is built on the concept of crowdsourcing and Malayalam Wikimedian Viswanathan Prabhakaran carried out a session about “Crowd Sourcing from the Future” explaining the various layers of crowdsourced projects.

The first day ended with a task where different language Wikipedians formed groups to prepare presentations for the following day.


Above: Wikipedians Satdeep Gill, Shyamal Lakshminarayan and Shubha during at the CIS-A2K Train-the-Trainer Program (by Subhashish Panigrahi, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

Groups were given a challenge of imagining the audience as new wikipedians. Five groups presented on the second day. Sachin conducted an advanced presentation skill improvement workshop based on the inputs from the participants and the assessment of the group presentations. Veteran Wikipedian Hari Prasad Nadig shared learnings from Challenges & Opportunities in building an Indian Language Community online. Open source activist and CIS's Executive Director Sunil Abraham conducted two sessions — a spectrogram based activity to simplify the "Criticality of Neutral Point of View" and an interactive session called “Speed Geeking” on offline and online outreach followed by a one-on-one discussion on the presentation skill improvement.

Typing in Indian languages is not easy especially when it comes to multiple typing layout standards followed in the public and private sectors in India. Dr. U.B.Pavanaja conducted a session on Unicode standard for Indian languages and its usefulness with a brief context on the fonts and their different operating systems. Social media expert and Wikimedian Tinu Cherian shared the secrets of popularizing Indian language Wikipedias and bringing outstanding contributors to the limelight, how media played an important role in showcasing initiatives for free encyclopaedic content contribution in India and tips of social media. With fun activities Vishnu Vardhan shared case studies of making Wikipedia workshops interesting. Wikimedia Foundation board member and writer Achal Prabhala shared stories of documenting Oral traditions in Kerala and South Africa for Wikipedia referencing and how copyright laws evolved in the context of copyright issues that Wikipedia contributors face. Achal also threw light on content donation on WikiSource and other platforms that would be useful for people to consume for knowledge production on diverse platforms where Wikipedia could play a central role. Viswanathan and Subhashish Panigrahi demonstrated how to set up a handheld digital camera based prop to easily digitize books without using any scanner and then create electronic books.

The most vital part of Wikipedia articles is referencing. Wikimedian Shyamal Lakshminarayan demonstrated how finding sources of references and citing them for the facts on Wikipedia could be made easier through detailed research and by using several tools available. Wikimedia India's founding member and veteran Telugu Wikipedian Arjuna Rao Chavala gave a talk about the history and future plans of Wikimedia India. Wikipedians then went to M.G. Road boulevard to see the weaving work by Gandhians, Philately exhibition on Gandhi and spent some time with Namma Metro's staff to know about the metro operation. Dr. U.B. Pavanaja and Kannada Wikipedian Om Shivaprakash guided Wikipedians to the office of Deccan Herald Prajavani where they got to see the entire newspaper production and spent time with the technical staff to learn about the use of Kannada Unicode fonts for newspaper printing. Editors and staff at Prajavani got to know about the use of WikiCommons as a free image repository.

The four action filled days involved learning new concepts, training on presentation skills, collaborating to create outreach documents, sharing stories from different language communities, understanding new mediums of outreach, meeting Wikipedians from different cities and also having lots of fun. Wikipedians left Bangalore city with happy faces and we hope to cultivate new editors in their communities.

List of Participants

For more details visit https://cis-india.org/openness/blog-old/train-the-trainer-program

Priyadarshini Tadkodkar on Konkani language

subha — 2014-01-31T06:20:11Z

CIS-A2K team interviewed Priyadarshini Tadkodkar about Konkani language. She speaks how editing/contributing to Konkani Wikipedia would help students.

Centre for Internet and Society's Access To Knowledge (CIS-A2K) team was there in Goa University to conduct a four day long Konkani Wikipedia workshop for the MA Konkani students. During these days Subhashish Panigrahi of CIS-A2K caught up with Dr. Priyadarshini Tadkodkar, Head, Konkani department of Goa University and asked about the brief history of Konkani language. In this video Dr. Tadkodkar shares the origin and movements that has affected Konkani, influence of other languages on it and the documentation process of the language. The Census Department of India, 2001 figures put the number of Konkani speakers in India as 2,489,015. Out of these, around 6 lakh were in Goa, 7 lakh in Karnataka, 3 lakh in Maharashtra, 6 lakh in Kerala and rest live outside of India, either as expatriates or citizens of other countries (NRIs).

