WikimediaIndia-l March 2011

wikimediaindia-l@lists.wikimedia.org

49 participants
99 discussions

Odia and Odisha
by Shiju Alex 24 Mar '11

24 Mar '11

Indian Parliament approves new name for Oriya language and Orissa state. Now onwards the Oriya language will be called as *Odia* and the Orissa state will hereafter be called *Odisha*. More detailed news here: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/parliament-approve… Shiju

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Fwd: Registration open for the Hackathon in Berlin, May 13-15
by Barry Newstead 24 Mar '11

24 Mar '11

Cross-posting to India list. -------- Original Message -------- Subject: [Wiki-research-l] Registration open for the Hackathon in Berlin, May 13-15 Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2011 18:15:52 +0100 From: Daniel Kinzler <daniel(a)brightbyte.de> Reply-To: Research into Wikimedia content and communities <wiki-research-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org> Organization: Wikimedia Deutschland e.V. To: mediawiki-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org, wikitech-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org, toolserver-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org, Research into Wikimedia content and communities <wiki-research-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org>, Wikitext-l <wikitext-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org>, Sumana Harihareswara <sumanah(a)panix.com>, Danese Cooper <dcooper(a)wikimedia.org>, Erik Moeller <erik(a)wikimedia.org>, Rob Lanphier <robla(a)wikimedia.org> CC: Nicole Ebber <nicole.ebber(a)wikimedia.de>, Pavel Richter <pavel.richter(a)wikimedia.de>, hackathon(a)wikimedia.de Hi all! Wikimedia Germany invites anyone interested in improving MediaWiki to come and join us at or third developer meet-up. Like the last two years, it's going to be awesome! Unlike the last two years, there will be more hacking and less talking - it'll be a Hackathon, not a BarCamp. We'll meet on May 13 to 15, in Berlin, on the 4th floor of the betahaus coworking space<http://betahaus.de/>. There will not be an entrance fee, but registration is mandatory and now open: <http://de.amiando.com/hackathon2011>. Registration will close on April 10. If you like to attend, please register in time! More information can be found at <http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Berlin_Hackathon_2011>. The Berlin Hackathon 2011 is an opportunity for MediaWiki hackers to come together, squash bugs and write crazy new features. Our main focus this time around will probably be: * Improving usability / accessibility * Interactive Maps * Fixing the parser * WMF Ops (new data center, virtualization) * Supporting the Wiki Loves Monuments image hunt * Squashing bugs If you have different ideas, please let us know: <http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Berlin_Hackathon_2011#Topics> The Hackathon will be hosting the Language committee and Wiki loves Monuments group. There is a limited number of seats reserved for these groups and if you belong to one of them, you should receive an invitation code soon. If you have any doubts or questions, contact us at<hackathon(a)wikimedia.de>. We’re excited to see you in Berlin, your Hackathon Team Daniel Kinzler (Program Coordinator) Nicole Ebber (Logistics) Cornelius Kibelka (Assistant) _______________________________________________ Wiki-research-l mailing list Wiki-research-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wiki-research-l -- Barry Newstead Chief Global Development Officer Wikimedia Foundation Tel: +1-415-839-6885 x. 6634 Skype: barry.wikimedia Twitter: @bazanews

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Re: [Wikimediaindia-l] Commons:Deletion requests/File:Mahasaraswati.jpg
by Ashwin Baindur 24 Mar '11

