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{{short description|Wikipedia conference in India}}
{{Infobox Convention
| name = WikiConference India
| image = [[File:WikiConference India 2023 logo (RGB, square).svg|250px|Wiki Conference India 2023 logo]]
| caption =
| status = Active
| genre =
| venue = [[Hyderabad]]
| location = [[Hyderabad]], India (28–30 April 2023)
| country =
| first = {{start date|2011}}
| last = {{End date|2023}}
| prev = [[:m:WikiConference India 2023|WikiConference India 2023]]
| next = [[:m:WikiConference India 2025|WikiConference India 2025]]
| organizer =
| filing = Non-profit
| attendance =
| website = {{URL|https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/WikiConference_India_2025|Wiki Conference India 2025}}
}}
'''WikiConference India''' is a national Wikipedia conference organised in [[India]]. The first WikiConference India conference was held in November 2011, in [[Mumbai]], the capital of the Indian state of [[Maharashtra]]. It was organised by the [[Mumbai]] Wikipedia community in partnership with [[Wikimedia CH#Local chapters|Wikimedia India Chapter]]
<ref name="ICA">{{cite web |url=http://indiacurrentaffairs.org/mumbai-to-host-first-wikiconference-in-india/ |title=Mumbai to host first WikiConference in India |author=IANS |date=9 November 2011 |publisher=India Current Affairs |access-date=15 November 2011 |archive-date=26 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226132615/http://indiacurrentaffairs.org/mumbai-to-host-first-wikiconference-in-india/%20 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="efytimes">{{cite web |url=http://www.efytimes.com/e1/fullnews.asp?edid=73018&magid=11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401124134/http://www.efytimes.com/e1/fullnews.asp?edid=73018&magid=11 |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 April 2012 |title=Mumbai To Host First Ever National WikiConference In India |author=Unattributed |date=9 November 2011 |work=EFY Times |publisher=EFY Enterprises |access-date=15 November 2011 }}</ref> with the support of the [[Wikimedia Foundation]].<ref name="NVO">{{cite web |url=http://nvonews.com/2011/11/09/wikipedia-conference-comes-to-india-set-for-nov-18/ |title=Wikipedia conference comes to India, set for Nov 18 |author=IANS |date=9 November 2011 |publisher=Northern Voices Online |access-date=15 November 2011 |archive-date=26 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226132647/http://nvonews.com/2011/11/09/wikipedia-conference-comes-to-india-set-for-nov-18/%20 |url-status=live }}</ref> The conference is positioned as the annual national flagship event for Wikimedia in India and is open to participation from citizens of all nations. The focus is on matters concerning India on Wikipedia projects and other sister projects in [[English Wikipedia|English]] and other [[Languages of India|Indian folk languages]].<ref name="efytimes" /><ref name="Hindustan Times Language">{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Mumbai/Wikipedia-woos-India-with-local-languages/Article1-771140.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111121214823/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Mumbai/Wikipedia-woos-India-with-local-languages/Article1-771140.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 21, 2011|title=Wikipedia woos India with local languages|date=19 November 2011|publisher=[[Hindustan Times]]|access-date=19 November 2011}}</ref><ref name="Dawn">{{cite web |url=http://www.dawn.com/2011/11/10/wikipedia-eyes-india-for-language-growth.html |title=Wikipedia eyes India for language growth |author=Unattributed |date=10 November 2011 |publisher=Dawn.com |access-date=15 November 2011 |archive-date=26 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226132613/https://www.dawn.com/2011/11/10/wikipedia-eyes-india-for-language-growth.html%20 |url-status=live }}</ref> WikiConference India 2023 took place in [[Hyderabad]] from 28 to 30 April 2023.<ref name="Meta 2022">{{cite web | title=WikiConference India 2023 | website=Meta | date=12 October 2022 | url=https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/WikiConference_India_2023 | access-date=19 February 2023 | archive-date=12 December 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221212130814/https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/WikiConference_India_2023 | url-status=live }}</ref> Wikiconference India 2025 is in the planning phase.<ref>{{Cite web |title=WikiConference India 2025 - Meta |url=https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/WikiConference_India_2025 |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=meta.wikimedia.org |language=en}}</ref>