Video


Above: Video of Priyadarshini Tadkodkar speaking on Konkani language

For more details visit https://cis-india.org/openness/blog-old/priyadarshini-tadkodkar-konkani-language

ಕನ್ನಡ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯಕ್ಕೆ ಈಗ ದಶಮಾನೋತ್ಸವ. ಅದರ ಪ್ರಯುಕ್ತ ಒಂದು ಆಚರಣೆ

praskrishna — 2013-11-20T08:58:30Z

Coverage of the ten years of celebrations in Kannada Wikipedia on Avadhi website.

ಸ್ಥಳ: ಎಚ್.ಎನ್. ಮಲ್ಟಿಮೀಡಿಯ ಹಾಲ್, ನ್ಯಾಶನಲ್ ಕಾಲೇಜು, ಬಸವನಗುಡಿ

ದಿನಾಂಕ: ನವಂಬರ್ ೧೭, ೨೦೧೩

ಸಮಯ: ೦೯:೩೦ ರಿಂದ ೧೩:೦೦

ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮ ವಿವರ :

೯:೩೦-೧೦:೦೦ ನೋಂದಣಿ

೧೦:೦೦ ರಿಂದ ೧೧:೦೦ ಸಭಾ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮ

ಸ್ವಾಗತ ಗೀತೆ – ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ ಚೈತನ್ಯ

ಸ್ವಾಗತ ಮತ್ತು ನಿರ್ವಹಣೆ – ಡಾ. ಎ. ಸತ್ಯನಾರಾಯಣ

ಪ್ರಸ್ತಾವನೆ – ಡಾ. ಯು. ಬಿ. ಪವನಜ

ಮುಖ್ಯ ಅತಿಥಿಗಳ ಮಾತು

ಡಾ. ಯು. ಆರ್. ಅನಂತಮೂರ್ತಿ

ನಾಡೋಜ ಪ್ರೊ.ಜಿ. ವೆಂಕಟಸುಬ್ಬಯ್ಯ

ರವಿ ಹೆಗಡೆ, ಸಮೂಹ ಸಂಪಾದಕ, ಉದಯವಾಣಿ

ಹತ್ತು ವರ್ಷದಲ್ಲಿ ಉತ್ತಮ ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡಿದ ಪ್ರಮುಖ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯನ್ನರುಗಳಿಗೆ ಮತ್ತು

ನಿರ್ವಾಹಕರುಗಳಿಗೆ ಸ್ಮರಣಿಕೆ ನೀಡಿಕೆ

ಧನ್ಯವಾದ ಸಮರ್ಪಣೆ

೧೧:೦೦ – ೧೧:೧೫ – ಚಹಾ

೧೧:೧೫-೧೨:೦೦

ಕನ್ನಡ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯ ಪ್ರಾತ್ಯಕ್ಷಿಕೆ – ಓಂಶಿವಪ್ರಕಾಶ

ಕ್ರಿಯೇಟಿವ್ ಕಾಮನ್ಸ್ – ಕಿರಣ್ ರವಿಕುಮಾರ

ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯನ್ನರುಗಳ ಮಾತು

೧೨:೦೦-೧೩:೦೦ – ಕನ್ನಡ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯ ಸಂಪಾದನೋತ್ಸವ (edit-a-thon)

ಲೇಖನಗಳನ್ನು ಸಿದ್ಧ ಮಾಡಿಕೊಂಡು ಬಂದು ಲೇಖನ ಸೇರಿಸುವುದು.

ಎಲ್ಲರೂ ಬರುತ್ತೀರಿ ತಾನೆ? ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ಸಾಧ್ಯವಿದ್ದವರು ಲ್ಯಾಪ್‌ಟಾಪ್, ಇಂಟರ್‌ನೆಟ್

ಡಾಂಗಲ್ ಮತ್ತು ಒಂದು ಸಿದ್ಧಪಡಿಸಿದ ಲೇಖನ ತಂದು ಕೊನೆಯ ಸಂಪಾದನೋತ್ಸವದಲ್ಲಿ

ಪಾಲ್ಗೊಳ್ಳಬೇಕಾಗಿ ವಿನಂತಿ.

ಬರುವವರು ದಯವಿಟ್ಟು ಈ ಪುಟದಲ್ಲಿ ನೋಂದಾಯಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಿ -

https://kn.wikipedia.org/wiki/ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯ:ಸಮ್ಮಿಲನ/ದಶಮಾನೋತ್ಸವ

For more details visit https://cis-india.org/news/avadhi-website-november-16-2013-kannada-wikipedia-10-years-celebration

10th anniversary of Kannada wikipedia

praskrishna — 2013-11-20T09:03:30Z

Kannada wikipedia is celebrating its 10th anniversary on November 17.

