WordCamp Nagpur 2018 was very special for me as this was just my second WordCamp, first experience at Volunteering. My colleague, Premanshu accompanied me on the trip as we started our journey from my hometown Kolhapur. We headed to Pune early Friday morning as we had to catch a train that afternoon for Nagpur. Enroute, we found a perfect spot to click selfies. We start our journey by clicking pictures.
As the clouds hide the sun, the atmosphere was perfect for a four-hour long driving. It rained on and off while we were travelling.
At noon we reached Pune and prepared for the next journey. We ordered food while getting ready, but the delivery was delayed and we were running late for catching the train to Nagpur. So we called our cab as well and waited for both the cab, also for our lunch. Luckily the food came minutes before the cab. We were so hungry that we ate chicken in the cab itself. But not before taking another selfie and tweeting it.
Amhi Nighalo… #WCNagpur pic.twitter.com/ShivSFfbQ5
— Premanshu M (@unsharpme) July 20, 2018
Finally, after 20-minute travel in a cab, we reached the railway station. Amit Singh and Savita Soni from WPoets were also travelling to Nagpur in the same train, different compartments though. We met them, did some chit-chat and of course took selfies.
The train started, we came to our seats and started the journey by playing Ludo on my Tab. Later we called Amit sir and Nisha mam to join us. We played UNO together and the game was long and engaging. At one point the train was halted for almost an hour, while everyone else around us was getting anxious, we were having good time out-smarting each other at the card game and didn’t get bored.
We enjoyed the game, taking random pics and discussing various topics including everyone’s favourite Narendra Modi. It was interesting to know about various perspectives on the same issues. I really liked this leisure time we spent. Later that evening we four again joined for dinner and after that, we went to sleep as the arrival time was early morning.
We reached Nagpur at around 6 AM. We grabbed our backpacks, left the train and took a wake up selfie on the platform. We were searching for chai vale bhaiya and we found one outside the station. After the chai, we took a rickshaw which will take us to our hotel where we stayed. The hotel was not far from the station and within some minutes we reached the hotel. I later found out that quite a few other WordCamp attendees were also staying at the same hotel.
I was happy to be upgraded to a Suite room and share it with Nisha Mam. We got ready for the WordCamp and left. I was very excited and looking forward to the day.
Our team members @unsharpme and @prajita_k are attending #WCNagpur Do say a hello if you see them… pic.twitter.com/hkNINyscTz
— Rhizomatic Web Services (@RhizomaticWeb) July 21, 2018
As soon as I reached the venue, first I met Abhishek Deshpande, the lead organizer of WordCamp Nagpur. I found him to be soft-spoken and good-natured. He told us to grab the volunteer t-shirt and we connected with our teams. I was allotted EMCEE support along with Nikita, Ankita, Astha, Stefen. While few of us were allotted to a particular room, I was kept as a floater, which worked for me as I got chance to meet and see more people and take more pics. Then we headed to have breakfast, ‘Tari Pohaa’ was delicious. After breakfast, we gathered for the inauguration. Tripad kicked off the proceedings by welcoming everybody. The sessions began immediately after that.
The sessions went parallelly in three rooms and as I was on shuffle duty, I got a chance to hear a bit at each session. Asif Rahman’s session had a slide I particularly liked – “E-commerce Market Share”. The BOF sessions were also interesting as there was not one particular speaker but every participant was a speaker. I was assigned to direct people to the correct room and through correct door, this got me introduced to many people. I also snuck in to get a glimpse of Anju Abhilash, the only female speaker on the schedule. I was impressed by her charisma and stage presence. Maybe I will also apply as a speaker at my next WordCamp.
Later everybody gathered for Lunch. Lunch was tasty and spicy, but Gulab Jamun helped us enjoy the hot nagpuri saoji taste.
Post lunch, I went back to attend sessions and do some more volunteering work. I liked the session on Work Culture and WordPress ecosystem and Nagpur. It was a panel discussion and the panelist explained what really work culture and ecosystem means to them and share some of their experiences. This was the only complete session I attended. After this session, the swag counter was opened, I collected my swag and also spent sometime chit-chatting with the sponsors. After all the sessions we some clicked pictures with HaoBhau and smiles. A formal closing ceremony was held by Thanking volunteers and sponsors. A group photo summarised the event beautifully. Then we went to our hotel, got some tea and got ready for dinner.
The venue for dinner was Vishnuji Ki Rasoi. It was at walking distance from our Hotel. The hotel was having a Maharashtrian touch and all the food was very tasty. We started with the Java Plum and other delicacies and slowly made our way to the main course. We ate Jhunka Bhakari, Rasmalai, various kinds of chutney and pickles and after all that, we lavished on a sweet dish which was the best item of the day – Puranpoli. I had never tasted Puranpoli like this ever, the taste was mind-blowing and it was totally dipped in desi ghee which made it yummier. I also got a chance to meet Vishnuji and take a selfie with him.
And here day one of WordCamp Nagpur was completed, after dinner, we marched to our hotel and went to sleep.
Next day was Contributor Day & also Plugin Pratiyogita. I was looking forward to Day 2 as our plugin – RWS Enquiry was also selected for the competition and I was supposed to present it. Like always the presentation was not ready till the last moment and I finished it that morning. We got ready, checked-out of our rooms and left. Abhishek had come to pick us up, on the way we stopped for a quick bite. I liked the local nagpuri items, the names of which I forgot, but the taste I could never forget.
When we reached the venue, which was a college, next to Deekshabhoomi, the revered spot of Babasaheb Ambedkar followers. Due to some misunderstanding, the venue was changed to ‘The Place’. Some of us left immediately while a few including Premanshu hanged back to take a stroll and click some pics at Deekshabhoomi. As I spent time contributing to translation with other contributors attending the contributors day at ‘The Place’, Premanshu, Amit sir, and a few others enjoyed Coffee at three beans cafe.
After we were done with translation, we were given a treat of Paratha’s for an early lunch. I had some good lunchtime disuccsion with others and received some good inputs from fellow WordPressers like Prathamesh Palve who gave valuable inputs about my plugin. Post lunch many people got caught in a discussion, in where the topics were how we can we bring more women to actively participate in the community and also the who each one started with WordPress and what keeps them contributing to the community. The discussion was so engaging that people lost track of time and Plugin Pratiyogita had to be re-scheduled.
Before we knew, it was time to leave as we had to catch the train at 6pm and we rushed to get there on time. We took leave from everyone, exchanged promises to meet again. Tripad came to drop us at the station. As the train left the station, I felt overwhelmed with the memories and experiences I had gathered over these two days.
WordCamp Nagpur my second WC ever after Mumbai and my First time as a Volunteer was an unforgettable experience… Looking forward to many more WordCamps and many more such memories.
– PRAJITA KAVATHANKAR
All-rounder at Rhizomatic Web Service.