Story behind

When we went to last year’s SotM Asia, which happened in IIM Bangalore, India, from there it was a desire to attend coming years’ OSM moreover GIS conferences. The reason was nothing else but the exposure to larger community, latest technology, and an opportunity for self development. So this year, it was a desire to attend max. conferences related to OSM. First, I tried for scholarship to SotM Heidelberg. Then I tried for Pista ng Mapa (which happened in August 2019 at Philippines), just because it seems to me South East Asia is more involved in OSM and I wanted to know what’s happening there. Unfortunately fate didn’t give me chance for that. By then, bad news from Heidelberg reached they can’t offer scholarship. Then comes the announcement of SotM Asia happening in November. Applied for the scholarship, and luckily I got the travel scholarship! For Indians, the major cost was for the travel.

Then preparations started! I got the all supporting documents from Sawan. Through booking.com, I got a stay at Hotel Givenci which was very nearby to the venue. Searched for the VISA agencies nearby. Found out a very good agent Lavender Tours & Travels within Trivandrum, Kerala and applied for VISA. Even though, it took almost 2 weeks time, finally I got the first stamping on my passport! :)

My VISA

Then, the next was a mail from Sawan stating that each Scholars should make a presentation of their valuable contributions. By that time, I got engaged with a group for a leisure trip at North Eastern parts of India. Within the short time, somehow I managed to make a slight one. My worry was on what topic shall I present. Luckily, my mentor Arun M helped me out and he gave a direction to present the social impacts we saw during the execution of our mapping projects.

SotM Days

By 31st evening 6.30, I reached Dhaka airport. With help of the security guards and my crappy Hindi pronunciations, somehow I managed to call a Uber Moto driver (Alamin) to reach the hotel. He was very generous and gave me a basic idea of Dhaka. Then the Day 1 of the event. Woke up early, had breakfast, and went out searching for Krishibid Institute using OSMAND. There was some mistake in the positioning the marker and hence I had to walk all around the building to find out the entrance gate!

Route from Hotel to Krishibid

On the first day itself, as others I started searching my fellow Indians! The only face I knew already was of Yogesh and this time I got more friends! :) Venkanna, Subhash, Rashmita, Saikat, Raghu, David Garcia, Andrew Wiseman, and many more; Sorry I can’t remember all names!

Scholars group

Team India!

Day 2 was my presentation. Exciting thing was most of the participants attended my session and there were many positive feedbacks on our initiatives within Kerala State. For those who missed my session, attaching the deck link below. Link to my Presentation

As I wished, there were many new contacts I could make both technically and socially.

Hope to see you all at Colombo next year!