The article by ND Shiva Kumar was published in the Times of India on November 15, 2013. Dr. U.B. Pavanaja is quoted.

Kannada wikipedia has 15,369 articles (as of September 2013) and attracts 14 lakh visitors a month. It undergoes 2,000 edits a month.

The wikipedia boom among the Indian languages started in 2003. Initially, the growth was very slow and it reached 1,000 articles only by 2006. Even today, the situation isn't great.

Among the Indian languages, Hindi tops the list with one lakh articles, Tamil has 56,000, Telugu 53,000 and Marathi 40,000. Kannada is ahead of only Oriya and Punjabi.

Kannada has a total of 400 editors, of which 41 are active and 7 very active. The two highest contributors are non-techies and they are around 80 years - H R Lakshmivenkatesh from Mumbai and B S Chandrashekar from Sagar.

Wikipedian U B Pavanaja says it has gained momentum recently and the future looks bright.

The 10th anniversary programme on November 17 will be held from 9.30 am to 1.30 pm at H N Multimedia Hall, National College, Basavanagudi, Bangalore. Guests of honour will be Dr U R Ananthamurthy and Prof G Venkatasubbaiah.

For more details visit https://cis-india.org/news/the-times-of-india-november-15-2013-nd-shiva-kumar-tenth-anniversary-of-kannada-wikipedia

Tenth Anniversary of Kannada Wikipedia: Udayavani Coverage

praskrishna — 2013-11-20T07:25:08Z

Udayavani, on November 15, 2013 published about the upcoming tenth anniversary of Kannada Wikipedia.

See the original published by Udayavani here.

ನ.17ರಂದು ಕನ್ನಡ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯ ದಶಮಾನೋತ್ಸವ

ಕನ್ನಡ ನೆಟ್ಟಿಗರ ಜ್ಞಾನದಾಹವನ್ನು ತಣಿಸುತ್ತಿರುವ ಕನ್ನಡ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯ 10 ವಸಂತಗಳನ್ನು ಪೂರೈಸಿರುವ ಸಂತಸವನ್ನು ಹಂಚಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲು ಇದೇ ಭಾನುವಾರ, ನವೆಂಬರ್ 17, 2013ರಂದು ಡಾ. ಎಚ್. ನರಸಿಂಹಯ್ಯ ಸಭಾಂಗಣ, ನ್ಯಾಶನಲ್ ಕಾಲೇಜು, ಬಸವನಗುಡಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ದಶಮಾನೋತ್ಸವ ಸಮಾರಂಭವನ್ನು ಆಯೋಜಿಸಿದೆ.

ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯ ಮುಖಾಂತರವೇ ವಿಷಯಗಳ ವಿನಿಮಯ ಮಾಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯನ್ನರು ಈ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮದಲ್ಲಿ ಭಾಗವಹಿಸಿ, ತಾವು ಬರೆದ ಲೇಖನ, ಮಾಹಿತಿಗಳ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಮುಖತಃ ಚರ್ಚಿಸುವ ಅವಕಾಶವನ್ನು ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯ ಒದಗಿಸಿದೆ. ಜೊತೆಗೆ, ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯ ಪರಿಚಯ, ಸಂಪಾದಕ ಆಗುವ ವಿಧಾನ, ಲೇಖನ ಬರೆಯುವ ಬಗೆ, ಚಿತ್ರಗಳನ್ನು ಸೇರಿಸುವ ವಿವರಗಳನ್ನು ಈ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮದಲ್ಲಿ ತಿಳಿಸಿಕೊಡಲಾಗುವುದು.

ಕನ್ನಡದ ಖ್ಯಾತ ಲೇಖಕ ಡಾ. ಯು.ಆರ್. ಅನಂತಮೂರ್ತಿ, ಸಂಶೋಧಕ ಡಾ. ಜಿ. ವೆಂಕಟಸುಬ್ಬಯ್ಯ ಮತ್ತು ಪತ್ರಕರ್ತ ರವಿ ಹೆಗಡೆ ಅವರ ಮಾತುಗಳನ್ನು ಕೇಳುವ ಸುಯೋಗ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯನ್ನರಿಗೆ ಲಭಿಸಲಿದೆ. ಭಾಗವಹಿಸಲಿಚ್ಛಿಸುವವರು ಮೊದಲೇ ನೋಂದಾಯಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಬೇಕು.

