New Delhi: A Punjab-based Wikipedia contributor Nitesh Gill has received an honorary mention at the prestigious Wikimedian of the Year Awards 2025. The Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales awarded Nitesh Gill during the 20th edition of Wikimania, held in Nairobi, Kenya, under the theme Inclusivity, Impact, Sustainability.
Nitesh Contribution to Wikipedia and Punjabi Language
Nitesh began contributing to Punjabi Wikipedia in 2014 as a student. Today, she is the only woman administrator on Punjabi Wikipedia and a key member of the Punjabi Wikimedians User Group, which has developed over 58,000 articles in the regional language.
Her work is particularly noted for bridging the gender gap on Wikipedia. After completing the In the 100 wikidays challenge, she went on to create over 500 biographies of women, making Punjabi Wikipedia one of the few language editions where articles about women outnumber those about men.
Beyond Punjabi Wikipedia, Nitesh has played a key role in organizing international Wikimedia events such as WikiConference India 2023, WikiWomen Camp 2023, and the Wikisource Conference 2025 in Indonesia. She also spearheaded the She Leads programme, empowering South Asian women in Wikimedia leadership, and co-developed a Punjabi-translated Oral Culture Transcription Toolkit with Himachal University.
Nitesh Gill Journey
Gill was selected from a shortlist of global volunteers based on nominations from fellow Wikimedia volunteers and Wikimedia Foundation staff from across the world, she is a PhD scholar in Punjabi Literature, was recognised for her remarkable contributions to the Wikimedia movement, particularly her efforts to expand Punjabi Wikipedia and to promote women’s representation across Wikimedia projects.
“I love my language, and that love motivates me to serve and contribute to it in every possible way,” she said.
Inputs from Ahsan Khan