Bridging Past and Future: When Heritage Meets Wikipedia in Kozhikode

Posted : 10-10-2025

Bridging Past and Future: When Heritage Meets Wikipedia in Kozhikode

City Heritage, Wikimedians Kerala, and Gudhaam Art Caf? Unite for a Landmark Workshop on Cultural Preservation in the Digital Age

In a time when stories fade faster than they are told, a quiet cultural revolution took place on the shores of Kozhikode. Inside the creative walls of Gudhaam Art Caf?, located near South Beach, a one-day Heritage Wikipedia Workshop became a defining moment in Kerala?s ongoing journey to preserve its living traditions through digital empowerment.

Organized by City Heritage in collaboration with Wikimedians Kerala and Gudhaam Art Caf?, the event brought together a diverse group ? professors, researchers, professionals, and students ? all united by a single belief: *that heritage must not only be remembered, it must be recorded.

A Workshop Rooted in Purpose

From the very beginning, the atmosphere was more than academic ? it was emotional. The program opened with a thoughtful address by I.C.R. Prasad, founder of the Geethanjali Museum and a well-known author. His words resonated deeply across generations present at the event:

?If the coming generations are to understand their own culture ? even through Google ? the responsibility lies with us, here and now.?

Prasad?s message captured the essence of the workshop: that technology and tradition are not opposites but allies. He urged participants to look beyond nostalgia and view digital heritage preservation as a powerful form of cultural continuity. His remarks reminded everyone that Kerala?s identity ? its art forms, dialects, architecture, and social memories ? deserves representation not only in museums but also in the global digital commons.

Wikipedia as a Cultural Canvas

The sessions that followed were carefully designed to merge technical learning with cultural storytelling. Ranjith Siji, co-founder of Wikimedians Kerala, began the first session by demystifying the world of Wikipedia. Participants learned how to create and edit articles, cite sources, and contribute authentic local knowledge in Malayalam and English.

As laptops opened and browsers filled with new pages, participants began to understand that Wikipedia is not just a source of information ? it is a living archive that can host the soul of a civilization. By the end of the session, heritage itself had found a digital language.

Exploring the Role of AI in Heritage Documentation

The second session, led by Suhair Sirius, brought a futuristic dimension to the discussion. As an artificial intelligence trainer, he explained how AI tools can amplify cultural documentation, helping identify, archive, and narrate intangible heritage for a global audience. From pattern recognition in ancient scripts to automated translations of local folklore, AI is emerging as a vital ally in the preservation of humanity?s collective knowledge.

Participants found themselves intrigued by the possibilities ? how traditional storytelling, temple architecture, and oral histories could one day be mapped, visualized, and preserved through AI-powered digital platforms. The session highlighted how technology can be compassionate* when used to protect the fragile layers of human memory.

Heritage through the Lens: The Art of Visual Storytelling

Photography has always been a timeless bridge between memory and meaning. In the third session, renowned photographer Anshad Guruvayur unfolded the power of visual storytelling. His presentation was a gentle reminder that every frame is a piece of evidence, a whisper from the past that deserves to be seen by the world.

Anshad shared stories behind his heritage photography ? capturing old mosques, street murals, and fading architecture ? and explained how thoughtful composition can make a cultural story accessible even to those unfamiliar with the region. For many participants, it was an awakening: heritage is not just to be observed; it is to be interpreted.

From Heritage to Cultural Economy

In the final session, Muhammed Shihad, founder of City Heritage, introduced participants to the concept of the cultural economy ? where storytelling, preservation, and entrepreneurship coexist. He spoke about the importance of translating heritage into creative industries and sustainable livelihoods.

?We are not just teaching people how to edit Wikipedia,? he said.

?We are creating a generation that understands that preserving culture is also building the future.?

Shihad?s interactive session urged participants to view cultural preservation as more than a duty ? as an economic and emotional investment. When young people document their villages, rituals, and architecture, they are not merely chronicling history; they are creating value, identity, and belonging.

Hands-On Creation and Collaboration

The practical segment of the workshop saw participants editing live Wikipedia pages related to Kerala?s culinary heritage, folklore, and local monuments. What began as technical training soon evolved into collective storytelling ? every keystroke a step towards global visibility for local culture.

The participants, drawn from diverse fields, discovered that open platforms like Wikipedia can democratize knowledge. The shared enthusiasm created a new network of digital heritage advocates, each committed to documenting the richness of Kerala for the world to access freely

Delegate Reflections: Heritage with Heart

The most memorable takeaway of the day came from the voices of the participants themselves ? filled with gratitude, curiosity, and pride.

?I often visited Wikipedia, but I never knew what happened behind it. Today I learned its deeper purpose. The sessions were truly eye-opening.? _Siddiq C.S., Kothamangalam

?Every session was a window into a new possibility. I could touch the world of Wikipedia, not just read it from afar.?

? Sabith Saqafi, Chavakkad

 ?Yesterday I believed Wikipedia was for reading. Today I know it?s for contributing. We can all become part of preserving culture.?? Nadeera, Tirur

Their reflections captured what the workshop truly achieved ? a mindset shift from viewing heritage as content to living it as contribution.

Spaces that Nurture Cultural Conversations

The event concluded with a note of appreciation from Basheer Badayakandy, founder of Gudhaam Art Caf?, who has long been an advocate for integrating art, community, and dialogue. He lauded the participants for transforming Gudhaam into a hub of ideas and collaborative energy.

The final group photograph ? participants gathered under Gudhaam?s antique wooden beams ? symbolized the unity of tradition and innovation, a visual echo of what Kerala stands for: resilience, creativity, and continuity.

A Vision for Kerala?s Digital Future

The Heritage Wikipedia Workshop was more than a one-day program ? it was a declaration of intent. It redefined how cultural knowledge can coexist with digital tools, ensuring that Kerala?s living heritage becomes part of the global digital heritage map.

By bringing together educators, technologists, and artists, City Heritage and its partners created a model for the cultural economy of the future ? one where traditional knowledge is seen as intellectual capital capable of inspiring innovation, tourism, and sustainable growth.

As City Heritage continues to promote responsible tourism and heritage education, this initiative marks the beginning of a long-term movement. The message is clear: preserving culture in the digital age is not about nostalgia; it?s about relevance, access, and pride.

Looking Ahead

With the success of this workshop, City Heritage plans to host similar programs across Kerala, expanding partnerships with educational institutions and creative hubs. Each session will aim to empower more individuals ? from school students to seasoned professionals ? to become storytellers and custodians of their own heritage.

Through such initiatives, City Heritage envisions a future where Kerala?s cultural wealth ? its architecture, festivals, cuisine, folklore, and human stories ? thrives in both the physical and virtual worlds.

In this convergence of heritage and technology, the past finds its digital home, and the new generation finds its purpose.