User:Hindustanilanguage/Mehtab
Questionnaire for Mehtab Ahmed (User:مھتاب احمد)
1. Can you please elaborate about yourself?
I am a student of B.Ed.(Bachelor of Education) program at Sukkur Institute of Business Administration, lover of Sindhi language and Pakistani National belonging to province of Sindh.
2. Briefly tell us about your background - family, work as well as linguistic pursuits.
I belong to a middle class family. All of my family members are educated. My father is a retired bank officer and my mother is teacher. So for I have not engaged myself into any formal work because my education is not complete yet. I have been greatly concerned about the development of my native language, after I realized its insecure position in society; I was finding ways to help my language and got its answer in shape of Sindhi Wikipedia and Google Translate in July 2015. I have also workd on many other platforms for Sindhi.
3. Tell us briefly about how you got introduced to Wikimedia projects? Also, how in a very short period of time you've made a highest number of edits on Sindhi Wikipedia. Wikimedia projects. What motivates you?
I have been using English Wikipedia for more than 4 years for knowledge and learning purpose and when I looked at Sindhi Wikipedia, it lacked in all aspects, except 2 to 3 people nobody was working for it. Then I came forward and started editing without any account (Later on I created account). Since then I have got permission from Encyclopedia Sindhiana and other resources to use their works on Sindhi Wikipedia, in this way I have achieved highest number of edits on Sindhi Wikipedia. I edit almost everyday, and motivating factor is my love for the development of Sindhi language.
4. Tell us about your special interest in Sindhi Wikipedia (and Wiktionary/other) projects.
My special interest in Sindhi Wikipedia and other projects is to enrich Sindhi language with all sorts of knowledge so that Sindhi people do not need to look at other sources in despair.
5. How does it feel to be # 1 contributor?
It makes me feel proud that I have really done some something good for my mother tongue.
6. Do you intend to be the Sysop one day?
No, I don't have interest in being Sysop, because I don't know programming and other technical things. If I know programming someday, I will try to become Sysop.
7. You have also contributed to Urdu Wikipedia and some other projects as well. Can you elaborate on it (nature/type).
I have done minor edits on projects other than Sindhi Wikipedia, I usually do grammatical corrections and add links.
8. How different was your contributor experience on Urdu and Sindhi projects?
There is great difference in Sindhi and Urdu projects, I easily edit on Sindhi projects but at Urdu projects I hesitate to edit as I don't have mastery in Urdu.
9. What are your hobbies apart from Wikipedia?
Apart from Wikipedia, I am great a sleeper and spend a lot of time sleeping in bed. I also spend significant amount time on social media sites and Google Translate.
10. Do your near and dear ones support your Wikimedia pursuits?
Yes, I have been greatly encouraged by my friends and teachers for these works.
11. Elaborate on the Community interactions on Sindhi projects.
Unfortunately, we don't have any sound community interactions on Sindhi projects. However, I am trying via Facebook to convince volunteers to edit for Sindhi projects. I am hopeful to build a strong community in near future. I answer and guide volunteers on Sindhi Wikipedia Facebook page on different matters.
12. How do you feel about the scope of Sindhi Wikimedia projects in terms of expansion and growth (e.g. Sindhi Wikisource, Wikivoyage, etc) ?
Sindhi Wikimedia projects cannot gain scope and expansion until we have a significant number of volunteers, and thus my first priority is to tell our people the good things about Wikimedia projects and then convince them to volunteer.
13. What, according to you, is the scope of expansion of Sindhi language in the 21st Century?
After the addition of Sindhi language in Google Translate, I have seen hundreds people of coming forward to contribute for Google translate, this event has given many of us a hope that our language is going to make a significant place in today's modern world. I would also like to mention that many new apps, websites and blogs in Sindhi are being created with each passing day.
14. Do you feel there are avenues of cooperation with Urdu, Punjabi, Pashto and Baluchi on Wikimedia?
Yes there are, but I have only seen Urdu Wikimedia trying to increase cooperation on different matters.
15. What are your future Wiki goals and ambitions?
My future wiki goals include addition of high quality information on Sindhi projects, increasing number of volunteers and representation of Sindhi language on every wiki project.
16. Have you participated in offline Wiki events (meetups, editathons, etc)?
Sorry, I haven't.
17. Do Sindhi Wikimedians use Social Media to stay connected?
Yes but not so frequently.
18. Are you active on Social Media in connection with Wikimedia Projects?
Yes I am.
19. Can you elaborate a bit on other Sindhi colleagues? Also what strategies do you suggest in enlisting new users and retaining old ones on Wikimedia Projects.
Sindhi and other colleagues can attain a high position in Wikimedia if speakers of these languages come forward and start helping. Telling people about benefits of Wikimedia projects can help us a lot in enlisting new users. There is great potential in our country but it needs to be polished and properly guided. Appreciation and giving some sort of benefit to old Wikimedia users may help us to retain them.
20. What is your message for new Wikimedians – both for Sindhi and other Pakistani language Wikimedians?
Today's world believes in Survival of the fittest and we can see around us that only those who are working hard are given high value and position, similarly if we want our languages to stay up to date and full of resources, we have to work very hard and consistently. Therefore, I will suggest my Pakistani Wikimedians to come forward and bring new ideas so that we can have a full of knowledge atmosphere and a stronger community platform.