Wikipedia may be one of the most popular
websites in the world, but few know that it can be accessed in 270
languages, including 20 Indian ones.
Wiki
Bangla has been around since January 2004, but with little awareness
about its existence there have been few contributors. A workshop and
brainstorming session was organised by NGO Sanhita along with Wikimedia
Foundation at the Seagull Arts and Media Resource Centre recently to
introduce Bangla Wiki to academicians and NGOS and invite contributions
on women’s right and gender-related issues.
“The Bengali section of Wikipedia has
hardly any information on women rights and laws. If we can enrich this
section it will benefit many women in rural areas, especially those who
are not conversant in English,” said Soma Sengupta, the director of Sanhita.
Women’s rights activist Vishakha Dutta
represented the Wikimedia Foundation. Professors of women studies
departments of various colleges were encouraged to select students who
can contribute for this section. Some of the participating colleges
included Sreerampur Girls’ College, Basanti Devi College, Jaiprakash
Institute, Lady Brabourne College and Shibnath Shastri College.