About Me:
I got connected to Drupal during my post-graduate studies around 2014 after which I got selected for an internship in a Drupal company, Srijan Technologies which is based in New Delhi and also has offices in the prominent cities of India. Founded in 2002, Srijan started out as a Drupal company and became the largest pure-play Drupal company in Asia.
Later, given my interest, I moved to the role of a Quality Analyst. Meanwhile, l also started volunteering for local Drupal camps and soon realised that this is what I really enjoy. While at it, I had a great learning curve not only about Drupal but also in terms of public speaking, communication, and confidence.
Experiencing such a change within myself has only encouraged me to do more with a great amount of enthusiasm and motivation. Hence, this is how I started the journey of organising camps locally.
Also, being in the core organising team of Drupal Europe 2018 has been a tremendous achievement not only because it was the first ever Drupal event I attended of this size but also because I was the part of the organising team of an international event. It has given me much more understanding of the Drupal events at larger scales.
Having said that, I would like to broaden my skills and start thinking strategically about Drupal and it's growth as my next step towards "giving back to the community".
Board meeting attendence:
Have you served on a board or committee?:
If so, tell us about it.:
What perspective will you bring to the board when discussing strategic topics?:
I will bring in the perspective of a non-coder. By a non-coder I mean, a contributor who does not code but is whole heartedly willing to give back to the community in some or the other way and so choses to organise the events for the same. Having such a vision will help to understand the perspective better in order to "fundraising" for some eligible candidates who not only can learn Drupal in a better way but also understand the importance of the community behind it.
Not only this, I will also be able to present the Diversity and Inclusion group by "being someone from no one" as I have carved my way in the world of Drupal (of course with the help of the community). So, I am able to understand what it takes to work passionately towards a goal when you do not have any monetary benefits out of it but what you get is still priceless as it is something which cannot be purchased but can only be gained from experiences.
In addition to this, there is another important aspect of bringing the local community (eg. - Indian community) back to it's pace. It is observed that the participation is decreasing in the local events in India as compared to that of earlier years. I believe, it is important to be addressed so that people come back to the community and get involved and get noticed. And being one of the member, I will be able to make an impactful step towards it.
What existing board topics are you most passionate about? and why?:
The most important topic right now, as well as the topic I am most passionate about is "Bringing Drupal to the local". By this I mean, Drupal's importance should be known by everyone. If I, being the one who doesn't use Drupal as such to build anything, can understand that Drupal has it's own importance just by the essence of getting involved with the community then why cannot the person who actually understands the basics of coding can understand too. This is what can be realised by the local groups which use other CMSs where there is not even a good community to support.
What unique skills would you bring to the board?:
Since, I have worked as an organiser and a connector of people, I understand the fears, the challenges and the opportunities of the non-coders that are out there but do not find the right platform.
Not only this, as per Rachel's keynote in Drupal Camp Goa2019 (https://www.drupal.org/association/blog/in-search-of-elephants), "India is the second most prolific country in code contributions after the USA" which shows that there is a lot of hidden local talent in both code as well as non-code areas and so, I can bridge the gap between the global Drupal community and the local talents.
How have your past contributions to Drupal prepared you for board candidacy?:
My past contributions to Drupal have definitely prepared me for board candidacy. I believe so, because I have been a part of the organising teams which have made me understand how to think with "people's perspective". Not only this, my participation in international events as an organiser of the event has brought me very close to Drupal. Now, I find myself in a position where I understand where does the local community lack and what is to be done to think in the way community thinks globally out there.
Being a part of both the worlds, I am aware of where is the aim and which direction the arrow should be pointed. Being one of the board members will then help me actually release the arrow from the bow and make it's path smoother and clear so that the aim is achieved.
Why should we vote for you?:
You should vote for me because I have proved time and again that I can deliver high quality results through events, both in my own country and on a wider international scale.
I am both hard and smart worker (as and when required) who believes that 'if you have faith in something have it like a child'. This simply means that if you have faith in something, be positive about it and do not give second thoughts to it. Keep on doing and keep on the positive faith, the results will automatically be in your favour.
Questions for the Candidate