West Bengal Wikimedians/Reports/Annual Activities/2019

West Bengal Wikimedians User Group is now 3 years old since its recognition on February 2017. Like previous years, it has continued to plan and execute its projects on the basis of cost-effectiveness, impact and transparency. Meticulous planning, good team work and a strong will of the project leaders to deliver more than expected results even with very limited resources, helped the user group to go for ambitious projects and successfully complete them.

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Through its Wiki Exploration Program, the user group has continued to support the exploration project of remote places of the state to document under-represented and previously undocumented cultural and historical heritage. Creating digital database of the heritage structures on Wikidata in a structured way is one of the top priority of the user group, as most of them are only documented in writings and have no digital presence. It is very heart-breaking to state that, this exploration might be the last documentation for a good number of monuments which are on the verge of collapse and destruction, mainly due to negligence from government and lack of insight about their historical significance among local inhabitants. The user group has also organized the prestigious Wiki Loves Monuments photo-competition in India for the second time and not only finished sorting of images, declaring winners and distributing prizes within deadline, but also focused on expanding the list of monuments and building database on Wikidata.

The awesome Wiki Loves Butterfly team has entered its 4th year of documenting butterflies under the mentorship of Atudu, thanks to continued rapid grant sponsorship from WMF. This year, the team documented butterflies in the remote forests and hot-spot areas of North East India, which is first such organized effort from any Wikimedia community to explore the remote part of the country.

Although documentation as well as generating data has been the main focus of the user group this year, it also continued to organize and/or support outreach events, content donations, training programs and quality content generation editathons or competitions on Wikisource, Wikidata and Wikipedia.

Wiki Loves Butterfly - North East India

The 3rd phase of the Wiki Loves Butterfly (WLB) project, funded by the Wikimedia Foundation, entitled Wiki Loves Butterfly North East India (WLB NEI) was completed (see report) and the ever enthusiast WLB team has taken the initiative of the 4th phase of the said project work namely Wiki Loves Butterfly North East India Part 2 (WLB NEI-II) on December 10, 2019. In the third phase, the team went on executing vivid documentation and article creation and development of the available butterfly species and subspecies at different districts of 5 North-eastern states of the country along with West Bengal.

The WLB team, mentored by Bengali Wikimedian Atudu and comprising of a good number of dedicated Wikimedia volunteers, lepidopterists, resource persons and noted scientific bodies, collaboratively contribute in Bengali Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, Wikispecies and Wikidata. So far, Wikimedia Commons is enriched with images of 354 butterfly species and 323 subspecies and 206 articles were created in Bengali Wikipedia. The WLB project has so far rendered 123 images in Valued Image Category as well as 114 images in Quality Image category. Broader spectrum of outreach program has been well maintained with newer wiki editors.

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  Indian Cabbage White
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  Blue Tit
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  White Dragontail
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  Pale Hedge Blue
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  Common Pierrot

Wiki Explores Purba Bardhaman - Phase I

Wiki Explores Purba Bardhaman - Phase I was a one-day event to document the archaeological and historical sites of Purba Bardhaman district and some parts of nearby Paschim Bardhaman district of West Bengal, planned and executed by Wikimedian Amitabha Gupta. Our team member covered 27 heritage structures in the villages of Mankar, Amragarh, Bhalki, Moukhira and Bankati on 21st February, 2019 and uploaded 246 photographs on Wikimedia Commons. Wikidata items of all the monuments have already been created. West Bengal Wikimedians User Group helped him with planning and execution, provided him with necessary funds, created proper categories for the images and Wikidata items.

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Barak Bangla Language Movement Editathon 2019

Barak Bangla Language Movement Editathon was an editathon planned and organized by খাঁ শুভেন্দু on Bengali Wikipedia from 15th to 31st May, 2019. The primary purpose of the editathon was to improve and expand the articles and contents of various topics related to the Bengali language movement of Barak Valley. 11 users participated in this editathon who expanded 12 articles and created 8 new articles.

Rabimas Proofreading Contest

The user group organized a 3-months long proofreading contest from May 9, 2019 to August 8, 2019 celebrating the occassion of birth and death anniversary of Nobel laureate author Rabindranath Tagore. The contest was thoroughly planned, 16 books written by the said author were selected for the participants to proofread and officials of CIS-A2K and Wikimedia Bangladesh chapter were requested to deal with distributing prizes to the winners and Wikimedians. 20 people enrolled and 33 people actually participated in the contest. The necessary information of the winners of the contest were collected and sent to CIS-A2K and Wikimedia Bangladesh representatives to distribute the prizes.

