Wikisangamotsavam-2016
Wikisangamotsavam-2016, the fifth annual gathering of users and well wishers of Malayalam Wikimedia projects, will take place from 26,27,28 December, 2016 in Kanjangad,Kasargod Kerala. Updates can also be seen on Facebook here.
The annual meetup of malayalam wikipedia well wishers and users Wikisangamolsavam-2016 was conducted from Kanhangad, Kasargod from Padnekkad Good Sheperd Church auditorium on December 26, 27, 28 with various programmes. Wikipedia is a free online encyclopedia. Wikipedia is accessible in 295 different languages. English Wikipedia with above fifty lakh articles scored highest. Malayalam Wikipedia begin its journey in 2012 and currently giving an indispensable contribution to the educational zone. IT@school tuitor Vijayan Rajapuram and few teachers made a very good effort for conducting the Wikisangamotsavam-2016. In the initial stage Vijayakumar Blathur, Sachil Lal and Sajal Karikkan also gave good assistance. The session wind up with an expectation of arround fifteen new active wikipedians.
An estimated overview of the Wikisangamotsavam is given below.
A General Evaluation
The Sangamotsavam was conducted with some specifc aim. Kasargod district is the border of Kerala and Karnataka. So there are various folk arts and cultures which they follow. More than seven different languages are used by people and Kasargod is a district with most of the village name comes in thulu and kannada. Information related to these villages were either not updated or incomplete in wikipedia. The main objective of Sangaotsavam was to find skilled writers. Around fifteen members registered their names including teachers and students. We have not invited anyone of them. If they are active in editing for atleast six monhs, we can conclude that the sangamotsavam was successful. By providing learning camps we will be able to inspire new users. Another decision was to conduct the Wikipedia meetups as a public programme so that it will reach the publics easily. We were able to provide classes related to Kasargod district during this programme.
Technological Empowerment of Disabled
The first day of Sangamotsavam, 26th started with the class of Sathyasheelan Master on the topic 'Technological Empowerment of Disabled'. He explained how to survive blindness and participate in wikipedia. His class was a wonderful experience for all because he explained very well about wikipedia works with examples even if he is fully blind. He introduced some softwares for disabled and explained how to type Malayalam, English and Hindi for blinds as well as to find spelling mistakes commited. He also explained how to listen a wikipedia article those who cannot read it.