ಸ್ಥಳ : ಎಚ್.ಎನ್. ಮಲ್ಟಿಮೀಡಿಯ ಹಾಲ್, ನ್ಯಾಶನಲ್ ಕಾಲೇಜು, ಬಸವನಗುಡಿ

ದಿನಾಂಕ : ನವಂಬರ್ 17, 2013
ಸಮಯ : 9:30ರಿಂದ 13:00

ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮ ವಿವರ:

9:30-10:00 ನೋಂದಣಿ
10:00 ರಿಂದ 11:00 ಸಭಾ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮ
ಸ್ವಾಗತ ಗೀತೆ - ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ ಚೈತನ್ಯ
ಸ್ವಾಗತ ಮತ್ತು ನಿರ್ವಹಣೆ - ಡಾ. ಎ. ಸತ್ಯನಾರಾಯಣ
ಪ್ರಸ್ತಾವನೆ - ಡಾ. ಯು. ಬಿ. ಪವನಜ

ಮುಖ್ಯ ಅತಿಥಿಗಳ ಮಾತು

ಡಾ. ಯು. ಆರ್. ಅನಂತಮೂರ್ತಿ
ನಾಡೋಜ ಪ್ರೊ.ಜಿ. ವೆಂಕಟಸುಬ್ಬಯ್ಯ
ರವಿ ಹೆಗಡೆ, ಸಮೂಹ ಸಂಪಾದಕ, ಉದಯವಾಣಿ

ಹತ್ತು ವರ್ಷದಲ್ಲಿ ಉತ್ತಮ ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡಿದ ಪ್ರಮುಖ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯನ್ನರುಗಳಿಗೆ ಮತ್ತು ನಿರ್ವಾಹಕರುಗಳಿಗೆ ಸ್ಮರಣಿಕೆ ನೀಡಿಕೆ
ಧನ್ಯವಾದ ಸಮರ್ಪಣೆ
11:00 - 11:15 - ಚಹಾ

11:15 - 12:00

ಕನ್ನಡ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯ ಪ್ರಾತ್ಯಕ್ಷಿಕೆ - ಓಂಶಿವಪ್ರಕಾಶ
ಕ್ರಿಯೇಟಿವ್ ಕಾಮನ್ಸ್ - ಕಿರಣ್ ರವಿಕುಮಾರ
ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯನ್ನರುಗಳ ಮಾತು

12:00-13:00 - ಕನ್ನಡ ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯ ಸಂಪಾದನೋತ್ಸವ (edit-a-thon)
ಲೇಖನಗಳನ್ನು ಸಿದ್ಧ ಮಾಡಿಕೊಂಡು ಬಂದು ಲೇಖನ ಸೇರಿಸುವುದು.

ಸಾಧ್ಯವಿದ್ದವರು ಲ್ಯಾಪ್‌ಟಾಪ್, ಇಂಟರ್‌ನೆಟ್ ಡಾಂಗಲ್ ಮತ್ತು ಒಂದು ಸಿದ್ಧಪಡಿಸಿದ ಲೇಖನ ತಂದು ಕೊನೆಯ ಸಂಪಾದನೋತ್ಸವದಲ್ಲಿ ಪಾಲ್ಗೊಳ್ಳಬಹುದು. ಬರುವವರು ದಯವಿಟ್ಟು ಈ ಪುಟದಲ್ಲಿ ನೋಂದಾಯಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಿ - https://kn.wikipedia.org/wiki/ವಿಕಿಪೀಡಿಯ:ಸಮ್ಮಿಲನ/ದಶಮಾನೋತ್ಸವ

For more details visit https://cis-india.org/news/kannada-wikipedia-tenth-anniversary-udayavani-november-15

Konknni Wikipedia Workshop

praskrishna — 2013-11-15T08:19:50Z

Dalgado Konknni Akademi in collaboration with Centre for Internet & Society’s Access to Knowledge Programme is organsing a 2 day Wikipedia editing workshop at the Goa Central State Library on November 16 and 17, 2013 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

This workshop is free and open for anyone to attend. Please feel free to join hands in the campaign to promote free access to knowledge in one’s mother tongue – Konknni in Romi! This is a brilliant opportunity to showcase Konkani language in Roman script on a global platform such as Konknni Wikipedia!

Click to download the invite here. (PDF, 64 Kb)

Read more on Dalgado Konknni Akademi here
Read more on the Centre for Internet and Society here
Read more on Goa Central State Library here

For more details visit https://cis-india.org/openness/events/konknni-wikipedia-workshop-nov-16-17-2013