24 Mar '11

Dear Sankar, I have read the discussion here : http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:Deletion_requests/File:Mahasarasw… <http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:Deletion_requests/File:Mahasarasw…>and the http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:Freedom_of_panorama#India and the threads on the Wikimedia-I list. <http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:Freedom_of_panorama#India>I am not qualified to comment but here goes. I think rather than look to Wikipedia to change its policy, we must take the trouble to gather some kind of proof. Perhaps the best way is the way suggested by you - the Public Trust route, i.e. * Prove that temple is public trust, and work in public place of art * statement from trust that said painting has been in their ownership earlier than 1950 * supported (if possible) by proof such as : ** stock register where the item is taken on charge ** record of payment to the artist ** affidavit from someone who has been associated over 60 years with the temple that image is over 60 years old ** mention in some old book, etc ** sometimes old timers who visit the temple regularly remember details and we can contact the artist (especially if its recent). He may release it into public domain/under free license. These could be sent as an OTRS so that the image is accepted. Alternative (?) - get an artist to make a similar work & release it under CC3.0 BYSA. I dont know if this is helpful but for important images such as these, we may need to take great efforts equivalent to the efforts for a hundred other images otherwise. BTW, I think we need an article on this temple too. Sincerely, Ashwin Baindur On Tue, Mar 22, 2011 at 11:44 PM, Bishakha Datta <bishakhadatta(a)gmail.com>wrote: > And this is his second email. > > Best > Bishakha > > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > From: Sankar Viswanathan <sankarrukku(a)gmail.com> > Date: Tue, Mar 22, 2011 at 10:36 PM > Subject: Re: Commons:Deletion requests/File:Mahasaraswati.jpg > To: Bishakha Datta <bishakhadatta(a)gmail.com> > > > Thank you, Bishaka. > > I think it would help if you forward this to Tinu Cherian and Ashwin and > ask them to post their comments there. Posting to the India list would be > ideal. But I do not know how to do it. > > > Sankar > > Service to Humanity is Service to God > > > On Tue, Mar 22, 2011 at 10:03 PM, Bishakha Datta <bishakhadatta(a)gmail.com>wrote: > >> Dear Sankar, >> >> Am really sorry to hear that - I know that deletion is becoming a big >> issue across many of the projects, not just Commons. >> >> The thing is editing decisions are made by the relevant project community, >> so there is nothing I can do either. But here's what I suggest: please post >> this to the India list. There are many editors on it, some of whom may be >> able to help you with this by intervening directly in the discussion. Others >> may have faced similar issues, or it may help to have other voices heard? >> >> That is what I would seriously urge you to do; meanwhile, I shall keep >> your comment, specially the aspect of 'not assuming good faith' in mind - we >> are to have a broader discussion around these issues at our board meeting >> later this week, so will bring this up then. >> >> Alternately, please bring it to the attention of Tinu Cherian ( >> tinucherian(a)gmail.com) who is an administrator on English wikipedia + >> Ashwin Baindur (ashwin.baindur(a)gmail.com) - they may be able to advise >> you more meaningfully, specially if this is a recurring issue. >> >> But there may be many others who can advise you on the India list if you >> post there. Let me know if you want me to forward this to Tinu Cherian or >> Ashwin or both. >> >> Bishakha >> >> >> On Tue, Mar 22, 2011 at 4:12 PM, Sankar Viswanathan < >> sankarrukku(a)gmail.com> wrote: >> >>> Hello Bishaka, >>> >>> Thank you for your response to my mail. >>> >>> The discussion is still going on. But the dice is loaded in favor of >>> deletion. >>> >>> There are certain points which were raised in the discussion. >>> >>> Wikipedia is paranoid about Copyright. Of course this is a result of the >>> U.S law and any number of cases. There was a time when any image available >>> on the web was accptable to Wikippedia. I think they had some problems then. >>> Of course there are some people who take delight in Deletion. Kind of a >>> sadism. >>> >>> <<So to keep such images in Commons, either Indian government or Commons >>> needs to have a policy addressing all pictures for which original authorship >>> is unknown, or at the least about paintings of God which is widely >>> available. Until then, we can either assume good faith and keep this image >>> or start a new mass DR for all the images in the category Hindu deities.>> >>> >>> Indian government will not do anything. But Wiki Commons can do >>> something. Another thing which is surprising is there is no assumption of >>> Good faith. I am a volunteer. How do I benefit by the uploading of the >>> image? Actually most volunteers like me do end up by spending money, because >>> my internet connection is not free. I do not use an internet connection >>> provided by any organization. This atitude of "there is no assumption of >>> Good faith" will put off many people. >>> >>> I can not imagine anybody from India suing Wikipedia over an obscure >>> painting in a temple. >>> >>> Now they are quoting the U.K law on which the Indian law is modelled to >>> say that Wall paintings are not covered. This would effectively stop upload >>> of many of the paintings in temples. >>> >>> But in India in a public temple, the installed idol itself is held to be >>> the temple’s legal owner, and the beneficiaries—those to whom the endowment >>> is dedicated --—are the general public. Does this change the position? I >>> wonder. I have posted this. >>> >>> I am having another problem with this image. There is one person called >>> Pebble101 who is bent on deleting this image from the article.He deleteds it >>> time and again for no reason. He could be the author of the last unsigned >>> remark on the deletion page. >>> >>> http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Saraswati&action=history >>> >>> The problem is there is nothing I can do. When I had such problems >>> earlier I was asked to go for Arbitration. >>> >>> I thought I had to share my concerns with some one. >>> >>> Thank you. >>> >>> Sankar >>> >>> Service to Humanity is Service to God >>> >> >> > >