==2011==
[[File:Hackathon Mumbai 2011 Groupshot.jpg|thumb|A Hackathon (attendees pictured) was held in concurrently with the conference.]]
WikiConference India aims to provide a common platform for all [[India|Indian]] Wikimedians to interact, share ideas and collaborate. The conference ran from 18 to 20 November 2011 and was held at [[Mumbai University]] in [[South Mumbai]], the largest talks in the university's historic convocation hall.<ref name="ICA" /><ref name="BBC News">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-15803308|title=Wikipedia hosts India conference amid expansion push|author=Rajini Vaidyanathan|date=19 November 2011|publisher=[[BBC News Online]]|access-date=19 November 2011|archive-date=14 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414015434/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-15803308|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Reuters">{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/diary-india-idUSL4E7MA0EE20111110 |title=Diary India - Nov 18-20 |author=Deo, Sumedha |date=9 November 2011 |publisher=Reuters |access-date=15 November 2011 |archive-date=8 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308012821/http://www.reuters.com/article/diary-india-idUSL4E7MA0EE20111110 |url-status=live }}</ref>[[File:Me with Jimmy Wales.jpg|thumb|Jimmy Wales with one of the contributors to the Wikipedia before the Keynote address]]
The conference was inaugurated by a keynote address by [[Jimmy Wales]].<ref name="ICA" /><ref name="Techcircle.in">{{cite web |url=http://techcircle.vccircle.com/500/jimmy-wales-to-open-the-first-wikiconference-in-india/ |title=Jimmy Wales To Open The First WikiConference In India |author=Gupta, Bhawna |date=10 November 2011 |publisher=techcircle.in |access-date=15 November 2011 |archive-date=26 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226132631/https://techcircle.vccircle.com/500/jimmy-wales-to-open-the-first-wikiconference-in-india/%20 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Arnab Goswami]] spoke on "Neutrality" as an invited guest speaker.<ref name="DNA-20111120">{{cite news|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_wikipedians-not-impressed-with-arnab-goswami-s-talk-in-wikiconference_1614938|title=Wikipedians not impressed with Arnab Goswami's talk in WikiConference|date=2011-11-20|work=DNA|publisher=Diligent Media Corporation Ltd.|access-date=15 July 2012|location=Mumbai|archive-date=2018-12-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226132650/https://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-wikipedians-not-impressed-with-arnab-goswami-s-talk-in-wikiconference-1614938|url-status=live}}</ref> Barry Newstead spoke on the last day.

Tracks showcased at the Conference included topics such as ''Wikipedia Impact'', ''Gender Gap'',<ref name="Hindustan Times" /> ''Indic Language wiki track'', ''MediaWiki Translation Sprint'', ''Institutions and Wikipedia'', ''Fair use Workshop'', etc.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/WikiConference_India_2011/Programs|title=WikiConference India 2011/Programs|work=wikimedia.org|access-date=2011-11-11|archive-date=2011-11-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111113073625/http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/WikiConference_India_2011/Programs|url-status=live}}</ref> It also included ''[[Editathon]]'' and WikiAcademy sessions.<ref name="efytimes" /> Various sessions on topics such as:<ref name="efytimes" />
* ''Free knowledge and free content''
* ''Legal Aspects of Wiki Culture''
* ''Usage of Ajax and jQuery in Wiki''
* Wiki Bhasha: ''Our Experiences with Multilingual Content''
* Wiki Women Web: ''Bridging the Gender Gap''<ref name="Hindustan Times">{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Mumbai/Wikipedia-seeks-more-women-contributors/Article1-771564.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111122034723/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Mumbai/Wikipedia-seeks-more-women-contributors/Article1-771564.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 22, 2011|title=Wikipedia seeks more women contributors|date=19 November 2011|publisher=[[Hindustan Times]]|access-date=19 November 2011}}</ref>
* GLAM (Galleries, libraries, archives and museums) project initiation in indic language Wikipedias

