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 at Good Sheperd Church auditorium, Padnekkad in Kanhangad, Kasargod district 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.

Freedom of Knowledge

Next was the class by M A Rahman Master on the topic Freedom of Knowledge. Its all about thinking of free knowledge and features of media that distribute knowledge. He explained about the present condition of the society and environment, where individuals have deep knowledge and libraries with them but not ready to publish.

Open Street Mapping

Next topic was about the possibility of open street maping which is also famous as encyclopedia like wikimedia projects. This class helped the users to think how open street maping can be used in wikipedia. Mr. Ranjith explained this can be used in wiki voyege, another wikimedia product and we have to make an effort for that.

School Wiki Project

Next was the class about school wiki by Shabhareesh Master. He explained about evaluating the possibility of wikipedia as well as school wiki. The articles in school wiiki are to be increased and information about all schools should be widely expanded. He spoke about the requirement of a media to publish the arts work of students like poems, stories, colash, drawings etc. As the softwere of wiki project and school wiki is media wiki, learning of editing will be useful for wikipedia in future. He concluded the discussion reveling Malayalam Wikipedia users should assist the teachers who works for IT@ school, when ever requirement arise and it is essential to have a cooperation between school wiki and wikipedia for better acheivements.

Main Session

The main session started on 27th tuesday morning 10 am at the presence of Kanganhad corporation chairman Mr. V V Rameshan and Kasargod Loksabha representative Mr. M P Karunakaran. Mr M P Karunakaran formally inaugrated the function. CIS representatives Manasa from Chennai and Ting Yi from Thai wan also arrived for the function. Both Manasa & Ting- Yi was there for the function still the final day.Malayalam Wikipedia started in 2002 December 21st. We celebrated the birthday of Wikipedia by cutting cake and distritributed among the members. Celebration started by Mr. M P Karunakaran by cuting the cake and gave to Aatmika, youngest representative of Sangamotsavam.

Malayalam Wikipedia Activities, Last One Year

Here we discussed about the past one year's wikipedia activities and future programmes and reporting. We have shared the observations and done the documentation. Each and every users participated in this equally. This was very useful for new users. Then we discussed about the last year Sangamotsavam's report in which some errors occured in cost. That affected badly on this year's CIS support. All users perception was, it is good to think this will be the last Sangamotsavam of Malayalam Wikipedia.

Delegacy of Ancient Animals in Wikipedia

This topic was presented by the Wikipedia user Irvin. It was such an amazing presentation which include a photo exhibition. It includes the name of dinosaurs, description and Wikipedia link.These posters were available in Wikipedia Commons. N number of subject based questions arised from the audience shows how excellent the presentation was. Irvin duly answered for all those. This class was informative as well as attracted the new users to Wikipedia.

Wishes by MR. Anwar Sadath

Next programme was a video speech by Mr Anwar Sadath, a science writer and Executive Director of IT@ school. He explained about the working of Malayalam Wikipedia and school wiki jointly and sharing fredom of knowledge. A small portion of discussion was about the activities of IT@school.

A Presentation on Mozilla

Team from Mozilla gave a very good class. They conducted a question answer session in which first prize attained by Ranjith Siji and second by Achu Kulangara. They affixed a stand and banner on the stage.

An explanation on Mangalam Kali

Afterwards a class was conducted by Mr. Ramachandran Master about Mangalam Kali a traditional folk art of Kasargod. It was the main part of marriage celebration of tribal people. It is played in the middle of marriage pandal arround a piller. Elder people will be present at the occasion. Maximum number of participants in Mangalam kali willbe thirty. He explained Kasargod district is the base of many such folk arts. Many of them left their historical residues and become a competitive item in stages now a days. So this will reduce clarity of Mangalam Kali too. A video presentation of Mangalam Kali was given by Ramachandran master. It was a great experience for outsiders.