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Beta Testing next release of Kiwix offline Wikipedia reader
by Tomasz Finc 24 Mar '11

24 Mar '11

Greetings all, I'm cross posting this to the lists that I've seen Kiwix/openZim/offline discussed on. We've been actively improving Kiwix; the offline Wikipedia reader as mentioned in http://techblog.wikimedia.org/2011/01/update-on-offline-wikimedia-projects/. Our first development sprint is scheduled to finish 3/29 and were eager to find some beta testers to give us feedback on our changes. You can get an early preview of whats coming at http://kiwix.org/index.php/WMF_UX_Improvement_Effort. If your available to test then please message me or just note your contact info at http://kiwix.org/index.php/WMF_UX_Improvement_Effort/Testers Our target platforms for tests are Windows and Linux Thanks! --tomasz

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Fwd: Discussion about deletion of a photo
by Bishakha Datta 23 Mar '11

23 Mar '11

Am forwarding this to the list with Sankar's permission; please cc him on related mail, since he is not on the list. Also forwarding next related one. Bishakha ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Sankar Viswanathan <sankarrukku(a)gmail.com> Date: Thu, Mar 10, 2011 at 10:54 PM Subject: Discussion about deletion of a photo To: Bishakha Datta <bishakhadatta(a)gmail.com> Hello Bishakha, I am facing a problem. Please go through this discussion. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:Deletion_requests/File:Mahasarasw… Unfortunately this would mean that we can not upload the photograph of any old Indian painting or sculpture to Wiki Commons. Most of the photographs existing now would have to be deleted. This will only mean that the articles in Wikipedia would be poorer in content. Being Paranoid about copyright is not the way to improve Wikipedia. The most affected would be articles about Hinduism, for which even now there are very few takers. I was wondering whether you could help. Thank you, Sankar Service to Humanity is Service to God

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India Wikipedia donation story mentioned again ...
by CherianTinu Abraham 22 Mar '11

22 Mar '11

India Wikipedia donation story mentioned again ...Looks like the story is "resonating" :) http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/society/article1561640.ece "...This week also had the news about India being the sixth largest donor for Wikipedia with 11,000 Indians donating $193,657. Not a big amount by any yardstick, but the money has been given by ordinary Indians and not the rich...." Regards Tinu Cherian

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Active Wikipedians / Admins in Indian language Wikipedias
by CherianTinu Abraham 22 Mar '11

22 Mar '11

Hi there, I am helping a journo with a story on a national magazine on Indian Wikipedias. If you are ok giving inputs/ being quoted and is an active Wikipedian / Admin in the following language Wikipedias ( *Assamese, Bhojpuri, Manipuri, Gujarati, Nepali, Punjabi, pali, sanskrit, Sindi, Urdu, Marathi, Kashmiri, Divehi*) , kindly send me a personal mail. Please send me the link to your Userpage, email and contact number. Please specify in case if you have no problems in giving inputs but not comfortable being quoted ( for any reason). Remember to remove the India mailing list address while replying, so that your personal details are not publicly archived. Thanks in advance. Regards Tinu Cherian

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[Press] : The Hindustan Times ( Kolkata edition) : Wiki wants Women
by CherianTinu Abraham 22 Mar '11

