Dear friends,
Encyclopedias like Wikipedia are made by volunteer editors. The only thing that thematic affiliates like DCW do is bringing in more volunteers and represent what has not been represented on the encyclopedia so far. If we have a cursory look on Islamic scholarship related articles on Arabic and Urdu language Wikipedias, we will get an idea of how much work needs to be done in this field.
To aid in bridging this gap, what the DCW can do is to offer mentorship programs to students studying at various institutions, and ask those institutions to collaborate with us. Established Deobandi scholars and academic institutions should come forward and help in documentation of the scholarship through Wikipedia projects. What stops our students from writing and improving Islamic scholarship related articles on the encyclopedia?
We need to possibly design our "Wikipedia article assignment program" and publish it for community review and send the final draft to relevant institutions and seek their responses. Should any institutions come forward then, we can do the collaboration.
Looking for your comments,
Aafi
Dear friends,
We were enough fortunate to host Dr. Ashraf Dockrat from the University of Johannesburg yesterday. He presented a number of helpful ideas that can help the DCW grow. Considering his suggestions, we would be making a website for the UG anytime soon and also continue monthly sessions relevant to our theme, inviting scholars and other experienced people from within and outside the Wikimedia movement.
Should you have any suggestions and ideas, please respond to this email. We have a thematic focus and want to increase its representation and these conversations help us learn new ideas which subsequently help us grow.
Regards
Aafi