Punjabi Wikimedians urge Govt to make public-funded content open access
Memorandum submitted in Patiala calls for copyright-free access to publicly funded knowledge
Babushahi Bureau
Patiala (Punjab), March 21, 2026: Members of the Punjabi Wikimedians User Group have urged the Punjab government to make all publicly funded content freely accessible under open licenses, stressing the need to promote the Punjabi language in the digital age.
The demand was raised during a Wikipedia training workshop held in collaboration with the World Punjabi Centre at Punjabi University, Patiala. A formal memorandum was submitted to chief guest Tejinder Mehta, Chairman of the District Planning Committee, Patiala.
The event was chaired by Dr. Bhim Inder Singh, Director of the World Punjabi Centre, and attended by noted personalities including translator Charan Gill, Dr. Pawan Tibba, and writer Balram Bodhi.
According to the group, content such as books, research papers, and official reports created using taxpayer money should be treated as public property and made accessible to students, researchers, and the wider public.
They argued that in the era of Artificial Intelligence, open access to knowledge is essential for preserving and globally promoting Punjabi.
The memorandum, presented by senior members Satdeep Gill, Nitesh Gill, and coordinator Kuldeep Burj Bhalaike, pointed out that states like Tamil Nadu and Odisha have already adopted similar open-access policies in line with the Government of India’s Open Data License framework.
Responding to the proposal, Mehta assured the group that he would take up the matter with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and other concerned authorities.
Speakers at the event echoed the need for open knowledge systems, with Dr. Bhim Inder Singh stating that unrestricted access to information is key to strengthening Punjabi in the digital space. The group also pledged to help digitize and upload such content on platforms supported by the Wikimedia Foundation if the policy is implemented.