22 Mar '11

*The Hindustan Times ( Kolkata edition) : "Wiki wants Women"* http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/PUBLICATIONS/HT/HKL/2011/03/22/ArticleHtml… *The international media is abuzz with the gender gap in Wikipedia contributors around the world. Also, a survey by Wikimedia Foundation shows that English Wiki has only 13% women editors. To level this skewed ratio, the Indian Wikipedia community (communities in different languages across the country) is holding Women’s Wikipedia Workshops (WWW) across several cities, including Kolkata. Probably a first of its kind initiative, it is experimental in nature, with future course depending on response from the first few ones. * * * *“We are trying to understand the cause of this trend, psychological or technological. Though no statistics support it, one can say half the users on Facebook are women. There are women bloggers, too. So computer illiteracy is not an issue,” says Cherian Tinu Abraham, administrator in English Wikipedia.* * * *“Our goal is to double the percentage of women by 2015, not just in India, but around the world,” says Bishakha Datta, member, Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees. * * * *However, there is no denying that social networking websites have more userfriendly applications than Wikipedia. To edit Wiki, one needs to know syntax, which many say is no rocket science either. “From my interactions with women, I have observed that they are more users than contributors,” adds Tinu.* * * *In the Indian context, Bishakha explains, Wikipedia has been organising workshops at premier engineering colleges, as breaking the technological barrier there is the easiest. “It is coincidental that men are present in these institutes in larger numbers. But Wikipedia follows a decentralised medium, with various languages taking it ahead the way they want to.”* * * *But for now, not more than two-three women attend the workshops, says Tinu. “Women think this is ‘geekdom’, and not for them. Add to this, women feel marginalised in using public resources, not taking up things which are ‘out there’ for all,” says Rimi B. Chatterjee, author, blogger and Wikipedia contributor. Adds Bishakha, “Visit the ‘discussion’ section of the topic ‘woman’ on English Wikipedia and you will know what I mean.” The section is holding a stiff debate on which picture is suitable to represent ‘woman’ — dressed or nude, anatomical or general, etc. Sanhita Gender Resource Centre collaborated with Wikimedia Foundation to “explore the use of Bangla Wiki to make information on women’s rights and issues accessible,” says Soma Sen Gupta, director, SGRC. The city held it’s first WWW on March 18, with 20 women participants.* Regards Tinu Cherian http://wikimedia.in/wiki/In_the_news#March_2011

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Julian Assange (Wikileaks) on Wikipedia, India donations
by CherianTinu Abraham 22 Mar '11

22 Mar '11

...Julian Assange (Wikileaks) on Wikipedia , India donations in an interview to [[The Hindu]] http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article1559476.ece *Data has just come out that the people of India have been among the largest donors of Wikipedia, maybe even WikiLeaks. That data has not leaked yet. Does that surprise you?* It is very gratifying to hear. We don't know where they are from. It is for their protection, so we cannot be influenced by people, except of course to keep us going. *But I am heartened to hear India is supporting something like Wikipedia that has goals which are not too dissimilar from us.* That is why we want to collect important information and present it to the public. We are trying to go after the hardest case, that is the information of spy agencies and states that are trying to restrict. And when it is published they will go after the publisher. Regards Tinu Cherian

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Fwd: [Gendergap] Webinar on editing for Wikipedia Women
by Bishakha Datta 21 Mar '11

21 Mar '11

I really liked both the idea and the way it was worded. Any takers for an Indian webinar along similar lines? Cheers Bishakha ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Frances Kissling <fkissling(a)gmail.com> Date: Mon, Mar 21, 2011 at 9:35 PM Subject: [Gendergap] Webinar on editing for Wikipedia Women To: gendergap(a)lists.wikimedia.org Thought you’d all like o see this effort Women Write Wikipedia: A How-To Webinar Have you ever looked something up in the Wikipedia? Obviously, right? But: have you ever *edited* anything in the Wikipedia? Bet the answer is “no,” and that’s a crying shame! Wikipedia, as you know, is quickly becoming the go-to reference point for our collective history. But, over 80% of Wikipedia’s editors are men–which means that women’s opportunities to document history and knowledge are passing us by. In this hour-long online workshop, WAM!Bassador of Technology Deanna Zandt<http://www.deannazandt.com/>will teach you the basics of editing a Wikipedia page, as well as the cultural norms that you’ll need to know to be a good Wikipedian. It’s time to make sure that all genders are represented in our brave new history! FREE. Choose from either Wednesday, March 23 at 2PM ET or Sunday, March 27 at 2PM ET To register, email Rachel <rachel(a)womenactionmedia.org>. -- Frances Kissling, visiting scholar Center for Bioethics, UPenn 202 368 3954 _______________________________________________ Gendergap mailing list Gendergap(a)lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/gendergap

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WikimediaIndia-l March 2011