*Times of India : "Malayalam Wikipedia chugs on as more contributions pour
in "*
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JS1JLTy8yMDEzLzA4Lz…
*
After two successful attempts to expand its database, the Malayalam
Wikipedia’s third edition of Malayalam Loves Wikipedia project is also
gaining strength.
The project aims at uploading copyright-free images to Wikimedia
Commons, an online repository of free-use images, sound and other media
files. More than 10,000 pictures have been uploaded to Wikimedia Commons,
since the project was launched on July 25.
One of the biggest language wiki communities, Malayalam Wikipedia has
got overwhelming response for its first and second edition of Malayalam
Loves Wikipedia project in the past two years. In 2011, the duration was
two weeks and as many as 2,155 images were uploaded.
Last year, the number had risen to 11,159. This edition will conclude
on August 15. Images ranging from Malayali’s favourite snack, kumbilappam,
to rare birds have been uploaded.
“We are not free to use all images available in Google. Malayalam Loves
Wikipedia is a platform to share copyright-free images, videos, audio
clips, books, PDF files etc., to Wikimedia Commons for the benefit of
users. Wikimedia Commons has more than one crore media files and images.
But images related to Kerala are limited. Our aim is to persuade people to
contribute more,” said K Manoj, an active Wikimedian.
A similar programme, Wiki Loves Monument, was launched last year, where
copyright-free images of monuments were uploaded to Wikipedia. The project
witnessed huge participation from India and the prize winning picture, Tomb
of Safdarjung, was uploaded from the country.
Malayalam Wikipedia is active with other interesting projects such as
wiki nikhandu (wiktionary), wiki chollukal (wikiquotes), wiki grandasala
(wikisource), wiki padasala (wikibooks) and wiki sarvakalasala
(wikiversity) as well. Many people including school students are active
wikimedians in grandasala, where copyright-free books are being uploaded. *
Regards
Tinu Cherian
press(a)wikimedia.in
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