Mini TTT

Mini TTT was a CIS-A2K training event with collaboration with West Bengal Wikimedians User Group held on 29th and 30th June, 2019 in Kolkata. CIS-A2K took care of planning and logistics for the event whereas user group members helped in selecting venue and preparing agenda. 17 Wikimedia volunteers from West Bengal as well as user group members along with 2 participants outside of West Bengal participated. A brief summary of what happened there can be found here. After the last day of the event, the user group members sat together and discussed about user group activities.

Wiki Explores Bankura - Phase II

Wiki Explores Bankura - Phase II was a two-day event to document the archaeological and historical sites of Bankura district. After 2017, when the first phase of the documentation happened in the district, Wikimedian Amitabha Gupta planned and executed the second phase covering 31 heritage structures in the villages of Naricha, Gumut, Bhara, Balsi Purbapara, Bamira, Patrasayer, Patit Dommahal, Indas, Akui, Abantika, Sonatapal, Ekteshwar, Atbaichandi, Deulbhira and outskirt areas of Bankura and Bishnupur municipality towns from 14th to 15th September, 2019. Under this project, 212 photographs were uploaded to Commons. Wikidata items of all the monuments have already been created. West Bengal Wikimedians User Group helped with planning and execution of the project, provided him with necessary funds, created proper categories for the images and Wikidata items.

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Wiki Loves Monuments 2019 in India

West Bengal Wikimedians User Group decided to organize Wiki Loves Monuments 2019 in India during the month of September, 2019 again after their first attempt to organize such event was successfully executed. Apart from working on the photographs, the user group also focused on migrating heritage data into Wikidata and participants were provided Listeria generated lists of monuments for easy uploading. Data incorporation about heritage structures graded by Kolkata Municipal Corporation and Gandhi heritage sites were finished during the competiton. 970 photogrpahers participated and uploaded 6389 images for the national competition. The ten winners were selected by the respected jury team within deadline, special thanks to Sumitsurai from the organizing team for efficiently leading the primary sorting phase and coordinating the judging round. CIS-A2K sponsored the prizes and took care of sending them to the winners. The user group also designed and sent postcards containing the winning photographs to the respective winners.

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Wikipedia Takes Kolkata IX

Wikipedia Takes Kolkata IX (WTK IX) was the ninth edition of the one-day photo scavenger hunt Wikipedia Takes Kolkata event which is held almost every year in the city of Kolkata. Planned by Wikimedian Amitabha Gupta, WTK IX happened in and around the Shobhabazar and Pathuriaghata area of Kolkata on 22nd September 2019 with 8 participants, covering 23 heritage destinations. The walk was organized in sync with Wiki Loves Monuments 2019 competition. 202 images have been uploaded to Wikimedia Commons till now.

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Documenting Kolkata Heritage

During Wiki Loves Monuments 2019 in India, the user group worked on creating a database on Wikidata about heritage structures designated by Kolkata Municipal Corporation. After the competition ended, Wikimedian Indrajitdas planned to photo-document these heritage structures throughout the city, which do not have any presence on Wikimedia Commons. He started the project on 3rd November, 2019 and plans to finish the project in 6 months. This will be first such project to document KMC heritage structures ever in an organized way. The user group is providing him necessary funds to execute the project and other necessary supports needed. Till now, 5 walks have been conducted and KMC heritage buildings of wards number 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16, 17 and 27 of Kolkata have been covered.

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Wiki Explores Paschim Medinipur - Phase I

Wiki Explores Paschim Medinipur - Phase I was a five-days exploration event from 3rd to 7th December, 2019 to document the archaeological and historical sites of Paschim Medinipur district. The project was planned and executed by Amitabha Gupta covering 100 heritage structures in the villages of Karnagarh, Alui, Gholsai, Jalsara, Radhanagar, Kotalpur, Ranapur, Dihi Baliharpur, Radhakantapur, Ajuria, Uttarbarh, Chaipat, Gobindanagar, Saulan, Shridharpur, Palashpai, Garurna, Narajole, Loyada, Chak Bajit, Satyapur, Paikpari etc. and the municipality towns of Chandrakona, Ghatal, Kharar, Ramjibanpur and Kshirpai. 1145 photographs has been uploaded so far to Wikimedia Commons. Wikidata items of the monuments are in the process of being creation. West Bengal Wikimedians User Group helped with planning and executing the project, provided him with necessary funds and support, created proper categories for the images and taking care of Wikidata items. Our explorer reported lack of interest and even hostility from the side of local inhabitants in some places while documenting the monuments while in many other places, demand to the government to preserve the monuments.