An unwritten History of Kasargod

Next was a class given by Prof. Balan on the topic, 'An unwritten history of Kasargod'. He explained about the unknown history of Kasargod on the basis of certain Historical Myths with enough reference. He also explained about the books related to this and available place. As well as the difference between the books for which one or two editions published. He discribed briefly about some Theyyams (Folk art) like Mukri theyyam which introduce unity of religions and some other islam theyyams and present existance of Alamikkali (another folk art). He noticed some Wikipedia users talk in between the class that made him feel like annoying so that he revealed it immedietely. The discussion was about an attempt to bunk from the class. Among the audience active wikipedians are less .

Boat Trip

27th evening it was time for breakup. 28th we have conducted a boat trip like photo walk. It was mainly for uploading photos in commons. Trip started from Nileshwar and destination was Valiyaparamba. Photo shoot was done on first two days from various places. Catogory for upoading these photos has been shared with everyone. It is Wikisangamotsavam - 2016 and Wikisangamotsavam. This will be helpful during the submission of programme report to Foundation.

Photo Walk

Photo walk was take plac during morning and evening of sangamotsavam as well as on the day of boat trip. Photo Walk was occured under the leadership of Tony Master, sugeesh and Shegil. The next step in this is to upload all photos to commons. Addition of photos in English and Malayalam Wikipedia pages and catogorisation can be done according to their own idea.

Cost of Sangamotsavam

The annual meetup of malayalam wikipedia users, Wikisangamolsavam-2016 was conducted from Kanhangad, Kasargod from Padnekkad Good Sheperd Church auditorium for three days.

1. Accomodation : 50 Members, (2 Days) : 75 Rs per person : 3750 2. Breakfast : 85 Members, (3 Days) : 45 Rs per person : 3825 3. Tea :115 Members, (two times a day, two days) : 5 Rs per Tea : 575 4. Lunch : 115 Members, (Two days) :60 per lunch : 6000 5. Snacks : 115 Members, (Two days) : 15 per snack : 1725 6. Dinner : 50 Members, (Two days) : 50 per dinner : 2500 7. Auditorium, Hall, Sound, Generator : (Two days) :1500 8. The total cost for Wikisangamotsavam was Rs 20775/- which was given the next day itself.

House Boat Trip on 28th

The boat trip started from Nileshwar Kottappuram on 28th morning 10'o clock. The destination place Valiyaparamba is near to the Ezhumala Neval Academy. The boat staff served tea, snacks and lunch for us. The active participation of CIS member Manasa and Ting- Yi from Taywan made the trip more thrilling. The destination place was quiet amazing with n number of monkeys. we supplied eatables to monkeys. It was a nice experience. The trip ended at evening 4'o clock.

Wiki Voyege

The presentation about Wikivoyage by wikipedian sajal was an unique one. The description about the wikivoyage encouraged our 5 members of IT school teachers and they said that wikivoyage will be a good idea to make the wiki editing .

Cool Presentations

The mimikry program that done by sajal was an intresting one. The song sung by IT school teacher santhosh master was an awesome which was pleasant and sings like a good singer. later wikipedian Sajal and manjusha were also part of this programme. The song sung by ting yi from taivan in her native language was wonderful. After that amritha took an opportunity to sing a song. Finally Sebastian from kollam done the vote of thanks. The boating programme ended in kottapuram that will be the end of wiki saghamolsavam.

Cost of Trip

There were total 36 persons participated in the trip. In which the house boat authority gave a 31 persons list except the children’s. They have charged 1000 rupees for 8 persons and the remaining person has to pay 700 rupees for the house boat travel. They have given a discount for the house boat trip so the total expenditure reduced to 23250. There were 3 people in boat for driving, cooking and guiding.

Total Cost

The current figure of money to pay good shepherd church and the house boat will be 20755 rupees and 23250 respectively. According to this total expenditure will be 44025 rupees .In addition the name of people who travel to and from a distance and the amount to pay for the 3 employees the printing charge for dinoser poster and banner and 2 kilo’s of cake to celebrate the wiki birth day. All of the bills currently accurate and the only doubt is regarding in the case of house boat workers. currently we are taking various bills including the ticket.