The Hindi Wikipedia is the Hindi-language version of the free, online encyclopedia hosted by the Wikimedia Foundation. It publishes articles written in Hindi using the Devanagari script and follows the same general policies and technical platform as other language editions of Wikipedia. Contributors range from casual editors to organized community groups who collaborate to create and maintain encyclopedic content.
Characteristics and content
Articles on the Hindi Wikipedia cover subjects across arts, science, history, biography, and current affairs, tailored for Hindi-speaking readers. The project uses Unicode text encoding for Devanagari, supports input tools and fonts for easier typing, and includes navigation aids such as categories, infoboxes, and interlanguage links to other Wikipedia editions.
History and development
The edition was started in July 2003. Early expansion was gradual as the community and technical support for Indian scripts improved. Over time, a combination of better input methods, greater internet access in Hindi-speaking regions, and active volunteer efforts increased both article count and article quality. By June 2018 the Hindi Wikipedia contained over 125,000 articles.
Community and governance
The site is maintained by volunteer editors who enforce content policies such as verifiability and neutral point of view. Local projects and task forces organize initiatives like edit-a-thons, outreach to schools and libraries, and the creation of thematic portals. Administrators and experienced editors help mediate disputes and maintain site infrastructure.
Uses and significance
The Hindi Wikipedia serves as an important free reference for native Hindi speakers, students, and researchers. It helps increase access to knowledge in a major world language, supports language preservation, and provides localized explanations of scientific and cultural topics. Educational programs sometimes use it as a tool for literacy and digital skills development.
Notable facts and distinctions
- It publishes content in the Devanagari script and accommodates regional spelling and style where appropriate.
- As of mid-2018 it was one of the largest Indian-language editions, with over 125,000 articles at that time.
- The project is part of the global Wikimedia movement and interoperates with other language editions through interwiki links and shared multimedia repositories.