AI Generated Summary
- In a proud moment for India and the Punjabi community, Nitesh Gill, a Wikipedia contributor from Punjab, has received an honorary mention at the prestigious Wikimedian of the Year Awards 2025.
- Today, she is not only the sole woman administrator on Punjabi Wikipedia—a role with advanced editing and moderation powers—but also a core member of the Punjabi Wikimedians User Group, responsible for creating over 58,000 articles in the Punjabi language.
- A PhD scholar in Punjabi Literature, Gill began her journey as a student contributor to Punjabi Wikipedia back in 2014.
In a proud moment for India and the Punjabi community, Nitesh Gill, a Wikipedia contributor from Punjab, has received an honorary mention at the prestigious Wikimedian of the Year Awards 2025. The announcement was made by Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales during the 20th annual Wikimania conference, held this year in Nairobi, Kenya under the theme “Inclusivity, Impact, Sustainability.”
This global event celebrates the thousands of volunteers—known as Wikimedians—who build and maintain Wikipedia and its sister projects. Among these digital change-makers, Nitesh Gill stood out for her extraordinary efforts in both language preservation and gender representation.
A PhD scholar in Punjabi Literature, Gill began her journey as a student contributor to Punjabi Wikipedia back in 2014. Over the past decade, she has emerged as a leading voice in the Wikimedia movement, especially for regional and underrepresented communities.
Today, she is not only the sole woman administrator on Punjabi Wikipedia—a role with advanced editing and moderation powers—but also a core member of the Punjabi Wikimedians User Group, responsible for creating over 58,000 articles in the Punjabi language.
“I love my language, and that love motivates me to serve and contribute to it in every possible way,” Gill said.
“I want to break the myth that speaking your language makes you less intelligent. If you cannot respect your own language, in many ways, you are questioning your own identity.”
Gill has become a vocal advocate for women’s representation on Wikipedia, focusing much of her work on writing biographies of women—a category historically underrepresented online. After completing the gruelling #100wikidays challenge, where volunteers create one article a day for 100 days, she went on to write over 500 articles dedicated to women’s lives and contributions.
Her leadership extends beyond the keyboard. She played a central role in launching She Leads, a programme designed to help South Asian women step into leadership roles within Wikimedia. Additionally, she co-created the Oral Culture Transcription Toolkit—translated into Punjabi—working alongside Himachal University to help document oral traditions and cultural heritage across the region.
“I am proud of the work I have done for the Punjabi language, especially in creating content about women’s personalities and women-related topics,” Gill said.
“Today, Punjabi Wikipedia has more content about women than any other gender, and I feel proud to have helped bridge that gap, which is an issue in the wider knowledge landscape.”
Her recognition at Wikimania 2025 comes as a testament to the power of grassroots activism, digital literacy, and cultural pride. Nitesh Gill’s contributions reflect not only her commitment to free knowledge but also her deep-rooted belief in the dignity of language and identity.
As India continues to navigate the digital age, voices like hers remind us of the vital role regional languages and inclusive content play in shaping a truly democratic internet.