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Annual General Meeting of WBG

Participants of WBG AGM 2020

West Bengal Wikimedians User Group conducted its first Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 5th January, 2020 in Kolkata following Article 23 of the Bylaws of the user group. The previous year activities of user group were critically reviewed, financial situation was updated, future strategy and action plans were thoroughly discussed and responsibilities were distributed. Representaive members and committee for the current year were as per provisions in the bylaws. Although the user group is not a registered society, but still conducting its first AGM reflected its intention to follow its own bylaws and rules strictly without compromise.

Wiki Explores Purba Bardhaman - Phase II

Wiki Explores Purba Bardhaman - Phase II was a two-days event to document the archaeological and historical sites of Purba Bardhaman district conducted on 9th and 10th January 2020 . The first phase of exploration happened in early 2019. The second phase was now again planned and executed by Amitabha Gupta concentrating in and around the town of Bardhaman. 52 heritage sites in the villages of Sanko, Sarul, Adra, Gohogram, Putunda, Ajhapur, Nabagram, Masagram, Kulingram and Jaugram along with the municipality town of Bardhaman were covered and 580 images have been uploaded to Wikimedia Commons. West Bengal Wikimedians User Group helped in planning and executing the project, provided him with necessary funds, created proper categories for the images and is working on the Wikidata items. .

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Wiki Explores Purba Medinipur - Phase I

Wiki Explores Purba Medinipur - Phase I was a four-days exploration event held from 13th to 16th January 2020 to document the archaeological and historical sites of Purba Medinipur and Paschim Medinipur districts. Wikimedian Amitabha Gupta planned and executed this project covering 42 heritage structures in the villages of Rangiabasan, Jalchak, Bhemua, Pingla, Rajballabh Adasimla, Dubrajpur, Kerur, Kolanda, Shrirampur, Alangiri, Panchrol, Dihibahiri, Jukhia, Bhagabanpur, Mirjapur and Paikbheri along with the municipality towns of Egra and Tamluk. 386 photographs were uploaded to Wikimedia Commons. Wikidata items of the monuments are in the process of creation. West Bengal Wikimedians User Group helped in planning and execution of the project, provided him with necessary funds and support, created proper categories for the images and helping with Wikidata items.

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Wiki Explores Cooch Behar - Phase I

Wiki Explores Cooch Behar - Phase I was a two-days exploration event conducted on 20 and 21 January 2020 to document the archaeological and historical sites of Cooch Behar district. Wikimedian Amitabha Gupta planned and executed this project covering 20 heritage structures in Cooch Behar, Baneshwar, Ghughumari, Madhupur and Khalisa Gosanimari and uploaded 430 photographs to Wikimedia Commons. Wikidata items of the monuments are in the process of creation. West Bengal Wikimedians User Group helped in planning and executing the project, provided him with necessary funds and support, created proper categories for the images and helping with Wikidata items. This is first such organized project from the user group to work in the far-northern district of West Bengal.

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Wiki Workshop Hooghly

Participants of heritage walk during the workshop

Wiki Workshop Hooghly was a one-day workshop organized by Tarunsamanta at a school in Begampur, Hooghly district on 9th February, 2020. The participants were given introduction to Wikipedia and free knowledge movement and was shown how to edit Wikipedia. A heritage photo-walk was conducted by Indrajitdas for participants interested on photography and few local heritage buildings were documented. The participants were later shown how to upload those images to Wikimedia Commons. It is worth noting that among 24 participants, 33% of the workshop participants were female. The user group provided the community organizers with necessary funds and other supports to conduct the workshop.

Content donation

This year, Prabir Ghosh, a famous rationalist from West Bengal, who has advocated against pseudoscience, astrology and mysticism throughout his life, released copyright of 6 of his books under CC-BY-SA 4.0 license, among them was his widely read popular book named "Aloukik Noi Loukik", thanks to Jayantanth for all the initiatives he had taken to make this happen. The books were scanned and uploaded to Wikimedia Commons.

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Wikidata WikiProject West Bengal

Wikidata WikiProject West Bengal was initiated last year by the user group to add and improve data related to West Bengal. A targeted approach, initiated by Titodutta, to achieve 1 million Bengali labels was successful on 8 April 2019. As of 17 February 2020, have now more than 2 million Bengali labels on Wikidata. This year, demographic data of 2001 and 2011 Indian census of all census towns, municipalities, wards of West Bengal were incorporated into Wikidata. All post offices and around 80,000 schools of West Bengal have Wikidata items now. The user group took special care to incorporate entries on heritage structures of West Bengal in sync with their activities on Wiki Loves Monuments, Wiki Exploration program and Documenting Kolkata Heritage. Wikidata WikiProject India won the WikidataCon Award 2019 in the category Community Building with special mention to the Wikidata activities happening around West Bengal.