Concurrent with the conference was a ''[[Hackathon]]'', hosted by the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (MACCIA) [[Kala Ghoda]], [[South Mumbai]].<ref name=efytimes /> Other activities included a city tour and a [[Heritage tourism|Heritage]] walk. Wikimedians and non-Wikimedians from all over India and other countries, [[Wikimedia Foundation]] staff and co-founder<ref name="ReagleLessig2010">{{cite book|author1=Joseph Michael Reagle|author2=Lawrence Lessig|title=Good Faith Collaboration: The Culture of Wikipedia|url=https://archive.org/details/goodfaithcol_reag_2010_000_10578531|url-access=registration|access-date=14 July 2012|date=30 September 2010|publisher=MIT Press|isbn=978-0-262-01447-2|page=[https://archive.org/details/goodfaithcol_reag_2010_000_10578531/page/n83 66]}}</ref> A hundred applicants got scholarships based on their experience and contribution to Wikipedia and other projects.<ref name="DNA">{{cite web |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_south-india-bags-50pct-of-wiki-scholarships_1610660 |title=South India bags 50% of Wiki scholarships |author=Kumaran, Uttarika |date=11 November 2011 |publisher=DNA India |access-date=15 November 2011 |archive-date=26 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226132645/https://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-south-india-bags-50-of-wiki-scholarships-1610660 |url-status=live }}</ref> More than 700 people attended the conference.<ref name="BBC News" /> [[Microsoft Research]], [[Omidyar Network]], [[Kalnirnay]], [[Yebhi.com]], were the sponsors;<ref name="efytimes" /><ref name="Sponsors">{{cite web|url=http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/WikiConference_India_2011/Sponsors|title=WikiConference India 2011/Sponsors|work=wikimedia.org|access-date=2011-11-11|archive-date=2018-12-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226132635/https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/WikiConference_India_2011/Sponsors|url-status=live}}</ref> and eRegNow.com, Avignyata Inc., Kores India Ltd., Text100, Digital Signage Networks (DSN) and Panache were the partners.<ref name="Sponsors" /> There was a demonstration outside the conference by protesters against the map used by Wikipedia to show the borders of India.<ref name="BBC News" />

== 2016 ==
[[File:Katherine Maher and eminant poet Surjit Patar with cultural group, at Wikiconference India 2016.jpg|thumb|[[Katherine Maher]] and eminent poet [[Surjit Patar]] with cultural group]]

The [[m:WikiConference_India_2016|second WikiConference India]] was held in [[Mohali]], a city of [[Punjab, India|Punjab]] State near [[Chandigarh]]. The venue of the Conference was CGC Landhran. [[Katherine Maher]], Executive Director of WMF, and Nataliia Tymkiv, Board Member of WMF, attended this conference.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/punjabis-most-active-community-on-wikipedia-says-wikimedia-director-katherine-maher/story-dwHWJ9TDrbIkIlPF0ceZjN.html |title=Hindustan Times |date=6 August 2016 |access-date=2016-08-07 |archive-date=2016-08-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807151332/http://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/punjabis-most-active-community-on-wikipedia-says-wikimedia-director-katherine-maher/story-dwHWJ9TDrbIkIlPF0ceZjN.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==2023==
[[:m:WikiConference India 2023|WCI 2023]] was a national-level conference that provided a common platform for Wikimedians and stakeholders interested in Indic-language Wikimedia projects and other aspects of the movement in India and a few South Asian regions. This was a space to meet, connect, share stories, learnings, best practices, and challenges, and discuss the future strategy of the region. The conference took place in [[Hyderabad]] from 28 to 30 April 2023.

==See also==
* [[Wikimania]]
* [[WikiConference North America]]
* [[Wiki Indaba]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|WikiConference India 2011}}
* [http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/WikiConference_India_2011 "Wiki Conference India 2011"] at Meta-Wiki, a Wikimedia project coordination wiki
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20111112222433/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j6M8i-wPgsg3vT7wjlHyEokOPltQ?docId=CNG.e77e4a807cd98d224ecb7444f69b8e62.321 "Wikipedia eyes India for language growth"] [[Agence France-Presse]] 9 November 2011
* [https://archive.today/20130103115331/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-11-10/mumbai/30381669_1_wikimedia-foundation-wikipedians-jimmy-wales "WikiConference comes to town"] ''[[Times of India]]'' 10 November 2011
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20111118191116/http://atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/MK19Df02.html "Wiki-world targets India "] [[Asia Times Online|''Asia Times'' Online]] 19 November 2011
* [http://business-standard.com/india/news/wikipedia-needs-inputs-in-local-languages/456004/ "Wikipedia needs inputs in local languages"] ''[[Business Standard]]'' 18 November 2011

{{Wikipedia|state=expanded}}
{{Wikimedia Foundation}}

[[Category:Wikimedia Foundation]]
[[Category:Wikimedia India]]
[[Category:Wiki-related conferences]]
[[Category:Wikipedia]]
[[Category:Wikipedia in India]]

WikiConference India - Revision history

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